This book introduces a theoretically motivated and classroom tested,
culturally responsive approach to the education of children that teaches
them how to see and describe their world - both the natural world around
them and their own culture and identity - through linking the media of
art and language, considered as parallel creative-expressive processes
of arting (representation in visual images) and writing (representation
in words). Developed in a collaboration by three Hawaii educators, the
curriculum integrates knowledge and practices in literacy and culture,
art and science, with a goal of creating a transformative educational
experience for every child, building from the students' home language
and culture.
Starting from their own personal stories of what it is like growing up
outside the cultural mainstream, in Part I the authors present the
conceptual background to the work suggesting how the learning of bodies
of knowledge and practical skills in school can be raised to a higher
level of exploration and personalized learning that leads to a situated
and empowered sense of self. Part II shows how arting and writing
processes can work together and be mutually reinforcing to produce
highly engaged learning, as demonstrated in the authors' own elementary
and middle school classes. Part III provides two extensive multi-lesson
units, complete with objectives, lesson plans, and printable exercise
sheets given in appendices. Hawaiian ecology and stories about the land
offer illustrations of how teachers can integrate learning in students'
home language and culture with mainstream English language and culture.
Further lesson material demonstrates how students can explore their own
cultural identity as connected to family and place through arting and
writing activities.
In his Foreword to the book, renowned New Zealand educator Sir Sidney
Mead commends the authors for "bringing to the attention of a global
audience the creative approach to classroom practice that they have set
out in this book," which is intended to instruct and engage learners at
a high level of creativity and expression. In this way, the authors hope
their approach embodies the highest form of education, that which
"liberates human potential through transformational teaching and
learning experiences."
Arting and Writing to Transform Education is both inspirational and
practical in content, suggesting an approach to educating children that
will be enjoyable to teach and will engage learners in many ways and
help them realize their full potential. It is also visually
inspirational, richly illustrated in color with examples of student work
and the work of artists and teachers, including that of the authors
themselves, classroom photos showing children engrossed in their
arting-writing projects, and other scenes of Hawaii.
