November 20, 2002

Last August, MEEP offered its first teacher training to all Mattole Teachers. The training was in an educational framework called EIC, Environment as an Integrating Context. Many thanks go to the Dean Witter Foundation and the California Costal Commision for funding this event. This systems-based educational framework helps teachers utilize their local social and ecological environment to develop units in which the students guide their own learning by creating questions and finding the answers. EIC has been demonstrated to improve student test scores and develop student understanding of their place and culture. Shari Lovett and Cad Wright of Mattole Elementary attended the training and will be implementing EIC in their classes this Fall and Winter. The units they developed will be exploring how living in a rural place affects the school population. Look for more information about their class projects in future newsletters.

Watershed Week will be held in the spring this year. We will look forward to seeing parents, teachers and students at this annual traditional event.

In other news, we have developed five “Best Lessons” of the Mattole which will be distributed this fall to teachers for feedback and use. The five units we have developed are on the topics of Climate, Forest Ecology, Indigenous Mattole, Inter-Tidal Investigations, and Plate Tectonics. MEEP is always ready to support Mattole teachers. Call Drew Barber if you want assistance at (707) 629-3514.



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Read more articles about Ecological Education

Table of Contents for Mattole Restoration Newsletter, Issue 19 - Winter/Spring 2002-03