The What, Why & How!

The What, Why & How of BYU Art's Bridge

My name is Miss Miner and I am currently an Arts Bridge Scholar at Brigham Young University. As an elementary education major, I am learning that there is a good way of teaching and then there is a great way. 

The secret is to incorporate the arts. 

You may just think I'm saying that because it's my job but there are many studies that show when children are able to learn from more tools than just a textbook, where they can dig deeper into a concept and explore using their movement- their better able to learn and obtain the information that is used for life. 

Think about it. You remember the 50 states because of the song you learned. You suddenly remember the thriller song even though you learned it ten years ago. You remember in 5th grade when you put on that silly play but how much it meant to you. You remember. 

Even with all the studies that show what a different the arts can make in a classroom though, many teachers aren't incorporating it, faculty members don't support it and some people are unsure of how to change their style of teaching or don't want to change their style of teaching. 

This is where the BYU Art's Bridge comes in. 

Art's Bridge is a wonderful program where current BYU students have the opportunity to be paired with a teacher in the local schools districts, and the students incorporate a certain art form in the classroom. 

The BYU Art's Bridge website says, "Art's bridge provides an opportunity for classroom teachers to have an in depth and practical experience in the selected art form. Art scholars have the opportunity to spend time with a practicing teacher, gaining experience in classroom management, lesson planning and team teaching. BYU faculty provide mentoring for the arts scholars while building relationships with public school teachers. The Art's bridge program follows the model from ArtsBridge America, a national network of similar programs that has been implemented in over 30 universities throughout the United States."

The Arts can make such a huge difference and whether it's dance, music, art of drama, these art forms take students from just being basic learners to being exceptional learners. I've seen this. I've personally experienced this. 

So for the next couple of months,  I will have the opportunity to incorporate the art form of DANCE in an amazing third grade classroom. I will be posting my lesson plans, experiences and incorporating both the Utah Common Core and dance in the classroom.