Silver Spring Students Dig Into Learning

Students in Silver Spring are learning how to dish some dirt—literally.  St. Francis International School has a working garden that’s tended by the students, and it’s helping to teach them many different lessons according to an article on the Gazette web site.

The planting of seeds and tending to the growing flowers and vegetables are what get students interested.  From there, teachers tie in lessons such as why early civilizations sprang up near waterways. In deciding what to grow and sell to raise funds for a class trip, the eighth grade is learning math and economics. And of course there will be instruction in how to prepare wonderful dishes with the food they’ve grown.

Currently the garden consists of eight beds that are four feet by four feet as well as some edible fruit trees and bushes.  However, a recent grant will allow the school to begin building a 20 x 12 foot greenhouse as well.  Given enough room, students might be able to plant and grow some of their favorite things and then take them home to their own gardens.

Many of the current students live in urban areas so they don’t get to experience the wonder of growing the food that they eat.  It’s a real joy for them to see how a strawberry grows or where a tomato comes from. And of course, there’s that age-old fun of digging in the dirt. A garden is more than a garden when it’s truly an outdoor classroom.

This is just another example of the great educational opportunities for children in the DC Metro Area.

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Local School Full of Good Character

The Oakwood Elementary School in Glen Burnie not only teaches math, reading and other basics.  It also teaches students how to be good people, says an article in the Maryland Gazette.

As a result, Oakwood has been named one of 50 finalists for the National School of Character Award, sponsored by the national Character Education Partnership.  Finalists were chosen from 140 candidates across the country, and Oakwood is the only school in Maryland to be selected.  The school will be competing with 40 public schools, five charter schools, three private schools, and two school districts.

In 2005, the school started a Character Education program, which teaches positive character traits to students through all elements of the curriculum. During the first four years of the program, trips to the office by misbehaving students dropped by 90 percent. Teachers say that the kids are kinder to each other.  This creates fewer disruptions and allows the focus to be on learning.

Each month, a new character trait is presented, such as courage.  Students might then read a story and write a paper about how the character displayed courage.  If students display their own good character by performing a good deed, they are recognized during morning announcements and with their names posted in the school’s main hallway. Both teachers and other students can recognize a good deed.

Teachers, parents, and students agree that character building is just as important as learning addition or spelling.

The award winners will be announced in May, with winners being recognized in October at the 18^th Annual National Forum on Character Education.

Go Oakwood!

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.