Recently Evergreen Community Charter School hosted a guest artist who portrayed pioneering environmentalist John Muir. Lee Stetson's one-man performance fit well with Evergreen's vision of environmental learning. "Meeting" John Muir also helped reinforce third graders' study of heroes in everyday life. So many times visiting artists can enhance student life and student learning. They are especially powerful when integrated with classroom curriculum. It sounds obvious, but sometimes performers are brought to schools simply for entertainment value. As an entertainer myself, I see nothing wrong with entertaining kids for "entertainment sake." Still, the performances take on much deeper meaning and make longer-lasting impressions on students when they are integrated with school curriculum. Bravo Evergreen!
Bringing in experts from "real life" can add greatly to our students' understanding of a topic. When my students are preparing for their war crimes trial role-play, I invite a local attorney to speak to the class regarding our justice system and the duties of jurors, attorneys, witnesses, etc. I could cover that information myself, but having a "real life" lawyer discuss the topic brings a reality and seriousness to the proceedings that might not be there otherwise.
How do you utilize community experts in your classroom? Does your charter school strive to bring in visiting artists and "experts" to enhance curriculum?
Thanks to Jeff Ziegler, Academic Dean at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, for forwarding an article from the Asheville Citizen-Times regarding the John Muir performance.
It's about the people
14 years ago
No comments:
Post a Comment