(Oct. 5 entrance slip): Amy Cutter-Mackenzie article on multicultural school gardens

Entrance slip

1 Oct,  2017

Multicultural School Gardens: Creating Engaging Garden Spaces in Learning about Language, Culture, and Environment

This article really sparked my interest to become a botanist educator. In this article, I learned that how they developed a program called multicultural school gardens for teaching and learning English as a second language a particular focus on the new immigrants like me and refugees.

I was impressed with their research project where family and students were engaged in designing and constructing the gardens, which created a best outdoor sense of wonder for all community members, teachers, and their families.

This strategy is perfect for the all the multicultural students like ELL and ESL. We have the chance to do study, research, photography, and converse with each other.  Yes, I strongly agree with the statement of Lekis and Sheavly (2007) there are a lot of benefits associated with the outdoor learning include positive influence on the student health and wellbeing, environmental attitude, physical activity and social skills.

Outdoor learning also develops and promotes the good mental health in the society. This multicultural school garden program also covers the core competencies which include the listening, critical thinking and social and emotional abilities.

The garden as a space program is not only for the children’s but also for their families (“Garden buddies”) to interact and connect with each other i.e. share their stories and information about the gardening, food, culture also helping with English speaking.

In this article, they conducted the research program qualitatively and quantitatively where peoples could mangle with each other and redesign abandoned garden beds. They also interviewed the ELL students one student commented that all the “students were very happy gardening because it was the first time teachers were teaching students this way it meant that “the garden is defiantly good for the school. they found the relax environment called “ slow down”

Wattchow (2008) argue that experimental pedagogies must time and space, particularly slowing down time through carefully conceived of, planned for, and manage experiences. Through this program, children’s were helping the environment by growing food, rather than knowing food.

This article memorizes my own story I would like to share my story. When I was doing my B.Sc, I had a subject gardening work experience (In Botany). We used to go to the botanical garden (In India) to do work (planting plants), research and for lectures, I used to feel a sense of wonder. I was amazed to study with close to nature. 

I favor this kind of inquiry programs because it is useful for everyone including ELL and ESL students.

 Have a happy reading!!!