Introduction
Arts education is an important component of elementary education because it allows pupils to communicate ideas, express emotions, develop imagination, and appreciate the cultural traditions of their communities. Through drawing, painting, printmaking, crafts, design, and other creative activities, pupils develop artistic skills while learning to observe, interpret, create, and evaluate visual works.
At the intermediate level, particularly in Grades 4, 5, and 6, pupils can engage in increasingly complex artistic activities. They can explore the elements and principles of art, experiment with different materials, study Philippine arts and crafts, and create original works that reflect their experiences and cultural surroundings. These experiences may support the development of creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and confidence.
Despite the importance of arts education, its implementation may present challenges. Teachers may have different levels of preparation in visual arts, particularly when their academic specialization is in another learning area. They may also encounter limitations in art supplies, instructional references, classroom space, equipment, and time for individual guidance. In some situations, teachers must adapt lessons to available resources while addressing differences in pupils’ interests, abilities, and access to materials.
Teaching arts requires more than explaining concepts. It involves demonstrations, guided practice, experimentation, creative production, appreciation of artworks, and constructive feedback. Teachers must provide opportunities for pupils to explore different possibilities rather than simply reproduce a predetermined model. Appropriate assessment should consider creativity, effort, application of techniques, understanding of artistic concepts, and the pupil's ability to explain the meaning of the finished work.
In Benito Soliven North District, Schools Division of Isabela, a systematic examination of teachers’ current practices and experienced problems can help identify areas requiring instructional support. However, the specific conditions and experiences of teachers in the district must be established through actual research rather than assumed from general observations.
For this reason, the proposed study will investigate the practices used by intermediate grade teachers in teaching arts, the difficulties they encounter, and the measures they believe would improve instruction. The results may provide school heads, teachers, and education supervisors with evidence for planning relevant professional development and resource support.
DOI https://zenodo.org/records/23665358
