FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Teachers at Vickery Mill Elementary School in Roswell say bringing the arts into everyday lessons is helping break down barriers and giving students new ways to connect with what they are learning.
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The Fulton County school is in its third year of the federally funded “Arts Now” program, which has been around for more than 20 years.
In Cindy Magin’s second-grade classroom, students recently learned about birds and then acted out what they had read.
For Magin, the activity is more than just fun. She says arts integration gives students different ways to show what they know.
That can be especially important for students who may have difficulty expressing their understanding through traditional reading or writing.
“Motion is more universal,” fourth-grade teacher Dylan Townsenger said. “Being able to use that to show their understanding, I can see that they get it even if they’re not able to verbally say it or write it.”
Parent Kelly Tompkins said her fifth-grade son, Rudger, now comes home excited to share what is happening in his classroom.
“Whether it’s dancing or drawing or acting something out, they’re more likely to remember that lesson,” Tompkins said.
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Teachers say they are also seeing a difference in student engagement.
A 2025 evaluation conducted by the University of South Carolina’s Research Evaluation and Measurement Center found that 95% of educators reported increased student engagement, while 92% reported improvement in students’ understanding of concepts.
Arts Now Senior Director Regi Strickland said the program is also designed to support teachers.
“We’re also supporting teachers so that they’ll stay in the profession,” Strickland said.
Teachers receive training every quarter, and educators at Vickery Mill say the approach has brought new energy to their classrooms.
“I’m just thrilled to see kids that really like coming to school,” one teacher said.
Magin said the program is helping teachers grow, too.
“We’re just having fun with it and we’re becoming stronger teachers for it,” she said.
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