In this conversation, Larissa and Lindsay discuss the role of arts and elective classes in developing the whole child. They highlight the importance of belonging and connectedness, shared experiences and a sense of responsibility, learning soft skills and reinforcing job skills, overcoming challenges and building resilience, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, and learning life skills and the consequences of choices. They emphasize the significance of electives and arts classes in providing a more robust educational experience and acknowledge the impact of teachers in creating safe spaces for students.

Resources:

Article: https://www.branchingminds.com/blog/4-ways-electives-and-arts-classes-support-mtss

Takeaways:

--Arts and elective classes provide opportunities for students to work with their creativity, develop self-expression, and foster a sense of belonging.

--These classes offer a safe space for students to explore their interests and develop a shared sense of responsibility.

--Electives and arts classes help students learn soft skills and reinforce job skills that are important for their future professional lives.

--Students in these classes learn to overcome challenges, build resilience, and develop critical thinking and emotional intelligence.

--The experiences and skills gained in electives and arts classes contribute to the development of the whole child and should be valued in education.

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