UC Irvine Extension Partners with the OC Performing Arts Center to Present “Building Literacy Through the Arts”

Summer Professional Development Institute for K-6 Teachers Brings the
Richness of the Arts to Local Classrooms

IRVINE, Calif. – July 18, 2006 – Elementary school teachers and administrators looking to enrich students’ classroom experience will get a chance to delve into the creative world of the arts thanks to a regional partnership comprised of The Orange County Performing Arts Center (OCPAC), The Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), The California Arts Project (TCAP) and UC Irvine Extension. The partnership will present an engaging standards-focused program designed to deepen teachers’ understanding of the arts and their impact on a child’s creativity and overall potential for cross-curricular achievement. “Building Literacy Through the Arts – Summer Professional Institute for K-6 Teachers” is a four-day, interactive professional development program that will be offered at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. from August 7 to 11. There will be a follow-up session on October 18.

UC Irvine Extension’s director of education programs, Morgan Appel, will present a keynote address entitled, “The Impact of the Arts on Teaching, Learning and the School Community: Findings from Current Research,” which will explore the impacts of the arts on students, challenges and opportunities presented to educators and the broader school community in integrating the arts into established curriculum, the role of the arts in classroom learning and  implications for professional development.

Research shows that arts education fosters creativity and self-expression, expands imaginations and critical thinking skills, teaches discipline and listening, instills respect for and understanding of diverse cultures and backgrounds, promotes teamwork, builds self-esteem and ultimately increases potential for academic achievement. These skills have proven critical for success in K-12 and postsecondary education and have demonstrated similar impacts in the workplace.

“If structured appropriately, integrated arts programs have a marked impact on learning, teaching and parent and community involvement,” says Appel. “The Summer Institute is an innovative conduit for engaging teachers and administrators in the arts and the myriad benefits integrated arts instruction has for school communities.”

Through immersion in the visual and performing arts, teachers and administrators will forge connections to reading and literacy, other areas of the curriculum, the development of creative and critical thinking and positive work habits. Institute faculty will demonstrate how dance, theater and music can be integrated into teaching while still meeting classroom demands and school goals.  Professional development sessions will offer theoretical approaches, practical applications, such as skill and technique building, resource information as well as assessment strategies. Participating teachers will build capacity in the ability to develop and implement grade-level appropriate, standards-based lessons in the arts.  As an added bonus, teachers will be given the opportunity to see one of the most brilliant and visually stunning musicals of the century, the Tony Award-winning “Wicked,” up close from an orchestra level seat inside Segerstrom Hall. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet arts and education providers in Orange County to discover resources that are available to teachers and students.

Targeted to K-6 teachers, administrators, PTA representatives, student teachers and other interested individuals, these dynamic, hands-on programs will deepen attendees understanding of music, dance, theatre and the visual arts content standards, while providing demonstrations and standards-based lessons to integrate the arts into core academic subjects.

To register for the event or for more information, visit http://www.ocpac.org. The seminar is offered for four continuing education units available through UC Irvine Extension at a fee of $95.  Please contact Morgan Appel at (949) 824-2033 or e-mail appelm@uci.edu. 

About UC Irvine Extension

As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit www.extension.uci.edu.

About the University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.