Teachers are only concerned that each student masters a set of skills. But they said the atmosphere is more relaxed and allows for more hands-on projects. Somewhere in the exercise there were lessons about reading, writing, math and social studies. They ve already made their own birdwatching booklets to record what they see, Garcia said. With an enthusiasm one wouldn t expect to find in school, the children eargerly anticipate the day s activities.
Some students arrive an hour early each morning to tinker with the computers.
The theme this summer at Martin Elementary is ecology. Students engaged in projects and activities revolving around the theme. Each exercise was meant to develop certain academic skills. They vaguely resembled their real-life subjects. Elma Robinson s fifth-grade class learned by doing.