Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Oak Grove offers hands-on learning in weekly projects

By Katie Erickson
Shoreview Press

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Attendance is high at Oak Grove School on Fridays. 

Last year, the staff at the Shoreview school introduced "Friday option," setting aside the last day of the school week for field trips, long-term community projects and more.

Oak Grove, an alternative school for students with emotional and behavioral problems, offers individualized learning through small class sizes and hands-on activities.  The school serves about 100 students in grades six to 12 from host school Mounds View and nine surrounding district.  

On a recent Friday, eight students worked on a house with Habitat for Humanity. 

"Basically, I like to work my muscles, and it's a good experience," said Christ McParland.  He enjoys the grunt work of brick laying and taking down scaffolding. 

"I don't like to sit down and watch the work.  I like to get into the work," he said.  Teacher Maria Christensen, of White Bear Lake, said the enthusiasm of McParland and his classmates is obvious on the job. 

"They're so excited and willing to work hard," she said. 

Dig a hole in the rain? They love it, she said.

McParland enjoys the work so much that the sophomore is thinking about pursuing it as a career. 

"It pays good and its fun to do," he said. 

Alex Walters barely looked up from his window work, but acknowledged that he enjoys the hands-on work.

"I like to build," he said. 

"Its like night and day between here and school for some of the kids," Christensen said.  "I think some of the kids just blossom during this."

One girl, she said, rarely comes to school—but never misses a Friday. 

Paraprofessional Jack Griffin helped organize the partnership with Habitat for Humanity.  He said the project offers students hands-on leaning, firsthand experience with problem solving and a way to give back to the community. 

Laura Gillespie, Habitat for Humanity's site supervisor, said the students "are eager to work and knowledgeable."

She too prefers a hands-on approach to learning. She said students are more likely to learn a good work ethic on the job than in a classroom. Plus, she said, it's easier to let the students use their individual talents rather than putting them all in the same box. 

Gabrielle Savior summed it up nicely: "We have fun, and we learn a trade at the same time."