Very Special Arts California at Sacramento

• Calendar
• FAQs
• VSA California
• Contact Us

Admin Login

I Can Do That! Artists-in-the-schools

VSA arts of California at Sacramento's (VSAS) I Can Do That! Artists-in-the-Schools program involves 60 professional artists from the community who team with classroom teachers to accomplish children's educational and developmental goals at K-12 schools throughout Sacramento County. Participating groups consist of integrated special education and regular education students. Arts media includes but is not limited to drama, ceramics, video production, hip-hop dance, drawing and painting, mural-making and chorus. Artists work one-two hours per week in each classroom over the course of one semester for a total of 20 hours. The students are directed to create high quality Art productions later presented at Community Art Shows or Performances and the Very Special Festival of the Arts.

VSAS hires professional artists based on past experience in working with integrated groups of children and on participation in the Sacramento Arts community. Artists are encouraged to involve ethnic art forms, to expose children to both multicultural arts and arts reflecting Sacramento's heritage, and to facilitate cross-cultural exchanges.

Artists and teachers collaborate and adopt lesson plans which address each student's needs and learning level. Special education teachers are required to:

• attend one 2-hr in-service (typically in October - Fall semester; January - Spring semester);
• establish specific class objectives for VSAS participation utilizing the California Dept. of Education Standards;
• evaluate student progress and growth.

PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS wishing to participate in I Can Do That! should send the following information to VSAS, 4660 Natomas Blvd. #120-225, Sacramento, CA 95835:

1. a letter describing their desire to work in the program, past experience working with children, and background as an artist
2. a resume

PARENT training and participation in I Can Do That! is highly encouraged.

Program Evaluation: To determine effectiveness of the program and to plan future programs, VSAS tracks student progress by collecting evaluations at the end of the school year. Artists and teachers use the California State Department of Education standards to measure the specific knowledge and skills gained by very special artists as a result of participation in VSAS. Both academic and artistic skills are measured. Target growth areas include socialization, language arts (communication), mathematics, self-direction, self-esteem, and behavior.