The Fresno Metropolitan Museum's Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) Program began in December of 2002 as a temporary educational resource. The program was so well received by area schools that the decision was made to continue this important program. The popularity of the program among educators has required the Museum to hire two new instructors, providing opportunity to offer VTS classes in Hmong and in Spanish.

Visual Thinking Strategies uses art to teach critical thinking, communication skills and visual literacy. The lessons consist of ten weekly sessions, approximately one hour each, at no charge to the schools. Students are involved in a discussion of carefully chosen images representing art from many different cultures and periods. The discussion-based approach used by VTS has helped young students learn to work together to reach answers while viewing artwork as well as when engaging in other subjects.

Stacey Williams, first grade teacher at Easterby said, "VTS has really helped my students learn to be observant and look for details in their reading, writing, science, math, as well as when we are doing art projects."

Students have been equally engaged by the lessons. They have commented on the enjoyable nature of the discussions as well as the skills they have developed from the program. One fourth-grade student wrote, "I learned that in any discussion you need to back up your opinion."

The Met also offers professional development trainings where educators can be taught how to implement the VTS technique in classrooms on their own. For more information contact Teresa España

The Fresno Metropolitan Museum's VTS program is generously funded in part by