Now that I am home and have had a chance to digest all that we did I am blown away. While we were in New York I knew we were doing a lot, but to look back over two weeks of trip I am amazed! I know my kids will benefit from all that I have learned during this trip as well as the previous two trips I have had the privilege of going on with the grant. The kids are not the only ones that benefit from the knowledge I acquire on these trips because I love to share my newly acquired knowledge with my colleagues as well.
The trips we have taken are always more than just learning about a place and the historical significance of an area. Although we do get that knowledge we also get a glimpse at a way of living that can be very different from our own. I had a few “ah ha” moments myself that I hope my kids will also find interesting and informative. For example, I was a little shocked to learn that many of the kids ride the subway to and from school each day. Seeing the area and how people drive it makes perfect sense for them, but is a foreign concept in our area. The subway system itself is an idea that my kids don’t fully understand. A very small number of my kids have ridden a subway and a slightly smaller number have been on the train at DIA and that is what I compare the subway to so they can get a picture in their heads.
I am excited to hang up the posters, maps, and pictures I purchased on my trip so my kids can get up close to look at and touch. I think the more the kids can handle materials the better they will retain the information I share. I am also excited to share pictures with them and allow them time to ask questions. Some of my best discussions have come from just sharing some of my pictures from the trip and letting them ask about things they see.
I want to thank Matt, Jonathan, and Scott again for an amazing trip. You three always work so hard to ensure that we will get the most out of trips and that we actually learn! Yes, Jonathan, I do remember this is a class!
