River Valley Students Experiment with 'Genius Time'

Fifth graders at River Valley School recently delved deeper into subjects and projects that interest them, as part of the ”Genius Time” program.

During Genius Time, the students are encouraged to explore topics about which they have a personal interest. They make claims, research findings, and support those findings with evidence. Throughout the process, the children collaborate with peers and mentors, as they find ways to solve problems. This process leads these inquisitive minds to even more questions and fosters deeper understanding.

Sonya Raymond, one of the fifth-grade teachers who helped to implement this program at River Valley, said the concept ”fosters intrinsic motivation for learning by encouraging students to study and research subjects they are passionate about.”

“We are meeting Literacy, Math, and Science standards, as students take ownership of their learning and create products to share with each other and the world,” Raymond said.

“The kids cannot wait for Genius Time! Listening to them talk about complex topics and watching them tackle complex problems in new ways is a wonderful thing to be a part of as a teacher!”