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Play Is Child’s Work at Forest Classroom

Story by Valerie Morikone

With the support of its school board and church family, Mountain View Conference's Parkersburg Academy has made a bold move in their school program this year. They are offering a non-conventional kindergarten through second-grade education called “Forest Classroom”—a classroom in the woods with no walls or artificial lights.

Under the leadership of principal/teacher Monica Zill, who implemented this program, Julie Henson teaches this classroom out in nature.

The Forest Classroom offers students an opportunity to be children, to play, explore and take risks. Being outdoors in the richness of God’s nature offers support for health, emotional, physical, social and cognitive development that an indoor environment cannot reach, says Henson.

Teacher 'Summer Schools' at Library of Congress

TA Teacher Shaun Robinson (pictured left) attended a Library of Congress Summer Teacher Institute

Story by Salena Featherstone

Most teachers can’t wait to be off for the summer. No more grading, lesson planning, noisy classrooms or ringing bells. Shortly after summer hits, however, many teachers begin to miss their students, classrooms and joy that being a Christian school teacher brings. Some of them, like Takoma Academy Life Sciences teacher Shaun Robinson (pictured), seek out professional development opportunities, seminars or workshops to help them add more resources to their educational toolbox.