Reality bites: implementing arts integration

This article speaks to classroom reality issues that may supersede any ideals, funding and expectations. We document a journey regarding the implementation of arts integration for six teachers in a small rural school in New Zealand. Arts Integration is a pedagogical approach to teaching and learning that employs arts activities to teach concepts in other subject areas where the focus is on the arts learning processes that are transferable across different disciplines and less so on the artistic product. Our definition aligns with that of the John F. Kennedy Center 'Arts Integration is an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form'. Arts Integration can be a difficult concept to understand and for teachers who have possibly avoided teaching any arts subjects in the past, it is a whole new pedagogical approach to teaching. All is laid bare as we document our research in an attempt to understand and share the reality of the difficulties that are involved in such an undertaking. We identify some of the issues that 'bit' us as we pursued a research project rich in pedagogical potential and full of threats concerning issues around change in the classroom.