NewsPre-K to 8Academics
Middle Schoolers read to Lower School students
Sep 28, 2006 3:39 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington School has recently developed a new program that connects Middle and Lower school students on more then one level. Seventh-grade teacher Angela Pieroni has collaborated with Elaine Smith (’71), second-grade teacher, to create a reading program that involves both grades.
“We wanted a connection between the younger children, who need reading skills, and the older children, who are trying to develop leadership skills,” said Pieroni.
Every Wednesday, Pieroni’s seventh-grade Reading and Writing class takes a bus to the Lower School and reads to the second-graders. The older students pick out a spot on the field (weather permitting) and read to a small group of students for 20 to 30 minutes. This group activity allows seventh-graders to mature their leadership skills, according to Pieroni.
“There is so much value in having and teaching these reading skills to the second-graders,” she said. “I believe the older students enjoy developing their leadership capabilities. They are role models, but do not realize it.”
Smith believes the program encourages her younger students to read more. “When they see these older kids read, they think reading is cool and want to spend more time doing it,” she said.
Seventh-graders read chapter books, usually finishing each book in a month. Time restrictions keep students from finishing sooner. Children’s chapter books, like the Junie B. Jones series, keep second-graders interested and entertained, and roles are reversed, sometimes, so the younger readers can illustrate their skills.
“It seems like the younger students try to concentrate on the book because the older students are reading it to them,” said seventh-grader Oren Wilson. “They try harder, and you can see that expression on their face.
Pieroni said she also plans to focus on the tradition of storytelling.
“I want to bring in a professional storyteller to teach the older students traditional tales with a fun, hands-on technique,” she said. “The students will learn and develop their own way of storytelling, practice it, and then demonstrate their ability with the second-graders. This is a great way to practice passing on the ritual of storytelling to the kids.”
Both grades will continue the reading program through the end of the year.
“We wanted a connection between the younger children, who need reading skills, and the older children, who are trying to develop leadership skills,” said Pieroni.
Every Wednesday, Pieroni’s seventh-grade Reading and Writing class takes a bus to the Lower School and reads to the second-graders. The older students pick out a spot on the field (weather permitting) and read to a small group of students for 20 to 30 minutes. This group activity allows seventh-graders to mature their leadership skills, according to Pieroni.
“There is so much value in having and teaching these reading skills to the second-graders,” she said. “I believe the older students enjoy developing their leadership capabilities. They are role models, but do not realize it.”
Smith believes the program encourages her younger students to read more. “When they see these older kids read, they think reading is cool and want to spend more time doing it,” she said.
Seventh-graders read chapter books, usually finishing each book in a month. Time restrictions keep students from finishing sooner. Children’s chapter books, like the Junie B. Jones series, keep second-graders interested and entertained, and roles are reversed, sometimes, so the younger readers can illustrate their skills.
“It seems like the younger students try to concentrate on the book because the older students are reading it to them,” said seventh-grader Oren Wilson. “They try harder, and you can see that expression on their face.
Pieroni said she also plans to focus on the tradition of storytelling.
“I want to bring in a professional storyteller to teach the older students traditional tales with a fun, hands-on technique,” she said. “The students will learn and develop their own way of storytelling, practice it, and then demonstrate their ability with the second-graders. This is a great way to practice passing on the ritual of storytelling to the kids.”
Both grades will continue the reading program through the end of the year.
