January 27, 2020
BTSALP Visual Art Specialist, Paul Heath had his Newman Elementary and M Lynn Bennion (SLCSD) students create color pencil drawings on toned paper. Each grade level at both schools worked with a different media. 4th Grade did foam block prints over an abstract watercolor base. 5th Grade did watercolor paintings while 6th Grade made color pencil drawings. They discussed the history of neon signs, and specifically, the history of the Young Electric Sign Company who are celebrating their 100th Anniversary this year. Students had black and white photo print outs from YESCO’s archives to choose as subject matter, or they […]
January 8, 2020
Arts inclusion research project at Mill Creek Elementary incorporates mural textures for visually impaired students Photo by Master of Fine Arts Teaching Candidate Robert Plumb How do we effectively create inclusive arts integrated learning spaces for all students? On Tuesday, January 14th at the Arts Education Research Symposium, the College of Fine Arts alongside principals, district leaders, and community arts colleagues, will tackle this very question. The goal? To network, share research, prompt discussion, and forge partnerships in an effort to continually create environments in school where all learners are included and can thrive. As Kelby McIntyre-Martinez, Assistant Dean for Arts […]
October 15, 2019
This Fall, 2019 the Artsbridge Honors course at Weber State University will design and co-create a new faux-stained glass installation called Utah Birds & Ecosystems. This is a course designed for Weber State University students to work closely with professors and BTSALP Visual Arts Specialist, Brent Rhodes, and his 4th graders at James Madison Elementary. Through this collaboration students design and build a hanging installation that depicts the birds and ecosystems found in Utah. This aligns with the 4th grade Utah State Science Standards. All of the Weber State students and 4th Graders will visit the Ogden Nature Center to gather field […]
April 25, 2019
“It’s long been known that drawing something helps a person remember it. A new study shows that drawing is superior to activities such as reading or writing because it forces the person to process information in multiple ways: visually, kinesthetically, and semantically. Across a series of experiments, researchers found drawing information to be a powerful way to boost memory, increasing recall by nearly double.” Read more about this at edutopia.
February 21, 2019
BTSALP has known this for a long time!! Glad the rest of the world is catching on! Here’s an article from INC. The Benefits of Playing Music. Music helps your brain more than any other activity, and learning an instrument increases resilience to age-related decline in hearing. Find out what Chalkbeat has to say – Extra arts education boosts students’ writing scores — and their compassion.
January 30, 2019
Here is an excellent excerpt from the book, You, Your Child and School: Navigate Your Way to the Best Education by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. Share with parents, principals, colleagues, and community members to advocate for the benefits of Art Education in schools. Click here to read more. Just for fun – a bit of Doodling. Enjoy!
January 6, 2019
Here is a good video clip and news article to share with parents, principals, colleagues, and community members on WHY Music Education is so important for children. CBC News Article: From musician to physician: Why medical schools are recruiting for musical ability Interesting research based Ted Talk and video clip
June 14, 2018
Two of our BTSALP Visual Arts specialists in the University of Utah region have concluded and published some exciting research. Read about Jonathan Hale’s joint project between Sprucewood Elementary School and Jordan Valley School (Canyons School District, Salt Lake City, Utah) in VSA INTERNATIONAL: The Kennedy Center Office of VSA and Accessibility blog post below. Peer Partners in the Elementary Art Classroom Lead to Growth for Students With and Without Disabilities Megan Hallett, Director of Framework Arts and BTSALP specialst at Escalante Elementary School, (Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake City, Utah) is the mastermind behind the Family Art […]