The Integrated Arts at Del Mar Heights: Off we go!

Integrated Arts?

The Integrated Arts is a model designed to offer support, extension, and supplementary experiences in content areas through interdisciplinary arts activities. The Common Core Standards' emphasis on developing depth and rigor in thought and the ability to communicate relevant information with increasing skill provides the necessary impetus for this model. Content will be viewed through many lenses, allowing the entirety of relevant ideas to be processed and applied broadly and with added depth. Work with visual arts, music, drama, literature, writing, technology, and design will be incorporated and collaboration with classroom teachers will be ongoing. As Yeats wrote, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire". The Integrated Arts is an opportunity to light a very purposeful, very directed fire.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Off we go!

I remember well the day when my son, now in third grade, came to school at Del Mar Heights. It was a day full of promise and expectation and a fair bit of trepidation. What I remember most was the feeling of moving into a new chapter of life. The beautiful episode of tiny-kidness was done and a new big kid was before me- my kindergartener.

Seeing the new Kindergarteners each year brings me to a similar place. For all their newly-hatched precociousness there is a bit of wonder about just where and how they fit into their new school. I love to make them feel welcome and give them a fun class to look forward to each week.

For our first project I like to do something that teaches me about what the capacities of the kindergarteners are. For this hot-air balloon we learned about smooth painting using proper grip, primary colors, patterning, outlining with strong colors or black, and compositional planning to use your paper. In the end we will have some beautiful balloons with children's photographs hanging in baskets below. Welcome my Kindergarten Friends!