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Home > Programs > Jackson > Advocate Profile
 An interview with Gwen Gardner
Extention 2nd Grade Teacher – reinforces normal curriculum with nontraditional tools (i.e. computers, learning games, art)
How are the students reacting to arts integration in their schools?
It really motivates them, and even when looking at the benchmarks and objectives that they are having problems with, giving education to them in the form of using the arts integration, makes it more personal for them. They can bring in some more of their personal experiences. And you have some kids who are more talented in the arts, so that kind of gives them a lead way for learning an objective in a way that they can really relate to.
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Tell me about the plan you are using to involve the students and teachers.
“Working on the work” is a strategy in which there is more teacher and student interaction, bringing personal experiences to the learning environment -- a space where students can have a variety of experiences, and where they have choice
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What steps should be taken when introducing arts integration to a school?
The first thing is going to be to really meet and talk with the administrator, to make sure you have their support because that is going to be the key to success, to have the support of an administrator. Because, the first thing they want to know is how is this connected to the benchmark? How is this connected to having students who excel? Once they get this focus and they can see what the arts can really do to impact the curriculum and they really buy into it, they are going to be able to provide teachers with the support that they need and help them to secure revenues or funds or whatever they need to make sure they have the resources. Listen
What technique has proven to be most effective in your work with the children?
Using story boards instead of the traditional book reports has been successful. The kids are getting into it. It’s personal to them because not only do they do the art, creating the three dimensional elements to design the board, but they are also touching on the different story elements. They are also sharing. They are doing a drama part, too. We are bringing out the acting because once they share their board, it’s like a presentation. We call it our book parade or book fashion show. So instead of just telling what they are wearing, they are also telling what the book is all about. At the same time, we are impacting the literacy and the reading comprehension strategies. Listen
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