Art Education Advocacy
Art Curriculum Development and Interdisciplinary Studies
Making Art That Matters: Holistic Approaches to Art Education
The Power of Educator Narratives

Current Projects

CONNECTING OCEANS ACADEMY
Virginia Freyermuth is currently working as a Master Teacher for the Connecting Oceans Academy. This is a collaborative program of the Center for University, School and Community Partnerships of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the New Bedford Oceanarium. The Academy offers teams of teachers from different disciplines a unique opportunity to explore the historic and contemporary ties that link the diverse cultures of coastal Alaska, Hawaii and Massachusetts. The Connecting Oceans Academy is offered through Education through Historical and Cultural Organizations (ECHO) Program of the United States Department of Education.

WONDER FULL TEACHER PROJECT
Dr. Virginia Freyermuth and Dr. Peter London are engaged in ongoing research investigating dimensions of Wonder Full teachers from actual classrooms across the country. Initial findings were published in a series of articles for SchoolArts Magazine 2004-05. Based on many years of teaching, preparing teachers, and evaluating teachers and programs, Dr. Freyermuth and Dr. London believe the teacher is the most significant factor in helping children learn in school. Whatever the curriculum, educational resources, societal setting, standards, tests, and level of funding, they believe it is the personhood of the teacher that is the pivotal element in the success of the entire educational network. A Wonder Full art teacher is one who creates in the classroom an environment in which all learners experience a spontaneous elevation of behavior and whose visual, written and spoken expressions shift to what can be legitimately termed artistic. Dr. Freyermuth and Dr. London are available for professional development workshops and courses on this topic.