ProgramTestimonies

Keep up the great work, and please continue to keep me informed of your work through J Rêve International.

This week long experience has change my perspective on how a child learns.

I had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Paris with an amazing group of educators to learn about integrating arts in a STEM education program for students. The experiences and the immersion into the arts in Paris as well as the meetings and discussions we had with experts and educators was truly inspirational. I would encourage anyone that has the chance to experience what JReve International programs have to offer to learn about culture and education around the world, they should apply. I am so glad I did and look forward to further experiences with JReve International!

My name in Cinnamon Nolley. In the picture, we are at the Louvre, last February. I am the woman on the right-hand side of the man touching the pyramid. I am a Rochester (NY) City School District Special Education Teacher who teaches 8th grade 12:1:1 self-contained. I realize the importance of a multisensory approach for all students, but especially for my students who need different entry points to concepts and different avenues to express their mastery of concepts. My deep interest in furthering my practice along these lines and the lure of Paris proved irresistible. I am enormously grateful for the experience.

Through J Reve, we met important Parisian educators, artists, educational foundation leaders, curators and even the American Education Ambassador to the United Nations in intimate settings for fascinating conversations on their work and how STEAM education is a powerful educational tool. We participated on fascinating panels regarding new exciting technologies to use in the classroom (which we were given for free to use in our classrooms), an artist exhibition prefaced by the Doctorate scholar’s talk on her research of the artist, a panel discussing the issues of classification and museum curation, a STEAM education panel with wide-ranging experts, as well as an United Nations presentation and tour for educators. We toured important cultural sites and museums. All of these experiences were powerful and profound. I was moved to tears more than once.

Jacqueline Cofield, our guide, and fearless leader, was indefatigable, incredibly knowledgeable, invariably pleasant, graceful and thoughtful of her group. Like all great teachers, she over plans and never leaves a dull moment. But what surprised and impressed me the most was the fellowship that developed among the group. We had a wide range in age and experience among or group. There were teachers that taught throughout New York City, Rochester, and even Korea. It was an incredibly bonding experience and I hope to spend time again with our cohort.