The Third Space

The Third Space The Third Space

30% of all students entering ninth grade

in public schools across the country

will drop out of high school .

Barton, .E. (2005) One-third of a Nation: Rising Dropout Rates and Declining Opportunities .

Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service. P 7

50% of new teachers entering the school will quit

within the first five years of teaching.

Greene, J. & Winters, M (2005)

Education Working Paper 8 . Manhattan Institute.

Schools must make students believe and feel that they are respected and that they belong, that they can learn what they are required to learn, And that the lessons of the school ‘make sense’ within The context of their own lives. Deborah Stipek, et al., Engaging Schools: Fostering High School Students’ Motivation to Learn

The arts don’t teach self esteem and confidence; They demand self esteem and confidence. Drama teacher at Hand Middle School, SC.

The arts require “active citizenship,” democratic behavior Measured in obligations, duties, and commitment to the common good.

Self-efficacy: The belief that one’s actions can make a difference.

You feel like you’re doing something amazing and incredible. Student, Central Falls High School, RI

ART in schools: Students AND Teachers! A complex, intellectual enterprise A respectful and responsive common language Reflecting, analyzing, making meaning (higher order thinking) “ Flexible purposing” Imagination and innovation Critical thinking Interpretation Discovering different perspectives Connecting old with new ideas… Considering possibilities Solve problems Revision is encouraged Risk free experimentation. Builds trust and safety Empathy and tolerance. Embraces linguistic and cultural diversity Disabilities and behavioral problems are minimized, indeed, embraced Ownership and self directed learning Internal vs external standards “ Hard fun” Student engagement (active participation) supports cognitive development Collaborative Student backgrounds are essential.. Student is essential! Helps build complex identities Community building: even parents! Success in school builds learning. Learning then matters!

Powerful teachers are strengths-based and student-centered. They use students’ own experiences, strengths, interests, goals, and dreams as a beginning point for learning, competence, and accomplishment. Thus they tap students’ intrinsic motivation, their existing, innate drive for learning. Bonnie Benard Resilience: What We Have Learned

Can you strengthen learning by adding the arts? You know the WHY. Time to consider the HOW!

Imagination: To envision things as they might be otherwise. Maxine Greene