Lee H. Kellogg School in Falls Village, Connecticut, is integrating spoken word poetry into their writing curriculum to reach students on a deeper level. By integrating the arts into classrooms as a tool for creativity, critical thinking, and inclusion, schools can honor the different ways that their students learn.
During a two-day workshop presented by Arts for Learning CT (AFLCT), led by poet Versatile Poetiq, Kellogg students will speak, move, and experiment with language. Participants will create a group poem through an energizing format in which they swap in words, play with rhyme, and clap and snap in response to each other's contributions.
Beyond the structure of the workshops, the heart of the experience lies in how students are invited to show up—as thinkers, creators, and storytellers. Students are encouraged to experiment, be honest and a bit brave, and express their true selves. Jed Kornbluh, Director of Business Development at AFLCT, adds that one of the greatest benefits to students is that they discover that “their own experiences can become powerful stories.”
Alex Novak Foster, Education Manager at AFLCT, adds that learning is always amplified as more senses are engaged. “The arts, in all of its forms, make learning really accessible to every kid.”
The positive outcomes are clear. Schools confirm, through evaluation surveys and verbal feedback AFLCT receives, that when the arts are paired with the writing curriculum, students’ literacy skills deepen; writing samples show improved clarity and a better understanding of poetic devices. There is an additional benefit to collaborative art projects; teachers share that students show greater empathy toward their peers.
This spring, 80 students in grades K-8 will participate. Workshops are tailored to each grade level, ensuring that younger students can play with words and sound while older students develop more complex poems and performance techniques. The program culminates in a school-wide sharing to honor each child’s work.
“We all learn in different ways,” Kornbluh shares. “That’s why some of these kids will shine, because they are finally being seen.”
Education Enrichment Funds Support Mission and Funding Gaps for ALFCT
This workshop at Kellogg is part of a larger mission led by Arts for Learning Connecticut, an educational nonprofit that uses art as a core learning tool for creativity, critical thinking, inclusion, and social connectivity. Through partnerships with community groups and schools, Arts for Learning Connecticut offers 260+ programs annually, including workshops, performances, professional development opportunities, and residences. They maintain a roster of over 100 teaching artists who create programs for schools, community centers, libraries, and festivals.
AFLCT, like many nonprofits, has had federal grants rescinded in the past year. A loss of funding from both the National Endowment for the Arts and The Kennedy Center resulted in an even greater need to bridge the gap with funding from other sources, like the Arts Fund for Region One grants. This is the fourth BTCF grant they have received since 2023.
BTCF established its first Education Enrichment Fund (EEF) in 1996 to help schools provide learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Arts Funds for Region One is one of 33 EEFs, representing every public school district in our region. Nonprofits like AFLCT are eligible to apply for funding to support their public-school programs. Teachers and students can also apply for EEF grants with project proposals that offer fresh and exciting learning opportunities. EEF grants are awarded annually, with applications opening in the fall.
Learn More About Berkshire Taconic’s Education Enrichment Funds
