One Thing Teaching Has Taught Me
by Erica Harper

One of the most poignant lessons teaching has taught me is to celebrate the little victories. When I first began teaching, I was like most recent graduates -- bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and uber-idealistic. I was convinced I would have students reciting Shakespeare and using the Pythagorean Theorem to unlock some mysteries of the universe in no time. Reality proved to be quite different, and I quickly realized that if I was going to continue teaching, I needed to meet my students at their level. Every child I worked with wasn't guaranteed to be a baby Einstein, but that didn't mean they couldn't succeed. And even success looked different for each student.

That student that is never prepared, but shows up one morning with two finely sharpened pencils ready to work? VICTORY! That student that never talks, but perks up during my lesson on the solar system and even chimes in to answer a question? VICTORY! The student that never smiles, but finally returned one after months of working with her? VICTORY! The student who can barely read, but proudly recited MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial? VICTORY!

I had to learn to appreciate these victories as they came, and was struck with how much there is to celebrate when you change your perspective.

We are proud to announce new programs for the 2012-2013 school year!

Fifth grade students will travel along the Potomac River on the Sequahana, which is operated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. While aboard, students will assess the health of the Potomac River by completing several water quality tests using scientific instruments. They also will have the opportunity to catch, touch, and identify fish, examine plankton under the microscope, identify bird and fish species, and experience a day on the river - all while enjoying stunning views of their city!

Sixth grade students will participate in an interactive art lesson entitled "Hear Art/See Music" at the Kreeger Museum. Students will view African masks and investigate how masquerades demonstrate elements of culture. Students will then create their own masks using natural materials. Finally, students will participate in a drum circle where they connect the patterns on their masks to the rhythms being played on drums.

We are pleased to offer two programs for fourth grade students at Mt. Vernon this year. The first program focuses on George Washington: The Revolutionary. During this program, students will further explore Washington’s leadership and legacy. Evidence of his revolutionary mindset appears across the estate, and students will analyze it in the preserved artifacts as well as the outdoor environment. The second program focuses on colonial slavery. During this program, students will explore first-hand what daily life was like for slaves. They will view period objects and tools, such as toys and a spinning loom. Students will explore various work houses and slave quarters to analyze the life of slaves. Finally, students will visit an exhibit about slavery in the education center at Mount Vernon.

Fourth grade students will explore the art of Roy Lichtenstein while visiting a retrospective of his life's work at the National Gallery of Art. This program will begin with a play, entitled Framed, about the life and art of Roy Lichtenstein. The play uses a combination of music, acting, and visual art to tell the story. Students will then tour the Lichtenstein exhibit as they explore the historical context of the artwork and the various techniques used by Lichtenstein. Finally, students will have the opportunity to sketch one of Lichtenstein’s works.

Fourth grade students will have a new opportunity this school year at the Washington Youth Garden. The unit will focus on nutrition and how our food choices affect our health. Students will examine the five food groups and the specific nutrients and health benefits that come from each. During the trip, students explore the garden – harvesting and tasting different plants – to learn how a garden can provide a balanced meal. The culminating activity is a cooking lesson where students help prepare a healthy snack which they eat together at the end of the trip.

Breaking News: Teachers and Students in the Press

Recently, two of our school partners have been showcased in the local news--and we couldn't be prouder!  Read on to find out what's newsworthy about Burroughs Education Campus and Orr Elementary School.

Check out more photos of Harrod and her students here.

The Washington Post featured Hope Harrod (a long-time Live It Learn It teacher partner and a Live It Learn It board member) and her colleagues and students at Burroughs Education Campus on their first day of school. 

Post reporter Emma Brown quoted Harrod and one of her students:

“This has been a wonderful day. Lots and lots of instruction, lots and lots of procedures,” the teacher said. “It’s been a long day.”

Yessenia Aguilar, who was packing up her homework folder, disagreed. “It was very short,” she said. “Too short.”

Over in southeast DC, students at Orr Elementary School were featured on WJLA for their rap video about how much they love their school.  Principal and Live It Learn It board member Michelle Edwards said, "I think this video gives us an opportunity to show the world that great things are happening at Orr Elementary School in Anacostia."  We couldn't agree more!

