Diffusing Student work within Foundation Prep Community

The Impact of Arts Integration on Student Confidence and Expression
Foundation Prep, 5th Grade | Science & Creative Dramatics
Ms. Houston & Ms. LaVonna

We are cultivating a community of confident artists at Foundation Prep this Fall semester. In Mrs. Houston’s science class we learned through an arts integrated lesson about physical and chemical changes, simultaneously exploring visual arts techniques like mixing oil pastels and watercolor. This lesson is building off of other skills we have acquired throughout the semester like: elements of drama, characters, plot, and setting. The students were so excited to engage with new tools and mediums like paint brushes and watercolor paper. By enmeshing students in meaningful, relevant class work they can develop the tools needed to oscillate between the world inside and outside of the classroom. “Children who engage in the challenges of ongoing learning activities increase their competencies across time and feel pride and satisfaction in their accomplishments” (Kinzig & Nakai, 1995).

Art showcase for Ms. Houston’s class.

I like to affirm community building and ensemble mentality in the classrooms I co teach in by encouraging young artists to try to make at least one mark on the page. In the case of this activity there was no way to do it “wrong”. That can sometimes lead to students feeling like they have more control over the work and the ability to change any mark they make that is not satisfactory. After the project is complete, it is important to create space to diffuse the work. Sharing student art for their peers to encounter and observe not only boosts their confidence, but affirms them in their artisthood. If we want our students to believe that they are artists, it is important to give them a venue to make them feel that way. It was my pleasure to create a display in the hallway at Foundation Prep to affirm the artists and show the community there that KID smART classrooms are bringing joyful learning and supporting students in exploring their imagination through the arts while meeting academic learning objectives.