Educators are increasingly recognizing the material benefits of including arts programs for students in grades K-12. Reading, writing and arithmetic can be stressful subjects for many students, and being able to spend some time having fun and being creative helps students get through the day. Some studies have shown that subjects like drama and dance can have therapeutic effects.
For those who love art and want to teach, the online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) – Art K-12 program from Arkansas State University (A-State) is a path to achieving that dream. In fact, art education has a number of benefits, but social-emotional skills are a significant one. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) notes that “involvement in the arts can support the social and emotional learning needs of students, including teaching students how to manage their emotions and have compassion for others.”
There are many types of art, meaning students have access to various means of creative expression. Creative visual arts include drawing, painting, printmaking, photography and sculpture. The media arts include film, graphic communications, animation and emerging technologies. Performance arts include dance, acting (theatre and cinema), and music. The literary arts include all genres, such as poetry, fiction, nonfiction, literature and writing. Exposure to as many of these categories as possible benefits all students and helps them determine which art form they enjoy the most and want to pursue.
Exploring the Benefits of Art in Grades K-12
In a feature article for Phi Delta Kappan, the professional magazine for K-12 educators, writer Danny Gregory proposes trading “art” education for “creativity.” He says emphasizing the creative process, rather than the art itself, teaches valuable skills: “Solving problems, using tools, collaborating, expressing our ideas clearly, being entrepreneurial and resourceful — these are the skills that matter in the 21st-century, post-corporate labor market. Instead of being defensive about art, instead of talking about culture and self-expression, we have to focus on the power of creativity and the skills required to develop it. A great artist is also a problem solver, a presenter, an entrepreneur, a fabricator, and more.”
Experience has shown that integrating art into the classroom is beneficial for students. TeachHUB lists the following major ways that participation in the arts helps students. First, visual art and performance art provide the opportunity to focus and solve problems. Learning about and choosing the right tools is a valuable life skill. Understanding intrinsic motivation, where students create art without expectation of reward, teaches a sense of enjoyment in the act of creating.
Additionally, self-expression and creativity are two obvious benefits of art education. When students are allowed to exercise their imagination and freely express themselves, even timid students flourish. Along with this, students grow in confidence by sharing their art with others, learning interpersonal skills in the process.
Also, getting and keeping students engaged is always a challenge, and since art provides intrinsic motivation, students feel freer to participate. Performance art and music are both creative activities that promote engagement with other students and reinforce those interpersonal skills. Plus, skills like perseverance and collaboration have many applications outside art class. These are life skills that students can learn at an early age that will always be of benefit.
Additional Benefits of Art Education
In a large trial to gauge the benefits of arts education, researchers assigned 21 elementary and middle schools to provide arts education to 8,000 students. A second group of 8,000 students from 21 other schools had to wait for the arts classes for a few years.
Researchers found that “art led to improvements in student behavior and other social-emotional skills that students need.” Furthermore, disciplinary problems were lower among students who had more art exposure. Researchers noted increased compassion for others and engagement in school, including stronger college aspirations.
The NEA reports similar benefits to teaching art to K-12 students. Students learn how to manage their emotions and have compassion for others. Often, art provides an outlet that helps students heal from disaster and trauma and build resiliency. These social-emotional skills were greater in students who participated in the arts.
Becoming an Art Teacher for Elementary, Middle or High School
Working professionals who want to teach art can gain the degree, knowledge and experience they need for their careers by enrolling in the fully online MAT – Art K-12 program from A-State. The program provides teaching methodologies, including curriculum development, integrating visual arts with other subjects, using technology as a tool for teaching, effective teaching with diverse populations, and more.
In fact, program courses such as Applied Art Infusion Contemporary Approaches and World of the Young Adolescent are examples of how the program prepares graduates with foundational art education skills. With the necessary abilities for teaching in art spaces, graduates can help learners utilize artistic expression for improved well-being and learning outcomes.
Learn more about A-State’s online Master of Arts in Teaching – Art K-12 program.