When students see mathematics as an integrated field of study, they make connections, gain a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, and see mathematics as a whole rather than disconnected, unrelated ideas. Measurement concepts are the perfect "seed to plant" to show how different mathematical strands integrate within other…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Welcoming School Climates." Contents include: (1) Welcoming and Safe Schools…

"Uniting Body, Mind, and Spirit Through Art Education: A Guide for Holistic Teaching in Middle and High School" empowers art learners to have experiences that engage the spirit along with the body and the mind in deeper ways of seeing, being, and relating in the world. This timely resource, written to support both the veteran educator…

As the number of multilingual learners (MLLs) in US schools continues to grow, educators need to learn the moves necessary to support the success of these students in mathematics and science. "Equity Moves to Support Multilingual Learners in Mathematics and Science, Grades K-8" focuses on the literacy opportunities that MLLs can achieve…

Social connections are crucial for today's middle and high school students. We address this social need through a 3-H Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Cycle. Through the Three Sisters Garden activity presented here, we teach secondary school students about biodiversity and sustainability as we integrate the arts into STEM (STEAM). Students…

This practical book will help readers understand what STEAM is, how it differs from STEM, and how it can be used to engage students in K-8 classrooms. The authors present a conceptual model with recommendations and classroom examples illustrating various key aspects of STEAM teaching in action, including creating the correct teaching environment,…

The focus of this article is a nine-month long practice-led research (PLR) project. As part of this project, the author developed a cross-curricular program as part of a middle-school humanities course in order to facilitate student discussion. The program, which the students and author dubbed "BlogArt," began as a writing- and…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative assessment of what our nation's students know and can do in subjects such as the arts, mathematics, reading, and writing. NAEP collects and reports information on student trends and performance at the national, state, and district levels. NAEP releases…

The addition of the arts to STEM education, now known as STEAM, adds a new dimension to problem-solving within those fields, offering students tools such as imagination and resourcefulness to incorporate into their designs. However, the shift from STEM to STEAM has changed what it means for students to learn within and across these disciplines.…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what the nation's students know and can do in various subjects such as mathematics, reading, science, and writing, as well as civics, geography, U.S. history, and technology and engineering literacy. The results of NAEP are…

Having an answer to "When are we ever going to use this in real life?" is important to middle school mathematics teachers. The activity described in this article awakened sixth graders' understanding of how artists use mathematics. By exploring ratio and proportionality in different paintings, students realized the use of proportional…

Tired of hearing grumbling and moaning when it is time for critiques? It has been the author's experience that students do not do well in critiques because of two main things: (1) being shy about displaying their work; and (2) not knowing the right vocabulary to use to support their like (or dislike) of others' work. In this article, the author…

This book details the Guggenheim Museum's classroom-tested, inquiry-based approach to learning. This user-friendly guide provides teachers (grades 2-8) with strategies and resources for investigating art to enhance student learning across the curriculum. "For the classroom teacher", Art Investigation provides an exciting way to study contemporary…

This article discusses Al Souza's "Orlando City Maps," which was created not by adding colored ink to paper, but by cutting the printed paper away. Seven layers of pages are stacked upon one another and, except for the intact bottom layer, oval-shaped holes are cut through each page to reveal the layers below. When designing "Orlando City Maps,"…

Many of the paintings of 20th-century American artist Philip C. Curtis defy clear classification. Curtis's artworks often show dreamlike and fantastical qualities and are therefore frequently pigeonholed as Surrealistic. While this classification is not completely erroneous, it fails to acknowledge some subtle differences between Curtis's artwork…