Janice Vancleaves Play and Find Out About Science Book

There are many techniques that really good teachers do. For example, they engage children with music. If a child doesn't understand what they are reading, the teacher has the child act it out. When a math problem doesn't make sense, the teacher says, "draw a picture!" All of these are simple way of incorporating the arts--music, theater and dance, and visual arts. This textbook stresses that art isn't a side note, and it's not just for free time; art is essential to ingrate throughout the curriculum. It just makes for better teaching and learning. But art isn't just a fun gimmick to add to the classroom: art literacy and understanding must be taught like anything else.

This textbook was informative both on underlying philosophy and pedagogy. It also provided concrete examples and ideas on how to integrate each of the five arts (literature, dance, theater, music, visual arts) throughout the curriculum and into every academic area. It is a great introduction and reference!