Watching the Video

Before You Watch
Respond to the following questions.

• Has your school had to cope with reductions in funding for valued parts of the curriculum, such as the arts? What happened? Were there any upsides along with the downsides?
  
• Many people in their teaching draw on artistic skills or subject-matter expertise that is beyond the scope of what they teach "officially." If you have done this, how has it worked for you?
  
• What do you think the advantages and disadvantages might be of teaching integrated units alone (e.g., one person teaching visual art and social studies) as compared to teaching such units in collaboration with another teacher?

Watch the Program

As you watch, pay attention to the different ways the teachers combine arts and non-arts elements in their lessons. Take notes, keeping track of the connections that seem substantial and "two-way" (benefiting both arts knowledge and non-arts knowledge) vs. those that are more "one-way" connections (benefiting one discipline or the other, but not both).

Reflect on the Program

• Several of the featured teachers were trained in two areas, arts and non-arts. In what ways, if any, do you think they were better teachers as a result?
  
• Which of the arts-infused lessons seemed most successful to you, and why?
  
• What evidence, if any, of student engagement or learning did you see?
  

NEXT: Connecting to Your Teaching