Many classroom teachers turn to arts integration as a method for meeting multiple learning objectives but are less than prepared to do so. The "Collaborative Residency" program offered classroom teachers an intensive course of study through collaborative work with teaching artists as they co-planned and co-taught arts integrated units together. Consistent with the literature, participants in this study experienced the educational advantages of teaching through the arts to help students gain, acquire, and construct understanding. The results of this study highlight the interdependence of classroom teachers' personal beliefs, behaviors and their environment, as well as the need for better institutional support to provide classroom teachers a ground on which they can continue their arts integration endeavors.