Preschool class is getting an artful advantage

The Herald-Times

Preschool class is getting an artful advantage

Our opinion
January 30, 2013

It’s good to see the latest collaboration between Fairview Elementary School and institutions of higher learning reaching all the way to the youngest students.

As detailed by reporter April Toler in Tuesday’s In School feature, Ivy Tech Community College is partnering with Fairview to introduce artful learning concepts to the school’s preschool instruction, beginning next fall. Arts instructors will work with Fairview students and assist Fairview teachers in expanding their use of artful learning strategies in the classroom.

Fairview has been using the project-based learning model developed by the Leonard Bernstein Center for two years, but this will expand the program to preschool. With research placing more emphasis on early childhood development, this is another way to prepare kids to achieve in school by introducing them to learning methods they need to master as they go forward.

Bloomington is lucky to have two institutions of higher learning willing to involve themselves with the community’s schools. The Indiana University Jacobs Schools of Music, for example, has collaborated with Fairview for several years in the String Project, which provides violin instruction for students. Ivy Tech also has worked with the school on other arts-related projects.

Of course, while we’re handing out plaudits, we should recognize the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, without whose support in the way of grants, this latest collaboration would not happen.

Preschooler Patrick England, left, helps Abi Oakley during an exercise to learn the sounds and appearance of letters Monday at Fairview Elementary School. Soon artful learning will be applied to some of their lessons, just as it is for older Fairview students. Jeremy Hogan | Herald-Times

Copyright: HeraldTimesOnline.com 2013