Happy Labor Day!

Some would say that teachers have it easy, but we at Live It Learn It know teachers juggle a seemingly endless list of tasks on a daily basis. That being said, we hope all you educators find some time to relax and enjoy this holiday! 

Welcome Back!

We at Live It Learn It hope that everyone has had an enjoyable summer. We are super excited to begin Year 8 (wow!) of our program and can't wait to get students exploring and learning from DC's fabulous resources.

But the work didn't stop just because the kids were out for the summer. Our goal has always been to have every student that we work with -- regardless of learning style or ability -- "get it." We've been diligently working on improving Live It Learn It -- everything from revising curriculum to hiring new staff. Here's a little about both...

• Hiring
• Back in March we began our search for a new staff member. From a pool of nearly 200 applicants , one eventually rose to the top -- Chris Magnuson. He comes to Live It Learn It with a passion for designing learning activities outside of the classroom.  While teaching social studies at Paul Public Charter School for ten years, he created a monthly competitive scavenger hunt program on the National Mall and also a study abroad preparatory program that introduced his students to the international communities in the DC metro area during “Saturday Abroad” trips.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from American University in 1997 and then in 2001 he was awarded the James Madison Fellowship which allowed him to pursue his master’s degree in teaching social studies from Brown University in 2002. We are elated to have Chris join the Live It Learn It family! 
• Programming 
• Adding new destinations -- We are currently in the process of adding a few exciting new programs.

• Mount Vernon 
• George Washington
• Colonial slavery
• National Zoo
• Ecosystems & the Amazon rain forest
• National Gallery of Art
• Pop art and the life of Roy Lichtenstein
• Kreeger Museum
• Connecting art and music

• Revising curriculum -- We have been working hard to improve our current program offerings. In addition to making our lessons and trips even more engaging for our students, we have been working to incorporate the new Common Core national learning standards that DCPS has adopted. We hope this will continue to help our teacher partners better integrate Live It Learn It instruction into their daily plans.

We are looking forward to sharing this school year with you. Remember to check back each Friday -- we will share some comments from our partners, post pictures and videos from trips and lessons, or update you on new initiatives and happenings! 

Reflecting on Last Year as We Prepare for the Future

We are excited for the upcoming school year!
But first let's reflect on what our students had to say about last year.  

Thank you notes from Ms. Harrod's 5th Grade class from Burroughs Education Campus.

 "The trips that you took us on were perfect for school because they were educational but fun at the same time.  I like the Live It Learn It program because you took us on field trips but you also taught us a lesson before and after.  This is important because usually when classes take a field trip they just go and have fun and do not usually do work...but we were learning and having fun as well. "  Nimai

Nimai's letter with illustrations from the places he visited with Live It Learn It: Dutch Ambassador's Residence, the Phillips Collection, Hard Bargain Farm and the Newseum. 

We look forward to another great school year with DCPS students as they experience all the educational riches Washington, D.C. has to offer.

Summer Cabin Fever? Free events in DC!

Parents, are your kids getting restless at home this summer looking for things to do? Students, do you want to compete in a scavenger hunt with your friends or help feed a live tarantula? Check out the free summer events and programs being offered at different museums in DC. Live It Learn It loves to bring students to these places during the school year! 

Newseum:

Kids 18 and under are admitted free for the summer! Check out the link below for dates/times of youth classes and scavenger hunts, and how to make reservations.

Newseum Youth Programming

National Museum of the American Indian:

Storytelling, hands-on activities, dance performances, art projects, and more for free! Come hear about the pink dolphins of the Amazonian culture and then participate in an art activity, or listen to a story in two languages and then learn a traditional Andean dance. Follow the link below for dates and times.

National Museum of the American Indian Summer Calendar

National Museum of Natural History:

Check out X-ray photographs of fish from thousands of years ago, help feed live tarantulas, or create art while learning about butterflies and caterpillars during Mariposa Mondays! Programs above are free; click the link below to learn about locations and times.

National Museum of Natural History Summer Calendar

Live It Learn It students touching a buffalo skin at the
National Museum of the American Indian

Be sure to let Live It Learn It know if you visit any of these locations! We'd love to hear about your experiences and any discoveries you make during your visit.