About the Intervention
Arts for Learning (A4L) Lessons Project is a supplemental literacy curriculum designed to improve students' reading and writing achievement through the integration of arts into the language arts curriculum for students in grades 3, 4, and 5. Students in the treatment group receive two A4L Lessons Units and one teaching artist Residency each school year. Units of instruction are delivered by a classroom teacher trained by program staff, focus on a particular art form (theater, visual arts, music, or dance), and are built around one or more central texts. Each A4L Unit is comprised of 10 to 19 Lessons, with suggested instructional time varying from 13 to 20 hours. Residencies are aligned with each A4L Unit, in which a trained teaching artist works in collaboration with the classroom teacher during five one-hour sessions. Students work together in groups and practice public presentations. Teachers attend professional learning community (PLC) sessions for training.
Statistical Findings
No effect: on OAKS Reading/Literature test after one year
No effect: on OAKS Reading/Literature test after two years
No effect: on OAKS Reading/Literature test after three years
Positive effect: on grade 4 CCU Assessment in year 1
Positive effect: on grade 4 CCU Assessment in year 2
Positive effect: on grade 4 CCU Assessment in year 3
No effect: on grade 3 CCU Assessment in year 1
No effect: on grade 3 CCU Assessment in year 2
No effect: on grade 3 CCU Assessment in year 3
No effect: on grade 5 CCU Assessment in year 1
No effect: on grade 5 CCU Assessment in year 2
No effect: on grade 5 CCU Assessment in year 3
More Intervention Details
Focus Areas
Social-Emotional LearningPrograms & Services
General EducationDelivery Methods
Face-to-FaceDisability Support
N/ATarget Groups
Student(s), Teachers/Instructional TeamsCitation
Nakamoto, J., Orland, M. & Sobolew-Shubin, S. (2015). The Beaverton School District Arts for Learning (A4L) Lessons Project, an Investing in Innovation (i3) Development Grant: Student Impact Findings from Years 1, 2, and 3 (ED560945). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED560945.pdf.
Study Demographics
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Participant Race
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Participant Gender
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Other Participant Characteristics
Geographical Setting
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