At Union Ridge Elementary School, students are experiencing literature in a more vivid and meaningful way—thanks to a creative effort by teachers and support from the Ridgefield Public Schools Foundation (RPSF).
Last spring, a team of primary-grade teachers—Shandel Oderman (1st grade), Elizabeth Stamp (kindergarten), Corrina Hollister (2nd grade), and Janelle Capeloto (3rd grade)—successfully applied for an RPSF Art & Literacy Grant. Their goal: bring high-quality art reproductions into classrooms to support the Wit & Wisdom curriculum used across the elementary level.
The grant funded more than 20 pieces of artwork, which were carefully prepared over the summer and introduced at the start of the 2025–26 school year. Today, those pieces are prominently displayed throughout classrooms and hallways, paired with essential questions and key vocabulary from current Wit & Wisdom modules.
The impact has been immediate.
“The kids always comment when new art goes up—they love it,” said Oderman. “It naturally sparks curiosity and conversation.”
Wit & Wisdom, the Language Arts curriculum adopted last year by Ridgefield School district, places a strong emphasis on integrating visual art into literacy instruction. Students are asked to closely observe, compare, and discuss works of art to build understanding, explore artistic techniques, and deepen connections to the texts they are reading. While this work can be done digitally, having physical posters available has transformed the experience.
Instead of viewing art on a screen, students can now gather around large-scale images, noticing details together and engaging in side-by-side comparisons. With two copies of each piece available, teachers can facilitate small group discussions or allow multiple classes to interact with the same artwork at once.
In kindergarten and first grade classrooms, students practice describing what they see using complete sentences and new vocabulary, building foundational speaking and listening skills. In second and third grade, discussions go deeper: students analyze artistic choices, compare themes across different works, and connect visual elements to the literature they are studying.
This approach not only strengthens literacy skills, but also weaves art education seamlessly into core academic learning.
Across Union Ridge, approximately 550 students in grades K–3 are benefiting from this enhanced learning experience this year. And because the materials will be used year after year, the impact of the grant will continue to grow. The district is exploring how to further expand the program across all elementary schools.
By bringing an expanded art focus into students’ daily classroom experience, Union Ridge students are proving that powerful connections happen when creativity and curriculum come together.
