As part of a new course called Micro-courses, middle school students spend three weeks working on a project or learning module to enrich their learning. In their first unit, students practiced tailoring their writing for a specific audience by writing and illustrating their own digital Children's books. "This experience was very beneficial for the kids because they not only had to write for a specific audience, but they had to also read their story to that audience. It was interesting to see how nervous they became in the days leading up to the visit to Keystone. However, it was so heartwarming to see how well the middle schoolers interacted with the kids and made it a memory they will cherish forever," says middle school language arts teacher Ashley Jones. Students worked through the process of choosing an audience-friendly topic, the drafting process, and illustrating their books. In every decision made, students thought of what their young audience would need and enjoy.
As a culminating celebration, middle school students visited the Keystone elementary and Early Beginnings daycare center to read their books to children aged one to five.
The visits provided a great opportunity for students to see the impact of their work and to build relationships with the younger children. The experience had a positive impact on all involved. "The preschoolers are still talking about their experience with 'their big friends' and ask pretty regularly when they'll get to see them again. There were lots of hugs, fist bumps, and even some tears when it was time for them to depart, which is a really big indicator of just how much of a positive impact this experience had on our little ones. As an adult observing, I noticed how impactful this experience was for the big kids, too. The smiles and laughter were genuine as they played on the preschool equipment!" says preschool teacher Sam Happel.
Opportunities to connect with students of all ages has been incredible for our students, young and old, and we hope to continue this practice for the benefit of all.