Reaching Emotions through Arts-Based Creative Teaching (REACT)
Complete Project
Title:
Reaching Emotions through Arts-Based Creative Teaching (REACT)
Status:
Completed
Topic:
Violence Prevention
Funding Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Funding Period:
1/03 5/03
Study Design:
Prospective Intervention Study
Purpose:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel teaching approach which merges methods of conflict resolution skill-building with a unique application of creative writing and expression, permitting the incorporation of violence prevention into existing language arts curricula.
Further Study Details:
Aggression and hostility are underlying risk factors of youth violence, compounded by low self-esteem, feelings of alienation, and widespread media violence. Given the current climate of vigilance and media messages pertaining to terrorism, these risk factors may well be heightened. In the wake of September 11th, 2001 the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and the Mead Elementary School, through Project REACT, helped 5th grade students to explore and express their emotions through poetry and music. This pilot intervention is intended to test the effects of poetry/movement/music skill-building activities on conflict resolution skills, self-expression, and anger management.
Findings:
Teachers found children to be less rambunctious, more attentive, and more confident following the REACT program. The results of this pilot program found that cooperation and total social skills scores increased but not significantly following intervention. Assertion and self-control scores decreased following the intervention, although not significantly.
Eligibility:
5th grade students at the Mead Elementary School, Ansonia, CT.
Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center