Sally Smith: Professor at American University
Founder of the Lab School in Washington DC and Baltimore
Also available: 2 handouts and notes
The AC Methodology, as practiced at The Lab School in Washington,
is designed to capture the imagination and enthusiasm of students with learning
disabilities and immerse them in the atmosphere of a given historical period
or real life experience. Hands – on multi-sensory thematic teaching incorporates
all of the art forms to teach all subjects. It builds strong content knowledge
and more.
Sally started the lab school because of her son who was severe ld and at 7 couldn’t
compute, write or read.
Sally always matched lessons to students’ interests.
Each lesson has a clear academic purpose, and is always assessed, although often
through games, or other means.
“Academic club” began in summer of ’66. Attendance rate was
94% (as opposed to 40% earlier for the same kids)
AC expects students to get totally involved. It is for only an hour per day,
but impacts everything else.
Jr. and Sr. High kids may not use costumes, but may use props, and as many art
forms as possible
8th graders write their own constitution, listen to music from time periods,
dances from the times, and build houses from time periods.
The ARTs ignite the learning process. They entice concentration, help students
to see start / finish, clarify relationships.
Boxes: Put smaller into larger - write city names and put into a small box,
then a bigger box holds the state names, than a larger box holds country names,
then continents …
This box, visual hands-on methodology works in many ways for many concepts.
Also Chant, Sing, dance these allow kids to live it, love it, learn it, discuss
it ….
Students with high academic achievement are involved in the arts.
WE MUST DEMONSTRATE THE FUN OF LEARNING
It works, 90% go on to college.
Impact : The idea of integrating the arts and especially making
all things/ concepts more visual for kids makes total sense and can be applied
in much of what I do. This school sounds tremendous and is clearly very successful.
It reminds me of the middle school that Bob mentioned (Lymen?)