Experiential Learning for Parents Too

Parents of our littlest Chargers gathered this week for ES Back to School Night. In her opening remarks, Dr. Sherri Danyali, Director of The Experiential School of Tampa Bay, spoke about experiential learning. This method of teaching applied at Shorecrest allows for learning to follow interests and curiosities of each child, social-emotional growth fostered through responsive interactions and project work to encourage collaboration and problem solving. Open-ended resources and flexible flow between learning spaces stimulates creativity and multiple ways of exploring and expression.

At Back to School Night, Alpha and JK parents had the opportunity to live their child's curriculum by exploring. Parents painted, played with clay, wrote their hopes and dreams for their child (in Alpha on a cup with paint pens, then planted a seed, added soil, and watered it; in JK they wrote their hopes and dreams on a ribbon hung from a loom which became a chandelier in the classroom).

Parents were able to flow through all learning spaces, talk with teachers and other parents, and find out more about curriculum. Alpha parents made cars for snack out of apple slices, grapes, and toothpicks. JK students cut basil from the Experiential School garden, made pesto, and - to serve the delicious treat - baked bread for their parents to enjoy.

A copy of the presentation from Back to School Night may be found here.

More photos of JK cooking may be found here.