About DreamYard

Methodology

DreamYard believes that meaningful learning can only occur with motivated, interested students who share a common perception that their work is directed towards a tangible goal. DreamYard projects and exercises are all designed to foster learning and educational curiosity. DreamYard believes that discussion, writing, reflection and presentation can be the centerpieces of an education. The overall shape of a DreamYard class holds firm to the following tenets:

Introduction & Discussion
Each DreamYard project begins with the introduction of a topic, followed by a discussion of the issues that make that topic relevant to the students' lives. Through this process, students use their existing knowledge as the foundation for all subsequent project work.

Group Preparation
As the project begins to take shape, students need to do extensive background reading and research. Individually or in small groups students complete mini-projects designed to prepare the group as a whole to complete the larger project.

Feedback & Re-working
A fundamental component of DreamYard's approach is the re-working that goes into a successful presentation. Students share their work in rough draft form and garner feedback from students and faculty before making their final presentations. Experience has shown us that editing and rehearsal are perhaps the most applicable skills students learn through the DreamYard process.

Performance
Once the research, the creative writing, thinking, discussing and editing have been accomplished, our students have the opportunity to share their projects with an audience. The performance element provides an opportunity for students to receive feedback on their work, while giving them a forum in which to communicate their ideas. Confidence in self-expression and in the student's ability to solve and present problems and solutions grow with each presentation. The presentation is the final piece of the puzzle by which we create confident readers, writers, speakers and performers.