Field Trips = Great Success

On Thursday, March 15, I took the 7th grade class to the Toledo Museum of Art.  Being my first field trip since I have been here at New Riegel, and especially because I was going to be taking 7th graders to a quiet, fancy museum with expensive breakables, I was extremely nervous.  I had high hopes and numerous educational goals for the trip, but I was still nervous.  


"What if something goes wrong?  What if the students aren't inspired or interested in the artwork?  What if the students come out with no gain towards the educational goals?"  These were only a few of the many thoughts keeping me up Wednesday night.


After much over-planning, I started my morning with a soy latte to give me energy and soothe my nerves, then came to school mentally prepared for whatever outcome the field trip was going to give.  Let's just say WOW, I was surprised...


The field trip was incredible!  :)  The students were energetic and excited, yet quiet and respectful.  I can't explain how thrilling it was to see students standing in front of a piece of artwork, taking notes, discussing its details, explaining what it makes them feel and think of, etc.  Those moments alone were inspiring to me!  At one point, when I asked a student if he was finished looking at/taking notes of a particular piece, he replied, "I'm done, but I don't want to be done" with passion and sadness in his eyes.  THIS is what field trips are made for--to not only fulfill an educational goal, but to also ignite a passion and respect for something unexpected, and to expose young people to art, different cultures and different perspectives.  


It's interesting how things work out.  My original goal was for the students to come home with more knowledge and understanding than before they went to the museum, but it ended up that they weren't the only ones.  I, too, came home with more knowledge and understanding:  I realized that all the stress, time and insanity of planning the field trip was beyond well-worth it.  The moment when you see your students excited to learn, explore, and engage in something new, especially art/culture, is the moment when you're reminded why you chose to teach in the first place!