Our Lady of the Assumption Students Developing a Life-Long Passion for Learning

“Students have their whole lives to do worksheets.” That was one of the most profound statements that I heard in a professional development training, and it has shaped my view of education, particularly in regards to early childhood and primary education. At Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, in Albuquerque, we strive to connect students with hands-on learning opportunities. 

While we cannot get away from worksheets entirely, we know that students learn and retain information best when they have a chance to visualize, play, and experiment with hands-on activities. We also know the value of focusing on S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art and Math) topics in our daily learning. We strive to teach about the five senses by using our five senses to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell things around us, use our mapping skills and cardinal direction to help the wisemen find Baby Jesus, experience how blubber helps keep arctic animals warm, and graph our predictions and results on whether or not we will like green eggs and ham after we’ve had an opportunity to make and try it. 

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School also focuses on differentiating lessons by providing different manipulatives like playdough, themed erasers, and other objects to keep students engaged and have a clearer and deeper understanding of the subject matter. We use movement, song, and more to keep learning play-based but with high academic expectations. 

It is our hope that through hands-on, play-based learning, our students will develop a life-long passion for learning, and create fond memories of their time at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School.