Iris Denner: Class Field Trip (My Choosing)

I babysit two kids for an adjunct professor on campus every Wednesday night. The nine-year-old has had two class field trips this semester. He is an aspiring marine biologist so when his class visited the James River, he was so excited. Field trips when I was in elementary school are one of the few memories I have from that time period that I can still recall in full color. I think this is a testament to having breaks in your schedule to do something abnormal. Kids are set on such strict schedules so when they have an abnormal day it can mess up their schedule for weeks, but it can also be a time where the most learning happens. Studies have shown that students who spend their day outside in non-sedentary environments retain more information. Being outside that traditional learning environment may not always meet benchmark state standards but it develops social-emotional learning, a skill that is dying out due to online school. I am a strong proponent of learning outside whenever possible, which is hard to do in large school groups, but completely possible in a home setting. I hope that the future of learning moves outside instead of in front of screens.  

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