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David Kubrin,
PhD - 7th Grade Science Teacher - James Denman Middle School,
"The opportunity to have my students out of the classroom, interacting
with our immediate environment through the medium of A
Living Library
and diversifying our surroundings by planting trees, introducing
or restoring riparian habitat and thereby bringing about a significant
increase in the kinds of animals and birds in our school grounds,
is invaluable. Their new experiences, including the use of tools,
with A
Living Library,
greatly enrich the curriculum, and our lessons enjoy a substantially
wider and deeper grounding. The concrete examples of our work
readily branch out into science, math, language arts, art, social
studies, and physical education, making clear the linkages between
the various disciplines. I love the chance to teach my students
against the background of these shared experiences and believe
it helps sustain their interest in school."
Florinda
Yatco
- 7th & 8th Grade Language ArtsTeacher, James Denman Middle School,
" A
Living Library
provides a good context for my students to be involved in service
learning and integrate language arts through reading, writing,
and speaking with members of the community. They are working with
the younger children of San Miguel and transforming the bleak,
trash-filled school environment into something that they can identify
with positively. Part of our future plans include creating multicultural
gardens that will bring the community together. We envision
A Living Library
to continuously grow and involve the needs of the students as
well as the community."
Sung Kim
- 8th Grade Math Teacher - James Denman Middle School, " What
I like about
A Living Library
is it is now more colorful outside. It is the only place where
you can see some beauty. I like that. It makes it much nicer to
be here. A
Living Library
also gives me an opportunity to have some real life applications
for my students with such things as proportions, scaled drawings,
measurement, area, volume, geometry, among other mathematical
topics. I'm excited to get the kids out of the classroom and do
some hands-on mathematics. It makes the learning experience much
more relevant."
Ann Miller
- Art Teacher, James Denman Middle School, "A
Living Library
is a very valuable asset to assist my teaching of art in a larger
context. From intensive involvement and creating artworks for
the environment to simply being able to take my class outside
to draw something else besides buildings,
A Living Library
brings to my school an integrated complex aesthetic."
Marnie
Shapiro
- Artist/Educator, JFK University Graduate Student Volunteer,
"As an artist-educator and participant in A
Living Library,
I have a deep understanding of the transformative power this project
has to deepen not only each student's experience of ecology and
his or her role in it, but it also provides the entire community
the oportunity to see the beauty that is all around us, all the
time by celebrating life as the interconnected system of relationships
that it truly is."
Elisa Poulos
- 7th & 8th Grade Science & Health Teacher - James Denman Middle
School, "The creation of A
Living Library
at James Denman Middle School is providing an environment that
inspires creative thought, teaches environmental awareness, and
energizes students in meaningful transformation."
Michael
Fox
- 8th Grade Science Teacher - James Denman Middle School, "As
a science teacher I love to enhance classroom teaching with experiences
out of the classroom.
A Living Library
gets the students' hands dirty. It makes science real and gives
science a context within the local community. When a student plants
a native species outside the school, not only have they learned
about plants and soil, but they now have a stake in their environment
and take pride in having changed it for the better."
Jaime Hernandez
- 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher - James Denman Middle School,
"This hands-on project invites students to explore their living
environment in a manner that is more tangible to them. The experience
of uncovering their neighborhood's history will draw students
closer to understanding their rich historic city."
Elizabeth
St. Clair
- Special Education Teacher, James Denman Middle School, " I was
proud to make a written presentation to my Library Management
Class at San Jose State University last Spring citing Bonnie Sherk's
Living Library
as an excellent example of what I would like to see the library
of the 21st century become. Also, as a teacher of students with
severe disabilities, A
Living Library
encompasses my educational philosophy and vision for my students
which supports the inclusion model and hands-on learning."
Brian Harrigan
- Pre-School Teacher, San Miguel Child Development Center, "The
environment proposes many forms of exploration to a Pre-School
child. Being able to take part in the Living
Library Garden Project
has allowed my children to get their hands dirty, drop seeds to
begin life, and then watch their creations grow. Thus being able
to feel proud when they say, 'That's my tree or plant'."
Georgene
Sanchez
- Secretary, James Denman PTA & Parent of 2 students at Denman,
"As a native San Franciscan and parent, I feel A
Living Library
is very important because our youth need to experience being in
touch with the earth. A
Living Library
brings exposure in many subjects and cultures. I have two children
in this school who are benefiting and I look forward to my grandchildren
also enjoying
A Living Library.
I live in the neighborhood and I see how it is starting to impact
the pride of people. Not only is it looking gorgeous, but it's
improving the property values and the quality of our life - and
all the animals who will be reaping the benefits too, by our making
new habitats."
Logan Hiroshima
- San Francisco Urban Service Project/AmeriCorps Volunteer, James
Denman Middle School "In essence, A
Living Library & Think Park
envelops our goal of bridging students with their school, community,
and land. What our urban youth will learn from the physical, academic,
and communal process of creating these natural gifts is so simple,
yet invariably priceless."
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