#arts lit

[kidsmart20]

Lauren Fremin, M.S. 3rd Grade ELA & Social Studies Teacher Langston Hughes Academy

This semester, I’ve had the privilege to co-teach with Samantha King, a KID smART theatre teaching artist. Ms. King does a phenomenal job with professional development, consideration of teacher schedules, and flexibility relative to the brand new, rigorous curriculum our school adopted this year.

As a result of working with KID smART, I am able to recognize students’ ability to meet the objective and standards per lesson through an arts-integrated approach, as well as my ability to document their learning. I am able to see how arts integration stimulates certain kids’ minds (i.e. engagement) who are typically unable to grasp certain objectives/standards that are normally delivered in a non-arts-integrated way. This realization that students are able to be reached and measured through different avenues has changed the way I deliver my lessons in order to reach all students where they feel comfortable. I’ve seen certain students who’ve had a lot of trouble engaging with my traditional way of teaching significantly improve their ability to remain engaged in the lesson and demonstrate what they’ve learned through the arts. KID smART’s nontraditional approach to teaching content helps students practice the importance of working and learning together while having fun and feeling comfortable with outward expression.

Not only are my students more engaged, they also show proof of content absorption through KID smART’s measurable ways of documenting their ability to meet the objective/standards per lesson. Through all of my findings, I truly believe that an arts-integrated approach is a highly valuable avenue for teachers trying to reach the seemingly non-reachable. Arts integration can also deepen students’ grasp of what’s being taught, not to mention how much more enjoyable it is for 98% of my student body.

I believe that KID smART inspires each school it collaborates with and empowers both teachers and students to take ownership of their learning and understand learning as a positive process. It has been a privilege and an honor to work with the staff of KID smART, and I feel lucky that I’ve been exposed to this so that I can carry this on to further my students’ learning. KID smart invests in providing thoughtful and meaningful opportunities for all the people with whom they engage. I feel so lucky that I learned alongside them. I hope that many others have this opportunity.

View documented data from KID smART schools here > kidsmart.org/impact