Marrington Middle School of the Arts is well on its way to bringing more arts-integrated lessons to support students' learning.
This is all thanks to ArtsNOW, a grant program provided by the South Carolina Arts Commission (or SCAC). It delivers customized professional learning and support through integrated learning methods. By emphasizing the arts in education, ArtsNOW provides an engaging learning environment that promotes teacher confidence and improves student engagement.
ArtsNOW has worked with several different schools in BCSD through varying support models. At MMSOA, ArtsNOW has a partnership that will continue all year. Representatives from the program will visit once a quarter, focusing on a specific fine arts area. All teachers will receive professional development and have the opportunity to watch arts integration lessons taught by ArtsNOW professionals. Teachers will then plan with those ArtsNOW experts for their own arts integrated lessons. Principal Lauren Canfield said the long-range goal is that by 2029 MMSOA will be implementing arts integration with fidelity schoolwide.
ArtsNOW experts most recently visited the school in September, focusing on visual art elements and how they can be used for lessons in the four core subject areas.
