Skip to Site Navigation | Skip to Content
You are here:

Oklahoma A+

An important element of the success and uniqueness of the Harding Fine Arts Academy is the recognition of the school as the first A+ High School in Oklahoma. Our teachers receive special and ongoing training in ways to integrate the arts throughout the curriculum.

For more information about Oklahoma A+ schools, visit www.aplusok.org.


Arts 

In A+ Schools the arts are:

* taught daily

*inclusive of drama, dance, music, visual art and writing

*integrated

*valued as essential to learning

*included in planning

*practiced

*a part of personal experience


Curriculum

In A+ Schools curriculum is addressed through the use of:

*mapping that reflects alignment

*thematic webbing

*development of

essential questions

*creation and use of interdisciplinary

thematic units

*cross-curricular integration

 


Experiential Learning

In A+ Schools experiential learning:

*is grounded in

arts-based instruction

*is a creative process

*acknowledges

entry points

*includes differentiated instruction

*provides multi-faceted assessment opportunities
 


Multiple Intelligences

In A+ Schools multiple learning pathways are:

*used within planning

& assessment

*understood by students and parents

*studied, and new research is explored

by teachers

*creating balanced learning opportunities


Enriched Assessment

 In A+ Schools enriched assessment:

*is on-going

*is designed for learning

*is used as documentation

*is a reflective practice

*helps meet school

system requirements

*is used to self -assess by teachers and students

 


Collaboration

In A+ Schools collaboration:

*is intentional

*occurs within &

outside of school

*occurs during planning time: classroom teachers with arts teachers

*occurs with teachers, students, families,

the community,

& local businesses

*includes broad-based leadership

 


Infrastructure

In A+ Schools infrastructure supports the philosophy by:

*addressing logistics such as schedules that support planning time

*providing appropriate space for the arts

*continually developing faculty commitment

* creating a shared vision

*providing related professional development

*continual team building


Climate

In A+ Schools climate improves because:

*teachers can manage the arts in their classrooms

*stress is reduced

*teachers are treated

as professionals

*morale improves

*excitement about the program grows

*A+ whole school reform is invigorating