ArtsConnect is an intensive, long-term arts education partnership between five elementary schools in Orange County schools and two elementary schools in San Bernardino that began in 2004. ArtsConnect's goal is to demonstrate the positive, transforming impact the arts have on education for students, including academic achievement, social development and motivation for learning. The program introduces teachers and students to music, dance, theatre and the visual arts while integrating the art forms into core areas of curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on building literacy skills. Curricular resource materials are closely connected to state of California content standards and instructional needs identified by teachers. The program is developed with the guidance of Mitchell Korn, president of Artsvision, a national arts education consulting organization, and through close association with the Orange County Department of Education.
ArtsConnect provides the following for each grade level:
• annual series of teacher professional development sessions
• arts integrated classroom resource binders and trunks consisting of instructional materials and lesson plans, books, CDs, musical instruments, art supplies
• hands-on workshops in music, dance, theatre and visual arts for each classroom related to specific learning conducted by the Center's Master Teaching Artists .
• performances at the Orange County Performing Arts Center for participating schools
• professional evaluation of the impact of the program on teachers, students, Master Teaching Artists, schools and districts
Click on the following links to access ArtsConnect Resource Materials:
• Grade 1 Arts Integrated Resource Material [ PDF ]
• Grade 2 Arts Integrated Resource Material [ PDF ]
• Grade 3 Arts Integrated Resource Material [ PDF ]
• Grade 4 Arts Integrated Resource Material [ PDF ]
What people are saying about ArtsConnect...
"The artists interact on a personal level with my students – they get to see the things they're learning up close, and they are awed by each artist and what they teach."
–ArtsConnect Teacher
"One particular boy comes to mind. He is very reserved, very shy. But when these artists come, there's this transformation. I know it's not just him. I see it in so many of the kids. For some reason, they just feel like they're able to really open up and express themselves. I've never seen this child so excited as when he walked in and saw these drums that are almost as big as him. It was incredible."
–ArtsConnect Teacher
"I truly believe that children that are able to get up out of their seats and express themselves in a physical manner without any inhibitions and without anybody saying you've done this right or you've done this wrong. The arts take those boundaries away from them and they feel more comfortable. They feel less restricted. You need to give kids a commonality in order to participate…It gives them an equal opportunity for learning, and that's what we want to do for these children. We want to give them equal access to the curriculum, and I think that's what the arts do."
–ArtsConnect Principal
Contact Information:
• Erica Stemmler, Coordinator, School Partnerships
EStemmler@OCPAC.org, 714.556.2122 x4234
| ArtsConnect is made possible in part by the generous support of |
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Dr. and Mrs. David Campbell Davis
Washington Mutual
Deborah H. and Jeffrey H Margolis
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