• Art as a Way of Learning® on NCC

Art as a Way of Learning® is the professional development program used to teach PASELA Educators and Artists how to make the arts central to teaching and learning in the classroom. The program and its resources were designed by art educators, classroom teachers, community artists and administrators.

The arts are a unique language that children use, as active learners, to construct and express their imaginations and knowledge. The arts provide a central thread that unifies children's learning as they actively organize and Integrate their experiences.

Researchers are testing the hypothesis that children are better prepared to succeed in school through participation in the PASELA learning experiences. These rely on professional development for Educators and Artists combined with coordinated arts-integrated early learning partnerships between educators, parents, artists and community resources.

PASELA Educators and Artists collaboratively implement a standards based curriculum using arts-integrated teaching strategies in eight classrooms and two family child care homes.