The Art of Early Childhood Education

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Art of Early Childhood Education
Language: English
Authors: Brown, Eleanor D.
Source: State Education Standard. Jan 2020 20(1):14-20.
Availability: National Association of State Boards of Education. 2121 Crystal Drive Suite 350, Arlington, VA 22202. Tel: 800-368-5023; Tel: 703-684-4000; Fax: 703-836-2313; e-mail: boards@nasbe.org; Web site: http://www.nasbe.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 7
Publication Date: 2020
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Preschool Education
Descriptors: Early Childhood Education, Art Education, Art Activities, School Readiness, Preschool Education, Preschool Children, Program Effectiveness, Academic Achievement, Interdisciplinary Approach, Early Intervention, Intelligence Tests, Verbal Ability, Vocabulary, Emotional Development, Self Concept, Stress Management
Geographic Terms: Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Bracken Basic Concept Scale
ISSN: 1540-8000
Abstract: The combination of verbal and nonverbal channels provided by the arts can offer valuable opportunities not only for students with language delays but also for English language learners. More generally, arts enrichment may help to bridge the gap that often separates home and school for children from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds. The arts hold a central position in most cultural traditions. Including the arts in education provides opportunities for bringing varied cultural traditions into the classroom and promoting a sense of belonging and pride for students from diverse backgrounds. Arts integration enables children to build on previous cultural knowledge, while also providing a comfortable environment for expressing their individuality. This article discusses the author's two-part study, in which she and colleagues examined growth in school readiness skills. Part 1 examined growth in children attending Settlement's Kaleidoscope Preschool. Using Kaleidoscope's curriculum-based checklists, they found no evidence of the achievement gap that is often found, even for children attending other Head Start programs, and they found a possible advantage for children with developmental delays. Part 2 compared children at Kaleidoscope and those at a matched comparison preschool that was not fully arts integrated. Children at Kaleidoscope showed a statistically significant advantage in overall school readiness as well as in self- and social awareness and understanding of texture and material. The author's work thus far leads to the conclusion that the arts are not only an important object of learning but also a useful mechanism for fostering emotion regulation.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2020
Accession Number: EJ1241258
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:The combination of verbal and nonverbal channels provided by the arts can offer valuable opportunities not only for students with language delays but also for English language learners. More generally, arts enrichment may help to bridge the gap that often separates home and school for children from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds. The arts hold a central position in most cultural traditions. Including the arts in education provides opportunities for bringing varied cultural traditions into the classroom and promoting a sense of belonging and pride for students from diverse backgrounds. Arts integration enables children to build on previous cultural knowledge, while also providing a comfortable environment for expressing their individuality. This article discusses the author's two-part study, in which she and colleagues examined growth in school readiness skills. Part 1 examined growth in children attending Settlement's Kaleidoscope Preschool. Using Kaleidoscope's curriculum-based checklists, they found no evidence of the achievement gap that is often found, even for children attending other Head Start programs, and they found a possible advantage for children with developmental delays. Part 2 compared children at Kaleidoscope and those at a matched comparison preschool that was not fully arts integrated. Children at Kaleidoscope showed a statistically significant advantage in overall school readiness as well as in self- and social awareness and understanding of texture and material. The author's work thus far leads to the conclusion that the arts are not only an important object of learning but also a useful mechanism for fostering emotion regulation.
ISSN:1540-8000