Arts with the Brain in Mind

Front Cover
ASCD, 2001 M05 15 - 182 pages

How do the arts stack up as a major discipline? What is their effect on the brain, learning, and human development? How might schools best implement and assess an arts program? Eric Jensen answers these questions--and more--in this book. To push for higher standards of learning, many policymakers are eliminating arts programs. To Jensen, that's a mistake.

This book presents the definitive case, based on what we know about the brain and learning, for making arts a core part of the basic curriculum and thoughtfully integrating them into every subject. Separate chapters address musical, visual, and kinesthetic arts in ways that reveal their influence on learning.

What are the effects of a fully implemented arts program? The evidence points to the following:


* Fewer dropouts
* Higher attendance
* Better team players

* An increased love of learning

* Greater student dignity

* Enhanced creativity

* A more prepared citizen for the workplace of tomorrow

* Greater cultural awareness as a bonus

To Jensen, it's not a matter of choosing, say, the musical arts over the kinesthetic. Rather, ask what kind of art makes sense for what purposes. How much time per day? At what ages? What kind of music? What kind of movement? Should the arts be required? How do we assess arts programs? In answering these real-world questions, Jensen provides dozens of practical, detailed suggestions for incorporating the arts into every classroom.

Note: This product listing is for the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the book.

 

Contents

The Arts as a Major Discipline
1
Musical Arts
13
Visual Arts
49
Kinesthetic Arts
71
Arts and Assessment
106
Additional Resources
119
References and Bibliography
121
Index
134
About the Author
139
Related ASCD Resources
140
About ASCD
141
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