2. Literacy and the Arts The use of music to teach literacy and music education and their effects on childhood literacy

3. Music and Literacy in Childhood Music education for the youngest children consists of games and activities that teach musical concepts. Start with the ArtsStart with the Arts - an instructional program for preschool and early elementary aged children. This program uses games and activities based in the arts to explore themes and instructional concepts that are taught in early childhood. Music education for the youngest children consists of games and activities that teach musical concepts. Start with the ArtsStart with the Arts - an instructional program for preschool and early elementary aged children. This program uses games and activities based in the arts to explore themes and instructional concepts that are taught in early childhood.

4. Benefits to Instructional Games and Activities Instructional games and activities promote various forms of literacy, including but not limited to: Developing oral language skills and concepts Building vocabulary Communication skills Using music to visualize thoughts and feelings or communicating through drawing Expressing feelings and thoughts brought on by musical selections Developing auditory discrimination Incorporation of children’s literature Associating similar items through list building Using authentic strategies Instructional games and activities promote various forms of literacy, including but not limited to: Developing oral language skills and concepts Building vocabulary Communication skills Using music to visualize thoughts and feelings or communicating through drawing Expressing feelings and thoughts brought on by musical selections Developing auditory discrimination Incorporation of children’s literature Associating similar items through list building Using authentic strategies

5. Literacy and the Arts Linking Literacy and the Arts is a chapter from Teaching and Learning in Preschool: Using Individually Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Literacy Instruction - This chapter demonstrates how music, movement, and the creative arts influence young children and how they aid in creating links to literacy.Teaching and Learning in Preschool: Using Individually Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Literacy Instruction Linking Literacy and the Arts is a chapter from Teaching and Learning in Preschool: Using Individually Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Literacy Instruction - This chapter demonstrates how music, movement, and the creative arts influence young children and how they aid in creating links to literacy.Teaching and Learning in Preschool: Using Individually Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Literacy Instruction

6. Literacy and Curriculum Links Language ･ Expressive and receptive vocabulary ･ Phonological awareness ･ Functions of written language ･ Language structures Mathematics ･ Numbers and counting ･ Patterns and sorting ･ Measurement of time and space Social and Emotional ･ Self-discovery ･ Feelings ･ Getting along with others ･ Self-esteem Language ･ Expressive and receptive vocabulary ･ Phonological awareness ･ Functions of written language ･ Language structures Mathematics ･ Numbers and counting ･ Patterns and sorting ･ Measurement of time and space Social and Emotional ･ Self-discovery ･ Feelings ･ Getting along with others ･ Self-esteem Reading and Writing ･ Enjoyment and appreciation of literature ･ Understanding early concepts of print ･ Understanding book language ･ Book knowledge Social Studies and Science ･ Home, school, and community ･ Children’s environment ･ Thematic units Physical ･ Gross motor movement ･ Fine motor movement ･ Creative and expressive movement ･ Health and safety

7. Literacy and in the Arts in Intermediate Elementary School Grades Arts Infused Summer SchoolArts Infused Summer School - A five week, 60 hour summer program for students who are identified as functioning below grade level. The program offers a rigorous, arts-based curriculum to students and demonstrates the effect of integrated instruction on student achievement in literacy and mathematics. For each assignment given, students are required to demonstrate their knowledge through some form of an artistic representation (visual art, theatre, music), and oral or written presentation. Students take home a portfolio of their work at the end of the five week session. Arts Infused Summer SchoolArts Infused Summer School - A five week, 60 hour summer program for students who are identified as functioning below grade level. The program offers a rigorous, arts-based curriculum to students and demonstrates the effect of integrated instruction on student achievement in literacy and mathematics. For each assignment given, students are required to demonstrate their knowledge through some form of an artistic representation (visual art, theatre, music), and oral or written presentation. Students take home a portfolio of their work at the end of the five week session.

8. Why Music Education? Music lessons have been shown to improve a child’s performance in school. After eight months of keyboard lessons, preschoolers tested showed a 46% boost in their spatial IQ, which is crucial for higher brain functions such as mathematics. A 1997 study of 78 preschoolers in California shows that individual piano lessons did a better job of improving abstract reasoning skills than computer instruction. In 1994, a Gallup survey on American attitudes revealed that 93% of respondents agreed that music is part of a well-rounded education. 86% of respondents felt that all schools should offer instrumental music as part of a regular curriculum. From a survey taken in 1997, 70% of respondents believed that music program participation corresponds to better grades and test scores, while 88% believe that music helps a child’s overall intellectual development. Music lessons have been shown to improve a child’s performance in school. After eight months of keyboard lessons, preschoolers tested showed a 46% boost in their spatial IQ, which is crucial for higher brain functions such as mathematics. A 1997 study of 78 preschoolers in California shows that individual piano lessons did a better job of improving abstract reasoning skills than computer instruction. In 1994, a Gallup survey on American attitudes revealed that 93% of respondents agreed that music is part of a well-rounded education. 86% of respondents felt that all schools should offer instrumental music as part of a regular curriculum. From a survey taken in 1997, 70% of respondents believed that music program participation corresponds to better grades and test scores, while 88% believe that music helps a child’s overall intellectual development.

9. Outcomes The use of music to teach literacy and music education have shown distinct improvement in literacy and academic achievement. Music is a natural part of the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten routines. By incorporating music and the arts in teaching literacy, teachers are accessing a mode of learning that comes naturally to children, and thus makes learning more memorable and effective. The use of music to teach literacy and music education have shown distinct improvement in literacy and academic achievement. Music is a natural part of the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten routines. By incorporating music and the arts in teaching literacy, teachers are accessing a mode of learning that comes naturally to children, and thus makes learning more memorable and effective.

10. Works Cited 1) Start with the Arts, retrieved from http://www.vsarts.org/x577.xml on 6/17/07, copyright 2003-2006http://www.vsarts.org/x577.xml 2) Synder, Sue. Building Music Literacy by Creating, retrieved from www.aeideas.com/buildliteracy.html on 11/10/04, copyright 1998 www.aeideas.com/buildliteracy.html 3) Venn, Elizabeth Claire and Jahn, Monica Dacy. Teaching and Learning in Preschool: Using Individually Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Literacy Instruction, retrieved from http://www.readingonline.org/newliteracies/venn/ on 6/17/07, copyright 2003 http://www.readingonline.org/newliteracies/venn/ 4) Watts, Susy. Arts Infused Summer School, retrieved from http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/watts2.htm on 6/17/07, copyright June 2004 http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/watts2.htm 1) Start with the Arts, retrieved from http://www.vsarts.org/x577.xml on 6/17/07, copyright 2003-2006http://www.vsarts.org/x577.xml 2) Synder, Sue. Building Music Literacy by Creating, retrieved from www.aeideas.com/buildliteracy.html on 11/10/04, copyright 1998 www.aeideas.com/buildliteracy.html 3) Venn, Elizabeth Claire and Jahn, Monica Dacy. Teaching and Learning in Preschool: Using Individually Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Literacy Instruction, retrieved from http://www.readingonline.org/newliteracies/venn/ on 6/17/07, copyright 2003 http://www.readingonline.org/newliteracies/venn/ 4) Watts, Susy. Arts Infused Summer School, retrieved from http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/watts2.htm on 6/17/07, copyright June 2004 http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/watts2.htm