Saturday, February 12, 2011

Writing Club: Maintain or Move Forward?

Three years ago I started an after school club for first graders and simply titled it Writing Club.  Year one and two it was held twice a month after school during second semester and this past year I decided I wanted to be able to offer the club starting in September.  This program took off more than I could have ever expected and I had to put a cap on enrollment this year!  Club time starts with a 15 minute focus lesson based around one of the Six Traits of writing.  Students learn songs that help them remember the traits, they work together in small groups, and also have individual time to write.  I've had the support of 6th grade student volunteers and many parents and teachers.  This past year, if I was unable to be at a session, I had three teachers I knew I could count on to step up to the plate and help the young writers.  (To you, @amymillerpv and @jlbuz, I will be ever grateful!)  The PTA at my building generously provided journals, word books, trait bookmarks for students, as well as mentor texts and other various supplies to teach focus lessons.  This year has been one to remember and I'm looking forward to our end of the year presentation to parents where students will read their stories and poems to their parents and friends.
With that said, I have this yearning inside of me to take this after school opportunity to the next level.  I want to  be able to help more students, but how far do I want to expand and who is going to help me accomplish that goal?  It's a first grade club right now, but I want to see other grade levels involved---all the way through 12th grade!  Will I be able to "recruit" teachers to volunteer their time to provide a writing environment for students to be creative and learn about Six Traits?  With everything that teachers have going on in their professional lives as well as their personal lives, is this really a reality?  What about other buildings in our district?  There are four elementary buildings with a fifth opening up next year, a Jr. High and a High School.  Are there enough "lone nuts" out there that view writing as a priority that would want to get this started in their buildings?
This weighs heavily on my heart because I know that with the support, kids will fall in love with writing in ways they never imagined.  However, it can't be a one-person job anymore.  I'd even be willing to sit down with as many teachers as I could to write the curriculum for the club and would support them all the way.  Time will tell if this idea will stay in first grade at one building, or if it's time for some forward movement.  My vote: move forward!                

8 comments:

  1. Great thoughts and energy Ms. Nikki. What you started as an after school club has evolved into great opportunities for students. Remember, the "lone nuts" need to start with the first one dancing alone.

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  2. Lone nuts are more interesting! Life would be lethargic without trailblazers like you. I'm mega-proud of you and your accomplishments. I knew your destiny was to "teach" when you first sat next to the little boy on the school bus that everyone else picked on. You said, "He has great stories, Mommy!" I knew it was just a matter of time.... :~)

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  3. I had no idea this program was in place! It sounds like a wonderful way to reach students as a way to enrich learning and address struggling writers, too. You've lit a fire within students that often only remains dormant because no one has taken the time to throw on some fuel.

    Keep spreading the word about your work. I'll mention it at the junior high, but you were absolutely right that finding teachers who aren't swamped is very difficult. Continuing the program and sharing it's success is going to be an integral part of helping it grow. Next question from most teachers, unfortunately, is whether or not there will be support, aka compensation, from the district. Perhaps the bigger question though, is whether or not there will be support, aka collaboration, from our colleagues. Good luck!

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  4. Hey Clint,
    You know, I should have written how I got the idea. Clip art. Seriously---I saw a piece of clip art that said Writing Club and at first I thought I'd use it in my own classroom to get my kids excited about having a club in our room. But, I kept thinking about it, talked to Jim, and decided that we'd get all the first graders involved. Now, you know the rest of the story. ;)
    Compensation? Nope. I saw the need and have seen the excitement over three years and am hoping that others will feel the same. I funded it myself (with folders, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, name tags, etc. the first two years), but this past year I "got smart" and asked our PTA to help with funding. I never would have been able to get journals and word choice books for the kids if it wasn't for our PTA.
    Thanks for sending an e-mail to your colleagues at the Jr. High. It sounded great and I'm looking forward to working with you and our kids!
    Chat with you soon!
    Nikki

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  5. Nikki,
    I would love to expand Writing Club to second grade or a combined first and second grade opportunity. Am I overwhelmed with grad school, work, two kids, and a Prozac ridden dog? Yes. In fact, I had part of a sucker stuck to my shirt this morning and didn't even know it (courtesy of a post-breakfast snack I allowed my five year old to have). That being said...let's make it happen!

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  6. Oh Amy! I love the enthusiasm and willingness to push forward even though you're in OVER your head. ;) With that said, it is my plan to take on 2nd grade Writing Club next year as well and with your help---IT WILL HAPPEN!!! We'll get together over the summer and get things prepped and get ourselves ready to make a difference in this after school opportunity. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
    Nikki

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