Seeing the future

Some of the things that could be seen at Park Forest Elementary School today:

During a morning set aside for professional development, the art teacher demonstrated how regular classroom teachers could incorporate art into the environmental curriculum at each grade level. This was an example of professional development that was both dynamic (the teachers were enthusiastic) and relevant - particularly so, because the groundbreaking ceremony for the school's wetlands project would be held that afternoon. 

This is exciting on several levels.

First, educators are beginning to recognize the importance of art instruction, not just for its own merits, but for how it enhances and improves learning in the more "traditional" areas.

For example, research is starting to show that opportunities for music instruction improve student academic achievement in other areas. Even more interesting, by incorporating the arts within traditional instruction, more pathways in the brain are engaged during the learning process. As a result, the subject material is learned more deeply. (It was not an accident that you learned your "ABCs" to music.)

This is also a good example of service- and project-based learning. Students will be actively involved in both the creation and the study of the wetlands. By having their learning placed within the context of "meaningful" work, not only are they acquiring important civic skills and community awareness, their learning is enhanced due to their heightened level of engagement.

At the conclusion of the ground-breaking ceremony, an all-school meeting was held that was organized and run - almost entirely - by fifth graders. These meetings, which are held every week, are a vehicle for creating school community, as well as an excellent opportunity for the fifth-graders to learn and exercise leadership skills.

These all-school meetings also a key part of a school climate that encourages and values input from all its "citizens". (Several years ago, dissatisfaction with how the lunchroom was run was resolved by soliciting input from everyone in the school community. Representatives from each grade level continue to meet with the principal regularly in order to monitor progress.)