When traveling with students, one of the greatest gifts you can give them is leadership.  You’re the teacher and you’re the example, so you set the tone. Our top travel tips can help.

That means preparing extensively, whether you’re taking your class on a field trip to a nearby site, or somewhere further afield for an overnight adventure.  When you’re fully prepared to address the destination and the educational gifts it offers, your students will likewise be encouraged to raise their own questions, based on what they know.

Your leadership gives your students the confidence they need to ask the right questions and to be just as prepared as you are.  Let’s look at these top travel tips, so you can bring your history knowledge and questions along for the thrilling ride.

Preparation in the classroom.

As an educator, you put a lot of time into what you teach your students in the classroom.  Every lesson is carefully planned and executed with student engagement in mind.  When you’re adding an in-the-field experience to the mix, you’re challenging your students.

You’re challenging them to glean from your teaching the knowledge they need to make the most of their experience, when you finally set off on your learning adventure.  Part of the challenge is making it clear to them that you’re setting the example.  Because you know your stuff, you expect them to have similar, in-depth knowledge to get the most from their trip.

Lead time in the run up to the excursion should follow a trajectory from the moment it’s announced.  Letting your students know that you’re expecting them to bring their history knowledge and questions with them (because you are) is a vote of confidence in their ability to prepare.

In fact, preparation for an experiential learning event should be part of what students are graded on.  Their ability to prepare intellectually for what they’re going to experience is a big part of the learning they’re getting access to.  Let them know that their prep is worth valuable currency in terms of their eventual grades.

Trip-specific preparation.

As you draw closer to your departure date, share with students more information about where you’re going and what they can expect to see there.  Provide them with website addresses and other resources to allow them to explore and get themselves ready for what they’re about to experience.

Make it clear that the more they know about the destination, the more immediate their experience of it will be.  Learning is a two-way street.  Deposit education is colorless.  When the educational project flows only from educator to student, it’s missing dialogue.  Add dialogue to your trip-specific preparation and have students take ownership of their own education.

That’s endlessly empowering.

Junior Tours.

Junior Tours has been taking students on educational adventures for 50 years.  Founded in 1967 by a teacher, we create personalized learning experiences which bring your teaching to life.

If you’re ready to take your students on an experiential learning journey, contact Junior for a free sample quote and itinerary.