Arts Integration Night

Arts Integration Night: Coming Together To Share Knowledge in The Most Creative Ways

Art Events - By Ms. Mila Vasconcelos

When I started to work at the Capitol Encore Academy, in Fayetteville - North Carolina, I was aware of what a charter school and arts integrated was, but I did not know how this approach could change my teaching philosophy and methods forever. Coming from a simple background, have been studying and teaching in public schools in Brazil my whole life, imagining a place where arts were not just a subject, but the entire thread that guides the curriculum and ties up knowledge was beyond my biggest dreams.

The Capitol Encore Academy (Open-house 2019-2020)

I first visited TCEA during a open-house was way before I started working over there. What I saw was an environment colored with arts all around: floor, walls, classroom, the administrative setup, the entire place was an invitation to be creative. And of course, I saw many teachers, staff members and students showing their passions and talents.

Fast forward an year or so, due to Covid-19 pandemic, I ended up looking for a new teaching position, and was contacted by Brian Kline, the head of the Art Department. The story of our partnership and friendship can be seen here on this post. Together, with the entire Arts Team, the Arts Integration Department and the Core Subjects, I was ready to take my teaching practices to a whole new level.

Being able to understand what Arts Integration means is essential to have a sense of how this method can impact students' academic progress and learning processes. Arts Integration works as a bridge to connect complex themes and concepts, bringing an uplifting and easy way through creative expression, either throght visual arts, theater, music or dance. Students can learn about the phases of moon or water cycle with rap music, or understand different animal habitats using arts and crafts to create a diorama featuring all kinds of materials.

Using both National Standards with equal weight (Arts and Core Standards) students can benefit of this integrated method and discover a new way to learn, outside of textbooks and lectures. They will have the autonomy in creating their own versions of a quality work and presentation, deciding in what way is more suitable to deliver their messages and share their understanding.

An inspired example

One of the many events that I had the pleasure to lead at TCEA was the Arts Integration Night. An open-doors night for parents and the entire community to see and understand what we do and how we do. And when I say "we", I am including and giving the spotlight to the incredible students that I had over there. During this event, they were the leader, showing everyone how they came up with their projects and what was the significance of each one of them.

Below, you can watch the video featuring this incredible night, as well as many projects created across the school, by a diversity of incredible teachers that I had the pleasure to work with. I hope you enjoy it!