This is in response to the letter by Cynthia Micken, published Dec. 12, titled “Connect through art.”
I couldn’t agree more with her about embedding art in the school curriculum. I would like to go one step further and include reading and writing among the arts she listed, such as poetry, creative writing, journaling and more.
I help students with their reading skills and find them most imaginative. Encouraging them to write down their thoughts and ideas can help them express themselves and, most important, communicate.
It is well known that students learn in different ways. Some are visual, some are audial, some are hands-on. Creative ways to teach a subject are always beneficial.
There has been a lot of emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) lately. It has grown into STEAM, adding the art element. I would like to make it STREAM, adding a reading (and writing) element. None of the STEM activities could be accomplished without the reading element. Being able to communicate what you have learned is icing on the cake.
To me, STREAM also has a gentler connotation than STEAM. STEAM is very energetic but may be intimidating without the reading skills.
Marilyn Marshall, Magna