MVVM : Model and ViewModel

Can someone please enlighten me with  MVVM

My initial understanding was I create a list of model objects but now I find out that I have to create an object of the viewmodel that i will bind to view.

Here is the structure of my project

1.       2 other ViewModels

In the StudentModel I have

publicList<StudentModel> GetAllMessageField()

        {

            st.Add(newStudentModel ("","", 5, 4));

            st.Add(newStudentModel ("","", 9, 7));

           return st;

        }

And the same in my other model

1.       In my StudentViewModel

I want to create a collection of StudentViewModel that I can bind to grid.

publicObservableCollection<StudentViewModel> GetAllStudents()

        {

              List comes here

  returnstudentViewModel

        }

I can create a list from studentModel and bind it but that is not the intention to MVVM.

I want my view to strictly connect to objects of StudentViewModel

Thank you,