Promoting excellence in arts education by strengthening its foundation in early and middle years

Arts Integration is an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form. Students engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject area and meets evolving objectives in both.

Greetings to my elementary and middle school arts colleagues!

Welcome to the Elementary and Middle School committee (EMSC) site for the Arts Schools Network! As educators who work with students across the K-8 spectrum, we realize the important role we play in developing young students into creative artists, performers, and life-long enthusiasts of the fine arts.

The EMSC is committed to serving as an active voice for our members, and to providing quality resources to support instruction in and through the arts. Specifically, we are working to provide the following benefits to our members:

- Expanding our NETWORK of preK-8 arts educators throughout the United States and Canada.

- Developing strong PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT opportunities for elementary and middle school arts educators at the annual ASN conference.

- Providing an ONLINE FORUM to share resources and best practices.

- Celebrating and recognizing ARTS INTEGRATION techniques that impact student achievement in general education.

Additionally, the EMSC is working towards developing an "On Your Way" Junior Edition, which will mirror the high school program and assist in identifying talented artists and performers at the elementary and middle levels. We are currently looking for institutions which provide summer camps for these ages to sponsor this effort and assist us in developing judging and assessment criteria.....any leads you may have are most welcome!

On behalf of the committee, THANK YOU for taking a few minutes to check out this site. We thank you for the work that you do, and encourage you to become involved in ASN....we are only as strong as our collective voice.

Feel free to contact me with any questions......connection is the foundation of the Arts Schools Network!