B. Michael Caudill Middle School 8th grade GEAR UP students met with their 1st grade pen pals from Mrs. Moberly’s class at Daniel Boone Elementary for a trip to EKU on May 9. The students had been working on a literacy project since January. This was a teacher inspired /GEAR UP project. GEAR UP provides leadership opportunities for their students as well as career experiences throughout all five middle schools in Madison County. This literacy project blended both aspects.
The 8th graders volunteered to be pen pals due to their interest in working with younger children or their enjoyment in reading and writing. The students wrote to each other throughout the spring semester.
On two occasions, the students met together and worked one on one. The first was 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 was their culminating event - a trip to EKU. The students with their pen pals traveled to the Learning Resource Center portion of the EKU library. There they met with Director Cindy Judd. She explained the many uses and purposes of the LRC. Next, the students read with their pen pals from a variety or resources Ms. Judd had waiting for them.
After reading together, the students went to the Noel Writing Studio for a creative writing activity. The students worked with materials that Dr. Russell Carpenter had waiting for their arrival. They constructed a summary paragraph of their favoriite book from the LRC. Students summarized creatively along with writing by using colored pencils, Play Doh, bubbles, large white chart paper, and more. It was a fantastic experience in a state of the art college facility!