January 2023 Student Success Story:
Students at Jandrucko Early Learners Academy in Mansfield ISD and James A. Arthur Early Childhood Center in Kennedale ISD are learning through play every single day. These campuses bring concepts only seen at children’s museums and parks to create spaces that accelerate learning, increase Kindergarten readiness, and provide personalized learning experiences for Tarrant County students through an experience-based learning curriculum.
According to Jennifer Foster, Mansfield ISD’s Early Childhood Specialist, the impact on qualifying Pre-K students has been remarkable. Foster shared, “Knowing that our qualifying Pre-K students are outperforming their peers is amazing. This district is setting the trajectory of their educational career up for success.”
Experience-based learning, or experiential learning, engages students in hands-on experiences and creates a deeper understanding of education concepts. Through experience-based learning, these Tarrant County students are developing practical skills, exploring critical thinking, and discovering a passion for knowledge. Most times, these students don’t even know they’re learning.
Picture exploring a jungle-themed classroom where students learn daily alongside a 5-foot-tall gorilla statue and gaze upon a massive art wall full of English and Spanish vocabulary words.
For out of this world learning is the outer space-themed classroom that allows students to embark on educational voyages to distant galaxies.
These classrooms aren’t just creative and fun to play in, they are effective in helping Tarrant County students prepare for kindergarten. Data shows that early learners retain information when actively involved in learning through play. Additionally, applying learned concepts in real-world situations contributes to an increased motivation for learning and better long-term knowledge retention. Research proves that “…learners who are actively participating in the learning progression and take interest in their academic education are more likely to achieve higher levels of learning (Wang et al., 2021)”. This teaching approach sets early learners up for success and cultivates a love for learning.
Since its opening in 2019, Jandrucko Early Learners Academy’s commitment to experiential learning has yielded exciting results. According to Jennifer Foster, Mansfield ISD’s Early Childhood Specialist, the impact on qualifying Pre-K students has been remarkable.
Mansfield ISD has seen a substantial 20 percent increase in kindergarten readiness among students who attend Jandrucko Early Learners Academy compared to their peers in other Mansfield ISD schools. This notable achievement is attributed to a hands-on educational approach that involves immersive activities that go beyond traditional classroom settings to incorporate real-world scenarios and practical applications to make learning more relevant and impactful. Learning revolves around the creative concept of each room.
The impact of early learning in Mansfield ISD is catching the attention of neighboring ISDs who are scaling these effective practices to move of our region’s students. Kennedale ISD opened the James A. Arthur Early Childhood facility in 2023. Inspired by the Mansfield ISD facility, Kennedale ISD Superintendent Dr. Chad Gee felt that the district had the opportunity to adapt Mansfield’s approach to experiential learning by integrating real-life projects and interactive activities into its curriculum. Students at Kennedale benefit from a dynamic learning environment that encourages exploration, collaboration, and the application of theoretical knowledge in practical situations.
Dr Gee shares, “Finding ways for children to learn through play and rotating through classrooms has been a needed adjustment and now our students can … learn through play, share experiences, and focus on what is important.”
The early childhood facility is making an immediate impact. Kindergarten students have seen a 6 percent increase in their math achievement levels and a 6 percent increase in their reading achievement levels.
Experiential learning is a powerful educational tool that goes beyond traditional classroom education. As we prioritize experiential learning, educators pave the way for a more engaged, skilled, and adaptable generation of learners. Data from both Mansfield ISD and Kennedale ISD shows us that investing time and resources in experiential learning is a powerful educational tool that goes beyond traditional teaching methods. With experiential learning, we pave the way for a more engaged generation of learners.
Sources:
Kong, Yangtao. “The Role of Experiential Learning on Students’ Motivation and Classroom Engagement.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 12 771272. 22 Oct. 2021, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.771272
Wang Y., Derakhshan A., Zhang L. J. (2021). Researching and practicing positive psychology in second/foreign language learning and teaching: The past, current status and future directions. Front. Psychol. 12:731721. 12:731721. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.731721 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
Kennedale & Mansfield ISD data received directly from the school districts.