If you follow me, you know that I am all about arts integration, especially integrating literacy skills.  I live and breath it in my classroom.  I talk about it, I think about it, I spend tons of time creating new lesson plans and activities that integrate literacy skills into my curriculum.  But  WHY would I spend so much time on this??  Well, let me share some insights into my WHY!

I want you to think back for a moment to just one kiddo who came to you in kindergarten excited to learn.  Everything was fun!  They couldn’t wait till the next activity.  Now fast forward a year.  That child has discovered that unlike many of his classmates, he has trouble reading the words that seem easy for his classmates.  He is falling behind the other 1st graders.  Fast forward another year.  That child has become sullen and discouraged.  He is not longer excited about learning.  In fact, he is now dreading going to school, because he knows that he’s in the low reading group, and he knows he’s way behind many of his classmates.

Let’s fast forward a couple more years.  This child is now a 5th grader.  Not only is he sullen, but now he’s become a behavior problem.  He’s angry!  He’s easily upset.  He sits in your classroom with his arms folded and that surly look on his face and does NOTHING.  He puts up a major roadblock to anything that he thinks he might not be able to do.  I know what you’re thinking . . . this is NOT my problem.  But what if it was?  What if you made it your problem?

We teach EVERY STUDENT in the school.  We teach the ones who learn easily, and we teach the ones who struggle.  We watch how their ability to learn affects their day-to-day school life.  I don’t know about you, but every time I watch one of those adorable, excited kindergarteners become a sullen, angry 5th grader, my heart breaks a little.  I love to read!  I find joy in sitting down with a good book, and I want to share this with EVERY student, not just those who get it right away.  This is my WHY!

Beyond the Roadblock 

We have the ability to get beyond the road block that our struggling students put up.  Our students (hopefully) consider our class fun.  This enables us to sneak in some learning when they aren’t looking, so to speak.  We can teach new vocabulary through movement and instrument play.  We can help students make predictions and access prior knowledge while they are learning the lyrics to a song.  We can help them with comprehension skills!

Classroom Connections

Research shows that students have a disconnect when it comes to the ability to access the skills they learn in their general ed classroom in other classes.  We can help with this.  I love to show my students that they can use the elements of a story while we are listening to a piece of music by Bach or Rossini.  I love to ask comprehension questions while we are learning a new song.  It is truly the best when a student says, “Hey Ms. Shorey, we’re learning this in class!”

Learning Can be Fun

Many kids do not like school.  They are either bored, or they struggle, or they just don’t see the point to what they’re learning.  What if we could make that learning fun?  What if they could learn new vocabulary in an active way?  What if they could practice syllabication through instrument play?  What if you could connect them to school in a whole new way and capture their interest and their attention?  What if you could do this in just a few extra steps, without degrading your curriculum?  It IS possible!  We are their teachers.  We are responsible for their learning too!

We are Partners

I don’t know about you, but I don’t really like hearing teachers say, “Have fun” when they drop their students off at music class.  Music has validity on it’s own, but few people in a school see this and understand it.  Classroom teachers and often times administration do not know how much music helps students learn and how much it helps them grow their brains.  What if instead of seeing you as “just” the music teacher, the classroom teachers saw you as a part of the team?  My teachers see me that way.  They know that I am as dedicated as they are to our students’ learning, and they also know that I am doing my best to help our students connect to what they are learning in my classroom.  Wouldn’t it be great to be seen as a partner in your students’ learning experience?

Now that you know the why, you will want to connect with me, so you can also learn the how!  I am sharing lots of tips and trick in my new Facebook Group, Stories That Sing for Teachers!  Be sure to join by following this link:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/491399252014756/