Ms. Carroll and her partners form a study group to examine the connection between illustrations and literacy. Teachers develop lesson plans to teach kindergarten students to become authors and illustrators. Study-group participants meet twice per month to evaluate the most effective ways to use the arts to teach basic writing and reading skills. Students participating in this project experiment with a variety of art media; study the work of well-know authors and illustrators such as Eric Carle, Jan Brett, and Leo Leonni; and use artwork to illustrate their own stories. Following field trips to a children’s dramatic production and an art gallery at Oswego State University, students write about their observations and experiences. Study-group teachers share their work and their findings with their peers at two district training sessions. Ms. Ballard also uses her findings to write and submit an article for publication to educational magazines.
