The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has devised another way it hopes will help educators hold the interest of their students in the arts.
The group has a new Iowa Arts Council program known as “Folk Arts in the Classroom,” described as a two-day immersive training session where teachers seek to make arts a greater part of the curriculum in certain classroom settings.
“Studies show that students who have access to the arts do better in school and develop creative and critical thinking skills that employers value,” Director of Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Chris Kramer told the Oskaloosa Herald. “This program gives teachers a unique opportunity to integrate Iowa arts and history into their standards-based curriculum.”
The program works by bringing K-12 teachers, folk artists and cultural heritage organizations together through continuing education and training. On an annual basis, 10 pairs of teachers, including one social studies and one fine arts educator, from 10 different local schools, will work together to learn more about what the other one specializes in as part of a plan to bring more of both to the classroom.
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