Visual Thinking Strategies
VISUAL THINKING STRATEGIES (VTS)
Results | Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)
 VTS provides extra art time to 2,000+ students. |
How much VTS costs per school year, per school: $5,000  Percentage of funding for VTS that's provided by the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation: 100% |
 VTS is offered in K-5th grade at local elementary schools. |
Visual Thinking Strategies is an innovative program that uses art images to develop vocabulary, communication skills and self-confidence. The program is sponsored by SVEF and is currently being offered in several Sonoma elementary schools.
A brief history of VTS
VTS began in 1995 through the collaboration of Harvard cognitive psychologist Abigail Housen, Museum of Modern Art educator Philip Yenawine, and their colleagues.
Through years of study, Housen had discovered five distinct patterns of thinking that correlate to the amount of art exposure one has had. With her discovery, Housen and Yenawine developed a curriculum which is now the core of VTS.Improving visual literacy worldwide
Since then, VTS lessons have been implemented in dozens of schools worldwide to help students develop aesthetic and language literacy, as well as critical thinking skills and confidence in their own ideas.
The VTS is data-backed and very effective. Data collected during the Artful Citizen Project in Miami, FL reported that students who received VTS for three years had significantly higher growth rates in visual literacy and also displayed a strong correlation between visual literacy growth and growth in math and reading skills. VTS was especially effective with students who spoke English as a second language.
Help keep Visual Thinking Strategies in Sonoma’s schools by donating today.
Great News! Click on the link below for the Sept. 18, 2009 story in the
Sonoma Sun featuring the Visual Thinking Strategies program in Sonoma
Valley public elementary schools.
Visual Thinking Strategies Article 09-09 The Sun.doc 33.50 KB 09/21/2009 11:22
VTS featured on The George Lucas Education Foundation website:
The George Lucas Education Foundation VTS Article.pdf 134.67 KB 10/22/2008 17:38
