Submitted photo Pictured are some of the third-grade students who constructed visuals along with writing projects to enable success in the classroom: Erica Curry, Brooke Mullins, Angel Lane and Tyler Spaulding.

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Chad Abshire

Staff Writer

A Mingo County school is combining art and music projects with classroom teaching to further educate area students.

In collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Education, The Clay Center and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Burch Elementary School is participating in the SCALE (Student Centered Arts Learning Environments) Project.

Third-grade teachers from Burch Elementary, along with the music and art teachers, have worked together to enhance student learning and to create and encourage opportunities to visit other classrooms and co-teach. Teachers who attended SCALE training in Charleston were music teacher, Mr. Jimmy Workman; Assistant Principal, Mrs. Deborah Starr; third-grade teacher, Ms. Dora Justice; and art teacher, Teresa Jarrell.

SCALE’s emphasis is on inquiry-based learning, with the implementation of the Next Generation Standards. The project also encourages developing a professional understanding of the arts as part of the core curriculum.

With the school’s participation in SCALE, music and art projects have been integrated with regular classroom teaching. In this process, students are exposed to newer intellectual challenges while the school promotes higher expectations for all to succeed.