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16 Feb 2016
Report

Arts Integration: A Promising Approach to Improving Early Learning

Meredith Ludwig, Mary Beth Marklein, and Mengli Song

The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts offers professional development (PD) to early childhood teachers built on the philosophy that dance, music, and drama can help young children master skills across a range of subjects. Research has found that this approach, termed arts integration, has great potential for improving student learning in multiple disciplines.

This brief builds on the results of a randomized-controlled trial of Wolf Trap’s Early Childhood STEM Learning Through the Arts program, conducted by AIR in concert with the Fairfax County Public Schools in northern Virginia between 2010 and 2014. Findings from the study show that participation in the program yielded a significant positive effect equivalent to one to two months of learning.

PDF icon Arts Integration: A Promising Approach to Improving Early Learning (PDF)

Related Work

16 Feb 2016
News Release

Wolf Trap’s Early STEM/Arts Program Translates Into One to Two Months of Additional Math Learning, AIR Study Finds

A program that uses music, drama and dance to teach young students basic math concepts has demonstrated a significant positive effect equivalent to one to two months of learning, according to a new brief from AIR. The brief builds on the results of a randomized-controlled trial of Wolf Trap’s Early Childhood STEM Learning Through the Arts program conducted by AIR in concert with the Fairfax County Public Schools in northern Virginia between 2010 and 2014.
19 Jan 2015
Report

music_math_boy_drumAA039565_245x165.jpg

Boy with drums

Positive Impact on Elementary Students’ Math Achievement Found for Wolf Trap Foundation’s Teacher Professional Development Program

Elementary students outperform their peers in mathematics when taught by teachers using music, drama, and dance, according to a four-year evaluation of a teacher professional development program at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Topic: 
Education, STEM

Further Reading

  • Wolf Trap’s Early STEM/Arts Program Translates Into One to Two Months of Additional Math Learning, AIR Study Finds
  • Positive Impact on Elementary Students’ Math Achievement Found for Wolf Trap Foundation’s Teacher Professional Development Program
  • Teacher Practice and Student Outcomes in Arts-Integrated Learning Settings: A Review of Literature
  • Review of Evidence: Arts Education Research Through the Lens of the Every Student Succeeds Act
  • AIR Researchers to Present at Biannual Society for Research on Education Effectiveness (SREE) Conference
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Mengli Song

Mengli Song

Principal Researcher

Topic

Education
Early Childhood and Child Development
STEM

RESEARCH. EVALUATION. APPLICATION. IMPACT.

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