National standards for student achievement have been developed in the arts in a process that paralleled the standards discussions being held in mathematics, language arts, science, history, and other areas. The standards process, while demanding, has generated important discussion and debate about which art forms, what kind of knowledge, and what…

In 1994, aggressive leadership from the National Association for Music Education resulted in the adoption of the nine National Standards for Music Education. Now, almost two decades later, much has changed. Standards have been studied and critiqued, and scholars have undertaken a great deal of research to identify best practices not only for…

Discusses the reform context, the importance of standards, the importance of arts education, the benefits of arts education, and the arts and other core subjects. (RS)

Presents a lesson plan designed for upper-elementary and middle school students that uses whale songs to teach musical concepts. Requires students to listen analytically and to apply music terminology to identify, describe, compare, and contrast musical sounds. Notes required resource materials. (DSK)

Scope and sequence refers to organization of curriculum content, structuring what is taught against when it is taught. This scope and sequence for the different disciplines that comprise arts education in North Carolina public schools cites various goals to be attained in each grade for each of the following disciplines: dance, music, theater…

Discusses two national arts education projects (invaluable tools for including the arts in daily curricula): a standards document being created by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations, and a parallel assessment framework by the Arts Education Consensus Project to serve as a blueprint for the National Assessment of Education…

Presents a lesson plan for teaching elementary and middle-school chorus in accordance with the National Standards of Music Education standard 9C, to understand music in relation to history and culture. Includes objectives, a list of required materials, a list of required prior knowledge, an outline of procedures, and evaluation methods. (DSK)

These eight papers address the five goals of the national standards for foreign language learning: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. They include the following: (1) "From Rhetoric to Reality: Applying AATSP Standards to the Spanish Classroom" (Maria J. Amores and Frank W. Medley, Jr.); (2) "Standards for Teaching…

Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1997 Arts Assessment, which assessed eighth-grade students only, indicate that public and private schools in the United States are far more likely to offer extensive instruction in music and the visual arts than in either dance or theater. Includes 1 table and web addresses for…

Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 1997 Arts Assessment for eighth-grade students show that female students outperformed male students in every category of assessment for all three art forms assessed: (1) music; (2) theater; and (3) visual arts. In contrast to assessments in other subjects, nonpublic school students…