VOA标准英语2012--Living Classroom Helps California Students Improve Scores

Living Classroom Helps California Students Improve Scores

A volunteer event that started in Los Angeles 14 years ago is transforming the lives of school children in communities across the the U.S. state of California. It is called Big Sunday.

At the border of the Los Angeles neighborhood known as Little Ethiopia and the city's Jewish community sits Carthay Center Elementary School. There's a unique atmosphere around the campus - and it's scented¹ with a floral perfume. Fifth grade student Grace Lyde knew there was something different about this place when she first saw it.

“I thought of it as a whole other world it was so beautiful," said Lyde.

The beauty and perfume come from a lush garden at the school. It is the work of students, parents and area residents. Every year, during a Big Sunday, more is added to the garden. Last year, the fathers set up a chicken coop. 

This year, volunteers are building a sun shade. 

This garden is a living classroom for the students. Master gardener Herb Machleder taught the first science classes here.

“When I first came here, the children, they didn’t know anything about bugs², they didn’t know anything about plants they were really frightened of all the little creatures, and after a couple of years, they become very interested they watched the bees at work, they collect the insects," said Machleder.

Many of the students here come from immigrant families and English is not their first language. The garden has not only helped build their vocabulary, it has also improved their understanding of science. Three years ago, fifth grade students scored below 30 percent in their science proficiency³. This year, some fifth graders are scoring more than 90 percent in science. Again, fifth grader Grace Lyde:

“It’s a lot better now with the garden because we can interact. We don’t just have to sit there and listen to a teacher, we can actually interact with different activities with what they’re talking about," said Lyde.

Interacting sometimes means eating from the garden, says sixth grader, Mychael Carter.

“Sometimes you get to make salads from the garden with lettuce⁴ and other types of lettuce and it’s very awesome⁵. Whoever came up with this idea for the garden I give them a thumbs up," said Carter.

Teresa Dahl is one of the parents who came up with the idea for a garden. But she says it wouldn’t have been possible without the Big Sunday volunteers.

"Once they come in the gate and put a plant in the ground or they rake behind the buildings or they pick up trash, they start to take ownership of their school and feel more like a community," said Dahl.

The purpose of the Big Sunday volunteer event is to create that feeling of community. And, says Dahl, it’s a chance for people from different socio-economic backgrounds and cultures to come together and work toward a common goal.

”You may have just arrived here from across the world you may have spent your whole life in Los Angeles," she said. "You may be a doctor at a major university you may be a day laborer⁶. But when you’re sweating in the garden together, it’s a great equalizer.”

The sweat and hard work in this garden is bearing fruit in the lives of the students here. 

1 scented   

adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词)

参考例句：

• I let my lungs fill with the scented air. 我呼吸着芬芳的空气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The police dog scented about till he found the trail. 警犬嗅来嗅去，终于找到了踪迹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 proficiency   

n.精通，熟练，精练

参考例句：

• He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺，技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
• How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何？

4 lettuce   

n.莴苣；生菜

参考例句：

• Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿，我好做色拉。
• The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。

5 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

6 laborer   

n.劳动者，劳工

参考例句：

• Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
• He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工，没有赚多少钱。