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Inspiring creativity in children

Are the arts vital to providing a well-rounded education for children?

According to a recent Harris Poll released in June 2005, an impressive 93 percent of Americans said yes. Yet our new reality of significant budget shortfalls and schools placing an emphasis on test scores is adversely impacting quality arts education. Along comes Abrakadoodle, a national innovator in creative art education, to lead a renaissance in how children learn art as the 2005-2006 school year gets underway.

“Abrakadoodle is partnering with hundreds of schools and community sites nationwide to deliver remarkable art education,” stated Mary Rogers, M.Ed., CEO and founder of Abrakadoodle. “Increasingly, Abrakadoodle is taking over art education for preschools, public schools and after school programs. We are able to provide exceptional lessons, well-trained teachers and high quality materials to ensure that students enjoy all the benefits of a far-reaching art program.”

What’s unique about Abrakadoodle? It is the most comprehensive art program of its kind.  Abrakadoodle relies not on illusion but instead offers an enlightened approach to cultivating children’s creativity and knowledge of color, form and design. From working with acrylics and tempera paints to stamp art, drawing, digital design, and more, Abrakadoodle art classes inspire the best in its students. According to research published by Americans for the Arts (www.americansforthearts.org/public_awareness/facts/), art education “makes a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child.” Studies suggest that students regularly participating in a broad art program are much more likely to experience academic success.

Through its hands-on classes in painting, sculpting, collage, mosaics, and sketching, Abrakadoodle teaches history, style and technique from such old masters as Renoir, Chagall and Monet and modern masters as Mort Solberg, Korky Paul and Lisa Cherkasky. Leading its creative program design is award winning fine artist and author Lori Schue, who has directed the release of more than 1,200 Abrakadoodle lessons to date. Abrakadoodle’s Artist of Distinction program further connects contemporary artists to children in the classroom through a unique mentoring program in which select artists share their vision, style and technique, which is incorporated into Abrakadoodle lessons. Abrakadoodle’s exclusive curriculum exceeds National Standards for Visual Arts Education.

“I am proud of our work in revitalizing arts education,” commented Lori Schue, Director of Curriculum for Abrakadoodle. “We expose students to a variety of artistic styles, engage them creatively, and help them to unlock their imaginations. Beyond developing a sense of wonder, children in our program build such skills as craftsmanship and problem solving —abilities needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”

Established in 2002, Abrakadoodle (www.abrakadoodle.com) classes deliver comprehensive art experiences that immerse students ages 20 months to 12 years old in a broad landscape of activities including painting, collage, sculpture, mosaics, and more. While Abrakadoodle emphasizes active learning, its presentation of student’s final projects with such products as FrameDoodles have earned praise from parents and participants alike. The magic behind Abrakadoodle is the creative energy between a child and his/her art materials ignited by a well-trained teacher. Artist Lori Schue, author of the popular book series Artworks for Kids, and educator/award-winning franchise developer Mary Rogers, M.Ed, created Abrakadoodle’s imaginative national curriculum.