The arts teach students persistence, empathy, teamwork—and much more.
Not long ago, Mr. Sosa came to me in a fit of exasperation. "I've had it with Darren. I've moved his seat right next to my desk. I've spent extra time with him after school. I've called home. I've put him on a contract. I've talked to the counselor. In my 30 years of teaching, he's one of the most frustrating students I've ever taught!"
Darren was a 10th grade dancer with severe attention deficit disorder. He was working through difficult issues at home, including the question of whether he should take medications. Staying focused in Mr. Sosa's science class was hard for him. He could derail the class in seconds with a nasty quip to a peer or an inappropriate comment in a whole-class discussion. Getting Darren to work and make progress was a daily battle.
Darren: From Dance to Science
You must be a subscriber or an ASCD member to view this content. Log in to read the full article.