The Literacy Crisis & The Power of Knowledge Building Through Art
- Kaila Piepkow
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
Recent reports from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveal a concerning trend: reading proficiency among fourth and eighth graders has declined significantly. Many states reported lower scores in 2022 compared to 2019, with a large portion of students failing to reach the "proficient" level. This literacy crisis is alarming, but it also presents an opportunity to revisit how we approach reading instruction.
If kids don’t have the knowledge and vocabulary to understand a passage, it doesn’t matter how good their ‘reading skills’ are—they won’t be able to comprehend what they’re reading. Reading comprehension isn’t just about decoding words; it’s equally about understanding the world those words describe. Yet, many literacy programs continue to emphasize skills in isolation rather than equipping students with the rich background knowledge they need to truly engage with texts.
Knowledge Building Through Art: A Solution in Action
At Doodles Academy, we’ve seen firsthand how integrating art and literacy can create a transformative learning experience—one where students not only improve their reading skills but also deepen their understanding of the world around them. Our Artistry of Literacy program merges visual arts with the Science of Reading principles, helping students build the knowledge and vocabulary essential for comprehension.
By engaging in hands-on, creative projects, students are not just passively reading about concepts; they’re actively making meaning. Take, for example, a student who participated in our Rainforest Puppet Marionettes project. She had learned about animal adaptations in class and was able to apply that knowledge in an art project—designing a puppet that incorporated adaptations she had studied. When she spoke about her work, she demonstrated an authentic transfer of knowledge, seamlessly connecting what she had learned in science to her artistic creation. You can see it in action in the video below:
Beyond "Extras": Art as Core Learning
Many educators feel the pressure to prioritize traditional academics over so-called "extras" like art. Yet, one teacher who did our Embracing Challenges project with her class reflected:
"When my fourth-grade team was first presented with the Doodles curriculum, I remember thinking, ‘Yeah, that sounds great, in a perfect world where we have all the time we need.’ It always seems like there’s not enough time to do what we NEED to do (academics), much less the “extra” things like art."
But after committing to integrating art, she saw a profound shift:
"Making time for art and creativity was totally worth it. It didn’t take the place of learning—it WAS learning. It reinforced ideas and topics from our ELA curriculum and helped kids experience thinking and problem-solving in a way that is learning in and of itself."
The Role of Authentic Assessment
Traditional literacy assessments often fail to capture the depth of student learning. Authentic assessment, such as the projects in Artistry of Literacy, allows students to demonstrate their understanding in meaningful ways. Instead of simply answering multiple-choice questions, they create superhero stories that explore character development...
build shadow puppets to retell folktales...
or design symbolic self-portraits that connect to themes of identity and culture.
These projects provide insight into how well students comprehend and apply their knowledge, offering a fuller picture of their learning than standardized tests alone.
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