Arts with the Brain in Mind

by Eric Jensen

How do the arts stack up as a major discipline? What is their effect on the brain, learning, and human development? How might schools best implement and assess an arts program? Eric Jensen answers these questions and more in this book. To push for higher standards of learning, many policymakers are eliminating arts programs. To Jensen, that's a mistake. This book presents the definitive case, based on what we know about the brain and learning, for making arts a core part of the basic curriculum and thoughtfully integrating them into every subject. Separate chapters address musical, visual, and kinesthetic arts in ways that reveal their influence on learning. What are the effects of a fully implemented arts program? The evidence points to the * Fewer dropouts

* Higher attendance

* Better team players

* An increased love of learning

* Greater student dignity

* Enhanced creativity

* A more prepared citizen for the workplace of tomorrow

* Greater cultural awareness as a bonus
To Jensen, it's not a matter of choosing, say, the musical arts over the kinesthetic. Rather, ask what kind of art makes sense for what purposes. How much time per day? At what ages? What kind of music? What kind of movement? Should the arts be required? How do we assess arts programs? In answering these real-world questions, Jensen provides dozens of practical, detailed suggestions for incorporating the arts into every classroom.

Genres: Education, Art, Nonfiction, Science

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Adrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Eric Jensen! If you are a parent, teacher, future teacher, interested in art, or interested in education, you should read this. He provides multiple reasons why the arts are important beyond the false idea that they "help other subjects". The arts stand alone as a subject and he tells us how.

[Shel Nagashima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very easy and comfortable read and relevant to those interested in art and neurodevelopment. Highly interesting.

[Sylvester · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple book backed by research to show case the beneficial effect of art education. It's a little too simple in my opinion, but convincing nonetheless.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource...have already passed it on to a young woman who is beginning her career in arts education.

[Kim Timmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me how lucky we are to have such strong art and music programs at our school. Our students are better because of it!

[Ashlee Utt · Rating 5 out of 5]

great informational tool for my research proposal