Arts in Education:

Nurturing Creativity and Critical Thinking

Exposing students to various fine arts, including music, dance, theater, and visual arts is essential. Fine arts play a significant role in the overall development of a child, providing students with an opportunity to explore their creativity and uniquely express themselves. Encouraging arts in education can improve a student's critical thinking, problem-solving skills, confidence level, social-emotional skills and more.

Mr. Abdel, school leader at Hope of Detroit Academy (HODA), recognizes that all students learn differently. Some students are motivated by performing arts and he finds it important to expose their students to various arts education, encouraging higher academic achievement and attendance rates. 

“Music and drama offers students an opportunity to delve into their imaginations and become creators,” states Mr. Ray, choir/music teacher at HODA, who witnesses the benefits of arts in education for a student’s confidence level. “The ability to take a musical or dramatic thought and represent it visually or audibly is indeed a powerful tool. To use their voice to create a song or their imagination to create characters requires a higher level of thinking.”

Mr. Wright, school leader at César Chávez Academy Upper Elementary (CCAUE) partners with various groups to allow students to express themselves outside the traditional learning environment. The Living Arts organization integrates art into science melting physical art of different mediums into lessons like the education of animal life cycles. Their partnership with the Sphinx organization allows students not only the opportunity to learn the violin but also exposes them to performances outside their normal setting, like performing at the Detroit Orchestra Hall.

CCAUE students using watercolor art

 during a science lesson

CCAUE students perform at

Detroit Orchestra Hall

Stepping outside their school, their city and even their state, the band students at George Crockett Academy (GCA) are learning about alternative avenues to gaining college scholarships. Mr. Jackson, band director and music teacher for GCA takes his students on a college tour every year to multiple Historically Black Colleges and introduces them to what marching bands do on a collegiate level.

GCA Mighty Rockets at Ford Field with Big E

GCA Mighty Rockets perform at the

Detroit Lions Home Opener

Arts in education help develop a student's emotional intelligence, empathy, and social skills, which are essential to success in all areas of life. It allows students to connect with their emotions and express them in a healthy and constructive manner, building their confidence and self-esteem, which can positively impact their future.

The Power of Parent Involvement in Education

Parent involvement in education is critical for the academic success of children. Research has shown that when parents are actively involved in their child's education, the child is more likely to perform better in school, have better attendance, and have a more positive attitude toward learning.

Saginaw Preparatory Academy (SPA) parents join in on Parent Coffee Hour and collaborate about the different things going on in the school and students’ needs, sharing ideas they’d like to see. School Leader Ms. Mills believes that a meeting led by parents for parents creates a more comfortable and collaborative atmosphere. Ms. Mills and her team present the frequently involved parents with a Most Valuable Parent (MVP) certificate at their quarterly award assemblies to encourage more parents to get involved.

Building strong relationships with parents is the key to getting them involved. At Mildred C. Wells Academy (MCWA) many activities are planned with the whole child and whole family in mind. School leader, Ms. Corona, considers parental involvement successful when parents and educators collaborate to achieve continuous student progress and academic success. She finds offering the opportunity to take photos in front of a fun backdrop not only commemorates the event but also gives the parents and students an official keepsake and reminder of their connection with the school. “Parents are teachers first, and we should always consider them as team members who can bring some of the most valuable information to the table in helping you promote student growth and academic success.” states Ms. Corona, “When parents are incorporated into the school setting and the decisions we make regarding their children, they feel valued and respected and are more likely to support the team by showing up.”

"Educating families on the importance of our Title I program, meeting our basic needs such as clothes and food as well as attendance has been a cornerstone for Discovery," states Ms. Flowers, school leader of Discovery Academy (DISC). Schools often build relationships with community partners and host events to provide help to families throughout the school year. In their last parent involvement event, they partnered with a church in Toledo providing coats at a discounted rate and food to families.

Including parents in the different learning opportunities offered to students has proven successful at East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy (ECUEA). In addition to their annual family nights involving reading and STEM, they have added a new initiative that positively impacts families. Alongside the Leader in Me model implemented in their learning, Ms. Morgan, parent liaison, facilitates workshops surrounding The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. Ms. Eskew, school leader, says "During this time, our parents come together and spend the day learning about each of the seven habits and work through the Leader in Me See, Do, Get model to help our families see that small changes, even in just their paradigms, can have a major positive influence on the quality of interaction within their families."

From parent-teacher conferences, family fun nights, and required meetings to everyday interactions during drop-off, pick-up and more, parents’ involvement is essential to the student’s and the school’s success.