I started Arts Integration for about a year and a half ago. I quickly “got comfortable with being uncomfortable” as I stumbled through the details of dance, delighted in the excitement of music, inquired the compositions of visual art, and plunged headfirst into the elements of drama. When beginning this journey, I knew that students would love the process, love to create, love to explore. This was no surprise to me … as humans, we all have emotional connections to one type of art form or another. I also knew that I would love creating innovative, thought-provoking, and interactive lessons. I make sure that there are social and emotional connections.
From my educational background in School Counseling, I also knew that Arts Integration would be an outlet for students who did not want to communicate orally. Teaching as a special education teacher for nine years prior to becoming a school counselor, I knew that the arts were an effective resource for students with Learning Disabilities, Autism, and ADHD. I felt as though I had predicted all of the positive outcomes of using Arts Integration within the classroom…. I was wrong!