Presentación de contenido de Guía didáctica

How well are the goals set by the school learning landscape met?

STEELE ELEMENTARY- Very well. EDISON ELEMENTARY- The garden com- munity group has meetings regularly and parent volunteers meet with teachers and principals about curriculum. More pub- lic art and stronger link to curriculum as mentioned above, also use of the original planned theme gardens.

is there current assessment of the program? STEELE ELEMENTARY- Garden component- First full year of data collection started this year provided by garden leaders. It consists of a garden book that records people using the garden and hours spent in the garden. Info will be put into a spreadsheet. The ul- timate goal is to show the district what im- pact the volunteers are having in the garden in order to put teachers into paid positions in association with the garden. EDISON ELEMENTARY- Kelly has observed that chil- dren who are exposed to using nature as inspiration for art will go back to it time and again throughout their educational career.

If the learning landscape could be different, what would the differences be?

STEELE ELEMENTARY- The Parking lot islands tend to be weedy in summer and could be planted nicer. The parking lot watering system is inefficient. and the building’s east side perennials need attention.

EDISON ELEMENTARY- It needs more shade and maybe more public art. (Art classes are working on adding art to the garden) The garden was designed with themes that are not effectively used so more sensory and tactile experiences that take advantage of them. Major effort to bring public and stu- dent art in for the garden- Student projects include gourds and stepping stones. dUg loaned the school painted murals to hang on the fences until the students can replace them with their own.

What are the maintenance challenges?

STEELE ELEMENTARY- Garden component and parking lot islands- Water issues- would like to work towards a drip system (instead of current broadcast system) that is more efficient when budget allows.

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What could the learning landscape im- prove on?

STEELE ELEMENTARY- Andy would like to see an increase in participation for Parent Garden Group. “It is easier to do things my- self instead of train others, but this has not fostered parent participation. It is now dif- ficult to get others included.” Other schools have 4-6 parents (older families transition out as students get older). “I would encour- age more than one leader for a successful garden.” garden welcoming- teachers don’t feel free to use the garden as would be hoped- they feel like they need permission to use the landscape core subjects leave little room for experimentation and outside use of space for classroom activities outside classroom management- teachers are ner- vous about teaching outdoors- “My theory is kids leave the building for two reasons, home or recess, they lose memory of the classroom and get wild and carefree.” Andy tries to combat this by insisting teachers are a part of the garden classes (it also helps with student behavior)

EDISON ELEMENTARY- communication, collecting volunteers to make classroom programs happen and tying the garden into specific curriculum.

Is the learning landscape a major appeal for parents interested in their child attend- ing the school?

STEELE ELEMENTARY- The DPS is based on a choice system. There is priority for neigh- borhood children, but kids can choice into another school if there is room. Until this year there was space for outside families. many families chose steel in large part due to the garden component. Steele is now at capacity for neighborhood kids.

EDISON ELEMENTARY- yes, but it is not on our website and it should be. It is relatively new, so this will probably happen in the future.

What are pressures on the schoolyard?

STEELE ELEMENTARY- One of the smallest facilities in the district and rare with the building being located in the middle of the property. 450 kids have small sports field. By May the grass is pretty tired. Kindergar- ten playground is small for three classes. EDISON ELEMENTARY- green team -kids make up the team while Kelly and another teacher are on staff along with 3-4 parents of the kids and a few DUG members. 4th

grade is the BIG grade and draws the most ambassadors for the garden. Older kids don’t have as much of an interest. The younger ones don’t have a very big voice and I would like to see them have more of an opportunity to into the garden without teacher input.

Why is the learning landscape not more ad- vertised/publicized?

STEELE ELEMENTARY- Seed to Table Pro- gram is on website but learning landscape program is 5 years old, so it is not new anymore.

EDISON ELEMENTARY- it is in the news- paper a lot and hopefully it will be better publicized on the school website in the near future.

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