DEVELOPING AN ARTS SUPPLEMENTAL HANDBOOOK FOR THE
STANDARDS-BASED READING PROGRAM
Stacy Nai Yaangh
B.A., California State University, Sacramento, 2003
PROJECT
Submitted in partial satisfaction of
the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF ARTS
in
EDUCATION
(Curriculum and Instruction)
at
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
FALL
2009
DEVELOPING AN ARTS SUPPLEMENTAL HANDBOOOK FOR THE
STANDARDS-BASED READING PROGRAM
A Project
by
Stacy Nai Yaangh
Approved by:
____________________________, Committee Chair
Crystal Olson, Ed.D.
____________________________, Second Reader
Lorie Hammond, Ph.D.
Date:________________________
ii
Student: Stacy Nai Yaangh
I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University
format manual, and that this Project is suitable for shelving in the Library and credit is to
be awarded for the Project.
___________________________, Graduate Coordinator
Rita M. Johnson, Ed.D.
Department of Teacher Education
iii
___________________
Date
Abstract
DEVELOPING AN ARTS SUPPLEMENTAL HANDBOOK FOR THE
STANDARDS-BASED READING PROGRAM
by
Stacy Yaangh
The author is a second grade teacher at an urban elementary school in one of the
largest school districts in northern California. The author has used the district-adopted
Open Court Reading Program, which is a scripted reading program that follows a strict
pacing guideline and does not allow for the integration of the arts into the curriculum.
After teaching Open Court Reading for five years, the author has found the program to be
dull, routine, and disconnected from her students’ life experiences.
Therefore, the author is seeking a way to bring back the passion and love in
teaching as well as make learning alive and enjoyable for her students. The author has
concluded that integrating the arts into the curriculum is the solution to this dilemma.
Thus, the author has developed an Arts Supplemental Handbook to go with the Open
Court Reading Program. The author will use the Arts Supplemental Handbook to bring
back the joys of teaching for herself and for her students.
_____________________________, Committee Chair
Crystal Olson, Ed.D.
_______________________
Date
iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, I want to thank Crystal Olson, Lorie Hammond, and Karen
Benson for your guidance and support from the moment I entered the masters program.
I especially want to acknowledge Crystal Olson for your dedication and commitment to
the arts and to the students that you teach. Thank you so much for believing in me and
allowing me to finish this project in a timely manner. I want to also thank Lorie
Hammond for being my second reader and for valuing diverse cultures. Additionally, I
want to extend my gratitude to Karen Benson for your positive feedbacks on my literature
review chapter.
Second, I want to thank my loving and supportive husband, Chiem-Seng Yaangh
for your unconditional support and belief in me. Your dedication to life-long learning has
motivated me to excel and achieve my goals. You are my role model and my inspiration
for learning. My accomplishments are possible because of you.
Third, I want to thank my children Daniel Yaangh, Allen Saetuern, and Sarah
Yaangh for your support and love throughout my project. Thank you for allowing me the
time and space that I needed to complete my project.
Last, I want to thank my mom, Ying Saelee for your encouraging words and for
taking care of Daniel, Allen, and Sarah so that I could concentrate on school.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Acknowledgements……….. ……………………………………………………………...v
Chapter
1.
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………….1
Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………............1
Personal Background and Purpose of the Project……………………………….…..3
Nature and Goal of the Project……………………………………….……………..7
Significance of the Project………………………………………………………….7
2.
REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE………………………………….…….9
Why the Arts? …………………………………………………………….………...9
Multiple Intelligences……………………………………………….……………..10
Arts and Learning ………………………………………………………….……...17
Contributions of Singing and Drama to Learning……………….………………...21
Role of Teachers in Arts Education………. ………………….…………………..26
3.
METHODOLOGY………………………….…………………………………….31
Nature and Organization of the Project……………………………………….…...31
Suggestions on How to Use the Arts Supplemental Handbook…………………..33
Limitations of the Project…………………………………………………………35
4.
REFLECTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS………………………………..……....37
Reflection of Successes and Challenges………………………………………….37
vi
Recommendations…………………………………………………………………38
Next Steps ………………………………………………………………………....40
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………........41
Appendix A.
Handbook of Art Activities…………………………………………......43
Appendix B.
Handbook of Songs for Open Court Reading………………………......71
Appendix C.
Handbook of Reader’s Theater Scripts………………………………...110
References……………………………………………………………………………....182
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