Noel Studio Collaborates with B. Michael Caudill and Daniel Boone Students on Literacy Project
B. Michael Caudill Middle School 8th grade GEAR UP students met with their 1st-grade pen pals from Daniel Boone Elementary for a trip to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) on May 9. The students had been working on a literacy project since January on a teacher-inspired GEAR UP project, which provides leadership opportunities for students as well as career experiences throughout all five middle schools in Madison County. This community literacy initiative between Madison County Schools and the Noel Studio blended both aspects.
According to Madison County Schools, the 8th-grade students volunteered to be pen pals due to their interest in working with younger children or their enjoyment of reading and writing. The students wrote to each other throughout the spring semester. On two occasions, students met and worked one-on-one, the first in celebration of Read Across America Day. The 8th-grade students traveled to Daniel Boone where they read a Dr. Seuss book to their pen pal. After reading, they worked to help the 1st graders complete a classroom writing prompt.
The second experience involved a trip to EKU’s Learning Resources Center (LRC) and Noel Studio for Academic Creativity, both located in the Crabbe Library. In the LRC, students met with Coordinator Cindy Judd. Students read with their pen pals from a variety of resources Judd had waiting for them.
The students then went to the Noel Studio for a writing activity that involved a creative twist. The students worked with manipulatives - learning materials that facilitate creativity - provided by the Noel Studio. Students constructed a summary paragraph of their favorite book from the LRC. Students then summarized their reading in creative ways by constructing visual representations of characters and scenes using Play Doh, butcher paper, colored construction paper, magnetic tiles, and LEGOs, and they wrote and sketched using colored pencils.
The Noel Studio collaborates on a regular basis with area schools to integrate communication and creative-thinking initiatives into the community.
Contact Information
Dr. Russell Carpenter
russell.carpenter@eku.edu
859-622-7403
Published on June 05, 2013