Sure, when most of us look back on our earliest educational endeavors, we remember all of the excitement we felt by discovering new things in a hands-on manner alongside our nurturing, eternally patient teachers. From the first day of kindergarten, we couldn't wait to get to school and explore new and engaging in-depth investigations with objects, materials, phenomena, and ideas to draw meaning and understanding from those experiences. Unfortunately, as students grow-up, in their quest for higher levels of knowledge, sometimes learning becomes less hands-on and more hands-off, which, in turn, can actually turn-off all of those kinesthetic learners out there!
Fortunately, in late November, thirty students from Vero Beach High School Freshman Learning Center participated in an outstanding learning experience that would have made John Dewey, the most famous proponent of hands-on learning, proud. There was such a wealth of knowledge and artistic expertise gained in this half day experience that some of the students involved have actually decided to pursue a career in the field of art when they graduate from high school.
Understanding that every human needs a variety of experiences to aid them in exploring the world around them and that through art they learn to value their own individuality and to appreciate other's uniqueness, was a basic tenant when Mr. and Mrs. Curry planned a trip to the Vero Beach Museum of Art to explore the Lost Luggage Contemporary Reflections: Glass from the Permanent Collection exhibitions on November 25th. The VBMA graciously funded this trip with not only the bus and substitute costs covered, but with a teacher workshop and a pre and post field trip liaison visit to the school.
Students prepared for the field trip by studying about the artists and styles of artwork they would visit while at the V.B.M.A.. Once at the museum, the students participated in discussions about the meaning and purpose of the art they were viewing in small groups. The docents who guided the students through an in-depth look at the art work in the museum expertly led a workshop that allowed the thirty students to use the inspiration of the art Jon Davis created to develop their own assemblages.
Following the field trip, students wrote creative explanations of what their own works of art meant, presented their art and descriptions at an art showing, and proudly displayed them in the front of the Freshman Learning Center for their peers to enjoy.
This is certainly a memorable experience that these freshmen students will benefit from for years to come. Every time they open up a book of art, visit an art museum, or, perhaps, create a unique work of art of their own, they will be able to reflect upon their visit to the Vero Beach Museum of Art and remember how exciting it felt to learn by doing!
3rd 9 Week Assignments...
01/23/2009 FCAT Short Response Article Review
02/13/2009 FCAT Short Response Article Review
02/13/2009 Workshop 9 Daily rBook Skills
02/20/2009 Workshop 9 "In The Front Lines Of Justice" Wrap-up
02/27/2009 February Cornell Notes Check
03/23/2009 Comprehension Average
03/23/2009 March Cornell Notes Check
03/23/2009 Novel Project Presentation (Digital Photo Book)
03/23/2009 Reading Counts Novel Test Average
03/23/2009 Vocabulary Average
Upcoming Events...
Literature Leader & ESOL Field Trip Tuesday, February 17th, 7:30-1:45.
Another field trip to the Vero Beach Museum of Art, but with new students, exhibits, experiences, and writing activities this time around!
Literature Leaders...
What are they? Who are they?
Literature leaders are students from Mr. and Mrs. Curry's Intensive Reading class that were selected to serve as peer leaders in the classroom based on a history of 1st semester engaged attitudes during instruction. These students serve as role models, and they peer coach fellow students in need of extra help. Once a month Mr. and Mrs. Curry meet with all the Literature Leaders to discuss expectations and review progress.