How the Arts Can Save Education: Transforming Teaching, Learning, and Instruction

The author of this book proposes an arts-based approach to teaching that emphasizes risk-taking and embraces the social, cultural, and historical assets of students. It provides new models for learning and offers examples from the author's in-school artist-in-residence program. Readers will learn how to reframe learning as acts of metacognitive representation, identity, and collaboration, and experience joy in the process.

Format: Hardback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: Teachers' College Press

This book is a game-changer for educators who want to rethink what good learning, teaching, and curriculum can be. The author presents a bold plan for saving education with an arts-based approach to teaching that focuses on risk-taking as the most important aspect of a successful classroom. Halverson offers new models for learning that embrace the social, cultural, and historical assets that kids bring to the classroom, with guidance for designing engaging learning experiences for all grades and subject areas.

Featuring many evocative examples from the author's in-school artist-in-residence program, this resource illustrates how classroom practices and school structures can be reorganized for more inclusive success. Readers will learn how to reframe learning as acts of metacognitive representation, identity, and collaboration. And, most importantly, they will experience lots and lots of joy.

The book is divided into four sections:

Introduction: This section provides an overview of the book's goals and objectives. It explains why the arts are essential for education and how they can be used to transform the process of teaching and learning.

Section 1: The Power of the Arts: In this section, the author explores the power of the arts to inspire students' creativity, promote critical thinking, and develop empathy and social skills. The author also provides examples of how the arts can be used to engage students in learning and to create learning environments that are more inclusive and equitable.

Section 2: Building Learning Environments with Art at the Core: In this section, the author provides guidance for building learning environments with art at the core. The author explains how to integrate art into the curriculum, how to create a culture of creativity in the classroom, and how to use art to promote student collaboration and communication.

Section 3: Specific Examples: In this section, the author provides specific examples of how the arts can be used to inspire students' creativity through writing, improvisation, and performance. The author also provides examples of how the arts can be used to promote student engagement and to develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Section 4: Conclusion: In this section, the author summarizes the key points of the book and provides recommendations for educators who want to use the arts to transform their teaching and learning practices.

In conclusion, this book is a must-read for educators who want to rethink what good learning, teaching, and curriculum can be. The author provides a bold plan for saving education with an arts-based approach to teaching that focuses on risk-taking as the most important aspect of a successful classroom. The book offers new models for learning that embrace the social, cultural, and historical assets that kids bring to the classroom, with guidance for designing engaging learning experiences for all grades and subject areas. The examples provided in the book are evocative and inspiring, and they demonstrate how classroom practices and school structures can be reorganized for more inclusive success. Readers will learn how to reframe learning as acts of metacognitive representation, identity, and collaboration, and they will experience lots and lots of joy.

Weight: 333g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807765739