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Elosie
- July 08, 2002

Hi, I use some of your columns in my Living Environment classes with ESL (English as second language) students. They know the plants and animals in their old countries but not the ones here. I tried explaining Sumac trees to them. They didn't understand. I grew up in Ohio, and was lucky to have a family who loved to get outdoors. I learned a lot about wildlife and farms that I can use to tell story-information to the students. Many of today's kids don't even have a back yard or garden to learn about earthworms. One year I took a tiny garter snake in a quart jar and a big fat nightcrawler in another. Some kids didn't seem interested until the snake got out. The event sparked a LOT of interest. I returned them to their homes in my little yard the next day. In my opinion I don't think it is possible to raise a high functioning child in an apartment. I can't imagine not being in contact with the little creatures during childhood. When I ask my students what their favorite hobby is they say, "Shopping." No wonder the city kids born in this country, test as underachievers in vocabulary. Elosie