Tips and Best Practices

Sometimes it’s important to just let the kids enjoy the wonder of nature. Many of these students live in apartments. They haven’t grown up with fields to play in. So Mr. Stamis and Mr. Frey allow time for students just to explore--see a lizard and discover insects.  It’s just as crucial for their development as bookwork. 

Let the students take the lead in creating ideas.  These students have come up with very creative ideas for service learning projects that the teachers never would have thought of.  The “Seeds of Love” project is one example.  It was a brainstorm for one student, who wrote up the idea and went to the Principal to present it. 

Let the kids work with their friends, unless there are obvious problems. Usually students are happier and more productive working in small groups with their friends.  Good advice is to not be too rigid about requiring particular students to work together. 

Develop good relationships with the custodian & facilities staff.  The custodian is a crucial member of a school garden team. Submitting work orders for dumpsters, backhoes for digging holes to plant trees; putting in water spigots; digging trenches--all these and more were accomplished through the partnership with Harvey Zamora, the school Custodian. 

Cross-mentoring keeps the program rich and the students engaged through the years. Having older kids mentor younger students from the elementary school sets the stage for new middle schoolers to get involved in the garden program.