Lee encourages connections for children and nature

Many thanks to Carissa Seek, third grade teacher at Lee Expressive Arts School, and her husband Matt, for coordinating the building of raised garden beds at our school. A grant from the Mid-Missouri Chapter of Slow Food is funding opportunities to learn about fresh, locally grown food. Stop by the backside of the Lee school property and you will see the garden beds that children, parents, and teachers created on a Saturday morning in April. Seedlings have sprouted in classrooms, and been transplanted to the raised beds. Children are learning the life cycle up close and personally. Some of the food we hope to harvest before school is out, and if production goes as planned, we will share some tasty dishes. Lettuce, zuchini, and yellow squash are some of our possibilities. Some classrooms are also growing flowers for Mother's Day, and these will be placed in pots personally glazed by students. Pansies have also been planted in front of the school.
We also have chick eggs in incubation in several classrooms. A precious kindergartner told me yesterday of his experience in holding a new baby chick. The chick was so comfortable that he fell asleep! It made him want to fall asleep too!
These experiences teach children about life itself, and provides the rich, personal observations children use to make sense of their world. They also write about their observations and share them with one another. Future plans include going to Goatsbeard Farm to let 3rd grade students learn about goats milk and goat cheese.
Please let me know if you have questions about these experiences or anything else you might want to know about our school. I will include teachers in the responses whenever possible. Dr. Teresa VanDover

Above and Beyond Project Based Learning

I would like to share some of the on-going learning efforts at Lee Expressive Arts School.
We have been thrilled to see the response to Above and Beyond Projects at Lee Expressive Arts School. Students are working on self-selected projects to earn stickers for their Passports. My belief is that the Achievement Gap is really made up of many gaps, such as access to resources, engagement, and parent involvement. Increasing the time young learners spend on learning activities, reading, and writing is one way to address the engagement gap that may exist. They create the project idea, and we provide whatever they need to complete the project. From crocheting to developing photographic essays and powerpoints, we are seeing amazing work! Most are on display at the school or have been photographed for My Missourian. (Many, many thanks to Greg Tepper!) We are hoping that Above and Beyond Projects are what our children do instead of watching tv!
Another fun event that is happening at school is Open Mic. Every Friday, children have the opportunity to perform for their peers during lunch time. We have no limits on talent! From jump rope routines to singing and sharing power points of adventures, these kids have no stage fright in showing what they know!
Let me know of your questions or comments about our schools, and particularly Lee Expressive Arts School! I will be glad to respond. Dr. VanDover