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| Cheryl--Facilitator/Tutor |
FLIC’s newest pilot program for 2013 is
our first writing group. Since the reading/writing connection is integral in
improving literacy and writing skills, we decided to offer a program to our
youth that embraces writing. The group is made of preteen learners, most of
whom are also preteen tutors, allowing the students to bring their improved writing
skills into their own tutoring. In their weekly meetings, the students work on
both individual and collaborative writing projects that have already spanned
from short fiction stories to poetry. The group’s goal is to contribute to our
Project READ blog as “youth correspondents.” To prepare for this role, the
writing group has already begun practicing the art of interviewing. The writing
group meets weekly for over an hour, focusing on a new genre or style of
writing each session.
Additionally,
the learners are encouraged to bring in their own writing assignments from
school to peer review. Within FLIC, an entire bulletin board has been dedicated
to their work, and each session they add to it with finished products. In
addition to writing, proofreading and improving their literacy skills, the
tweens have also started presenting their works to FLIC families, learners and
tutors, honing their public speaking and presentation skills. Within the very
first session, it was obvious that these students’ confidences in themselves
have already grown and the friendship between these leaners blossomed into true
camaraderie. The community tutor who facilitates this writing group was
impressed with the sense of community the students formed, as well as the
positive affect peer-review and group work has on these teens. erowHer
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| Kelly |
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| Kimberly |
Her own youth learner is part of this
writing group and often struggles with prioritizing homework and studying. Now
that she is around peers who not only encourage, but also support her to tackle
even the most daunting subjects, she has a renewed sense of determination to
complete her tasks in order to get to more writing and time with her friends as
FLIC. It is amazing to see what a positive effect youth have on each other. Project
READ’s writing group’s curriculum is created by staff and led by a trained Project
READ tutor.
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| Brianna |
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| Sabrina |
