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The success of all students
is supported by families, schools and communities working together in true
partnerships. |
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OSPI Arts
Director Passionate About Her Calling
and the Arts' Impact of Student Learning
By Chris Barron
CISL Writer/Researcher
chris.barron@k12.wa.us
You want to know how to close the academic achievement gap?
Use the Arts. You want to teach struggling students math?
Use the Arts. You want to teach world history? Use the Arts.
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That same three-word answer to the above questions
is AnnRene Joseph’s most common response to almost
any education problem. Joseph, director of Arts
education at the Office of the Superintendent for
Public Instruction, is a 31-year teacher and
administrator. Her career and life are centered
around the arts – and it’s hard to find anyone more
passionate about their calling.
The Arts – visual, music, acting and dance – are a
central part of every kid’s life, she says. If you
can’t tell them what to do, show them.
“We believe the Arts are a part of everything,”
Joseph said. “You want to do mathematics, reading,
science, social sciences, it’s all about the Arts.
The Arts are at the heart and core of all those
essential learnings.”
How, for instance, would a teacher or parent use the
Arts to teach a student math? |
AnnRene Joseph is
director of The Arts at OSPI. She displays a pillow
with her favorite saying, "Dwell in possibility," by
Emily Dickinson.
CISL Conversation:
Click here to listen to AnnRene Joseph discuss
The Arts. |
“We know, especially with students who struggle in math,
that if we ask them to draw a picture, they can pretty much
explain it,” Joseph said. “We also know we can ask them to
act them out or to physically dance, as in quadrants. If you
ask students to stand on quadrants and then ask them to go
draw quadrants and then ask them to understand quadrants,
they do it much better than if you say, ‘These are
quadrants. Copy this.’
“That goes back to the philosophy of the Chinese, which is:
I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I
understand. The arts are all about doing.” |
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The Arts at OSPI
AnnRene Joseph, director of The Arts at OSPI, is a 31-year
educator. She is also a vocalist and pianist. Click on her name
to contact her by e-mail. For important Arts dates this school
year, click here.
The Arts: Curriculm/Instruction
From OSPI Arts Website: The Arts,
which include dance, music, theatre, and visual arts, are
integrated into student educational experiences in all
Washington State schools. ... Our belief is that quality
instruction in The Arts shall be provided by arts specialists
and classroom teachers and supported by partnerships with
professional organizations and community programs in the arts.
This partnered instruction will enhance both student literacy,
and meaningful, purposeful, and enjoyable educational learning
opportunities. For more information,
click here.
The Arts:
Assessment
The
Arts are one of eight assessed core subjects in Washington State
schools. For
more information on how The Arts are assessed,
click here. |
Because of budget cuts, the Arts are usually the first programs
cut by districts or schools. However, many outside of the school
system might not know that the Arts are one of this state’s
eight academic core subjects. Through state legislation in 1993
and the 2002 federal No Child Left Behind law, the Arts are a
required and assessed part of every school’s curriculum. Each
student must have at least one Arts credit in order to graduate
from high school.
It’s Joseph’s challenge at OSPI to assist districts in providing
meaningful arts education. And that’s why the above quote from
Emily Dickinson – “Dwell in possibility” – is a driving force in
her life and job. She keeps the quote close at hand, embroidered
on a pillow in her office.
“I believe that if we can dream it we can achieve it,” she said.
“The dream of this state is a comprehensive, sequential K-12
Arts program for all learners. I am visualizing that for 2020,
and that’s the year my first grandchild graduates from school.
By 2020, it will have been a mandate for 27 years, which is just
a little bit more than half the time it takes to change a
society. So we are on a speedboat ride to change it sooner than
that. When you dwell in possibility, instead of focusing on what
isn’t, you look at what is and focus on what can be.”
Districts and schools with ever-increasing diverse populations
are finding it more difficult to engage, involve and communicate
with families. Many of the most popular and effective avenues
for inspiring family involvement are through cultural events.
That, Joseph says, is the essence of Arts. |
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“The Arts celebrate all culture and diversity and to use the
Arts is a way to reach all cultures,” Joseph said. “That’s a
huge strength to any school. Being able to speak and write and
celebrate the culture, it all boils down to the arts. What
brings them together without any language barrier? The art of
cooking, eating, socializing, dance, music, theater and the
visual arts. You don’t need language to experience wonderful
support and admiration for each human being that is unique by
focusing on who they are and the contribution they make to the
classroom with their culture and diversity.”
After spending 31 years in education, Joseph said there’s only
one answer to engaging students, closing the achievement gap and
making school a better place to learn.
“My answer to everything after 31 years is more Arts. It’s the
only answer that I can give them that makes things better,” she
said. “We know the research is clear that when students’ needs
are met and that they have caring people in their lives who care
about whether they are in school or not, they will achieve at
high-functioning levels. The arts provide that. Without the
arts, we can’t guarantee that will happen. … The
opportunity to create, perform and respond allows students to
achieve at their maximum potential.”
Did this story help
you? Please send your comments, suggestions and questions to
cisl@k12.wa.us.
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