Crafting a Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Arts Integrated Curriculum for Latinx Students through CULTIVAR

• In Event: Room to Grow: Examining How Schools Can Cultivate Successful Culturally Relevant Arts Initiatives

Abstract

Objectives or Purposes
Central to this paper is an investigation of pioneering an arts integrated curriculum from a culturally sustaining perspective (Paris & Alim, 2017). The effectiveness of arts integration has driven education discussions for some time, however, the conversation of designing a curriculum that deeply and purposefully connects Latinx students with their cultural heritage has been lacking. In their various forms, the arts provide a powerful platform for this connection, resonating with the Latinx background. By seeing their culture represented in the curriculum, students' identities are validated, and they feel seen and valued in the educational space.

Perspectives or Theoretical Framework
This paper will highlight how the CULTIVAR curriculum draws from the Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) framework (Yosso, 2005) because it draws on the following forms of cultural capital: aspirational, linguistic, familial, social, navigational, and resistance. By approaching these forms of capital from an asset-based perspective, this paper demonstrates how the CULTIVAR curriculum draws connections to arts integration that would uplift and honor Latinx students to craft a curriculum reflective of culturally sustaining practices.

Methods, Techniques, and Modes of Inquiry
The method used for this paper was qualitative inquiry (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). The data collected for this paper occurred over a two-year span during the grant implementation and were as follows: 1) documents created during the curriculum writing process and 2) student work samples that corresponded to the curriculum they engaged in.

Data Sources, Evidence, Objectives, and Materials
The curriculum documents and the student work samples were analyzed using document analysis. The author analyzed the documents identifying key themes and concepts (Saldaña (2016) as they related to Yosso’s (2005) forms of cultural capital. In addition, all documents were analyzed to identify themes pertaining to individual and cultural identity as it relates to art expression.

Scholarly Significance
An arts integrated curriculum is essential for Latinx students because it celebrates cultural richness, accommodates diverse learning styles, fosters critical thinking and creativity, and empowers us to make meaningful contributions to society. Educational stakeholders need access to materials such as those found in this chapter to craft their arts integrated curriculum projects. Furthermore, the arts integrated approach is not just a learning tool but a catalyst for personal growth. It enhances my learning experience by catering to different learning styles and recognizing that all students have unique ways of processing information. By incorporating the arts, we can achieve a more holistic understanding of concepts. This approach also fosters creativity and critical thinking skills that are particularly important for Latina/o students navigating various societal challenges. By encouraging us to think outside the box and approach problems from multiple perspectives, an arts integrated curriculum equips us with the tools to thrive academically and beyond.

 

Author

• Katherine Espinoza-Talati, Trinity University