Creating Meaning Through Literature and the Arts : Arts Integration for Classroom Teachers

The new edition of this best-selling text on arts-based teaching redefines literacy in light of the 21st century need for multiple literacies. Creating Meaning through Literature and the Arts: An Integration Handbook for Teachers, 4^th Edition provides teachers with an Arts Integration Blueprint, comprised of 10 building blocks for arts-based instruction that includes collaborative unit planning, best arts-based teaching practices, and assessment for learning. The Five Seed Strategy chapters provide a compendium of activities to jumpstart the use of literature, art, music, drama, and dance as integral teaching tools for science, social studies, math, and literacy instruction.

Claudia Cornett is Professor Emerita of Education at Wittenberg University. During her tenure there she has directed the Literacy Center and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in literacy methodology and arts integration. She is a recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award from Wittenberg. Before moving to the college level, she taught grades 1-8 and was a literacy specialist.  She received a Ph.D. from Miami University in curriculum and instruction.

       Claudia is the author of numerous books and articles about literacy, using the arts as teaching tools, bibliotherapy, children’s literature, phonics and the strategic use of humor. Her most recent publications include Comprehension First: Inquiry into Big Ideas using Important Questions in press.  In 2006 the International Reading Association published her article, Center Stage: Arts-Based Read Alouds in the November Reading Teacher. In 2002 Phi Delta Kappa published a second edition of Learning through Laughter.

       Claudia regularly particpates in keynote addresses and professional development for educators throughout the United States, Europe, and Canada. Her current research focuses on redefining literacy to include all the communication arts, including the fine and performing arts.