What is in common between Harvard Medical School and SVUSD elementary schools?  Both use VTS, an exciting and innovative student-centered, research-based program that asks teachers to facilitate open-ended discussions of works of art. VTS is funded in our District by the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation and was brought to the Valley by the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, VTS Executive Director Oren Slozberg, and VTS North Bay Regional Coordinator Robyn Muscardini.

Using art from different eras, cultures, genres, and media, teachers in a non-judgmental way paraphrase student comments about the artwork, introduce new vocabulary, convey that they value every response, and enable students to learn from one another throughout the discussion. The program strengthens critical thinking and language skills and also promotes respect, cooperation, and tolerance for other viewpoints.  The program is used in all five elementary schools and discussion is taking place about expansion to the middle and high schools.

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