How Do We Know?  Evidence of Impact

CCAE, Inc. works to make a difference in the classroom.  We provide training and resources to Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade teachers to help them incorporate art into their teaching.  How do we know that this works?  We let the teachers tell the story.  Here we present the first in a series of stories from the classroom.

In Their Own Words: The Teachers’ Stories
Caryn VanWormer, Kindergarten-First Grade Teacher

After attending the CCAE Summer Art Institute and Curriculum Development Workshop in 2004, Caryn VanWormer developed a curriculum unit around the sculpture “Untitled” by Deborah Butterfield. She challenged herself to “find a way of teaching art differently” to her young students.  To support her unit and carry it out in the classroom, VanWormer supplemented her training with art resources and mentoring from CCAE, Inc.

VanWormer found that her students generated “complex, varied and significant responses” after looking closely at a print of the sculpture, talking about the art, seeing the video about he artist and creating their own sculptures.  Students made discoveries such as: “She makes them (sculptures of horses) to remember them. She uses a real horse model.”

VanWormer’s final assignment to create a foil collage also included an opportunity to respond to writing prompts: “Why is art important?  Why do you like art?  What do you like about your artwork?” One of the students wrote: “I love art.  Art makes you learn.” 

In reflecting on this unit, VanWormer was convinced that the “higher-level thinking skills (demonstrated by the students) come from nowhere else but through art.”  Her goals for students’ increased understanding of a specific work of art and artist were met; her related goals for increased art observation skills and vocabulary were demonstrated.

“Prior to attending the CCAE Summer Art Institute and Curriculum Development Workshop, I had no training in standards-based art … Furthermore, I had no resources available to me… I can now teach a meaningful art program that is aligned to the standards.  I believe KD and Jill are committed to helping teachers everywhere get quality art education into their schools.”

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Length of Program: 4:55

This “Evidence of Impact” Project has been funded in part by the Arts Stabilization Program of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission with support from the City and County of Sacramento; and The Donant Foundation.

Additional support has come from: Jed Bittner; PageWeavers, LLC; Ritz Cameras; and Tannehill Design.

We also thank Caryn VanWormer, currently a teacher at Alice Birney Elementary School, Sacramento City Unified School District, for sharing her experience.

The sculpture “Untitled” by Deborah Butterfield is located at 6th and J Streets in downtown Sacramento.  CCAE, Inc. published the art print of this sculpture with permission from Ms. Butterfield, and with support from Triple Net Properties, LLC and Sacramento Commercial Bank, A division of Placer Sierra Bank.  The photograph was taken by Mary Swisher.