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School on Saturday--just for the fun of it
The young boys and girls, sitting on the gym floor, seemed entranced by the teacher sitting with them. The teacher told the group, "It's time to take a little break."
Everyone cried out in unison, "No, no!"
She laughed, "Doesn't anyone need to take a bathroom break or get a drink of water?"
No one said anything.
Finally, one little girl said, "Well, I guess I could get some water."
The class was an opportunity to discuss various methods of communication, using second and third graders' problem solving skills. And they didn't want to stop. That was how engaged students were at the University of Virginia (UVA) Saturday Enrichment Program-Fauquier County two years ago.
Now interested students have a chance to participate in the program, again. Held for two hours on each of five Saturdays in January and February at Highland School, the program is offered to gifted or high ability students K-5 through an application process conducted by UVA.
The goals of the UVA Saturday Enrichment Program strive to expose students to new interests, provide intellectual stimulation through interaction, encourage creative thinking and problem solving and develop skills for independent learning. The Saturday program offers themes of interest for approximately 200 students, grouped by course and grade: K- grade 1, grades 2-3 and grades 4-5.
Children in kindergarten and first grade can learn about plants through the acting role of investigative scientists. They could choose the creative writing class, focusing on their own version of fairy tales.
Older students may participate in classes exploring science, math, economics or language. Fourth and fifth graders choosing the dramatic course "Lights, Camera, Action" will write, produce and perform an original play.
The interactive classes are full of hands-on activities. Mary Christinger, enrichment program coordinator at Highland, described the structure of the program, "It is for highly motivated students who enjoy learning what is not typical. It is geared for the child who likes to dig a little bit deeper into things."
Some of the classes will include cooking, designing art projects, and working with computers. Christinger explained, "It is a multi-sensory approach; it's not listening to lectures."
Fifth-grade teacher Barbara Love participated in the program when it was first offered a couple of years ago at the Highland site. At that time she taught a course, "The Game Factory," in which students learned about the probability and statistics of games. Using cards, dice and coins, the students determined whether the games were fair to players.
She decided to vary her curriculum this year. Love will teach "You've got style," in which students will use chalk, fingerpaint and tempra paint to create their own artwork based on the historic styles of famous artists. According to Love, the course involves how culture influences style, "It's an opportunity for the children to stretch their imagination."
She added, "The UVA enrichment program is only two hours, so the students don't feel like they're in school. They get social peer interaction while they explore and expand their own interests. The classes give them the chance to show what they can do ."
The UVA program held at Highland School is the only site offering the enrichment classes in Northern Virginia. Orange County, has another satellite location to the UVA program located in Charlottesville. When Highland School first hosted the program, Henry “Hank” Berg, head of the school, said he was aware of the interest families in the area had in the enrichment program, but knew that sometimes traveling the distance to the programs was a great inconvenience.
According to Berg, it seemed like a natural fit for Highland to host the program with its advantages of facilities, size, and resources. Highland offered to participate in the program and open up its facilities for the enrichment program in 2007. Pleased that Fauquier County was chosen for a location and Highland School as the site, Berg said, “Highland has been very driven to be a community resource. We consider this a public service for our community kids.”
With the positive experiences that both the teachers and the students had the first year, Berg predicted future success for the Fauquier County location. He said, “I am sure the program will grow enormously.” And it is. The program this year has expanded to an offering of 13 courses. There is one TA (Teaching Assistant) for every class, making two adults for a class size of under 20 students.
While students look forward to the courses, teachers have reasons to be excited, too. Julie Baird, UVA director of the Saturday Enrichment Program, said there are advantages for the teachers, too. Not only do teachers get to work with children interested in a wide range of topics, the teachers receive faculty development training from UVA experts on the latest best practices.
Seeing a need, interest and opportunity, Love was eager to teach in the enrichment program again. "As teachers, we get so tied up in the curriculum that we don't get a chance for enrichment. I had so much fun the first time, I wanted to do it again."
Acceptance to the enrichment program requires an application, a nomination of a teacher and selection. The selection is made by UVA Curry School of Education. It is based on grades, achievement tests, creativity, as well as the student's love of learning. Christinger stresses that interested students do not have to be in a gifted program. Home-schooled children are also encouraged to apply.
Cost for accepted students is $175 for one course, but there is some financial assistance available for those eligible. Applications must be postmarked by Nov. 14. For more information on the UVA Saturday Enrichment Program, visit http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/sep.
E-mail the reporter: afelts@timespapers.com
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