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by Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Most kids love story time, but how many love to write their own stories? Literacy specialist Jan Rimer is helping children six to eight do just that in her ‘Write On’ Club, held weekly at the Medfield Public Library. This is the second time the class has been offered, however, last year, it was titled the ‘Just Write’ Club. Last week marked the eighth week of a ten-week class. The course includes discovering new ways to say what the young writers want to say, facilitated by writing, revising, and sharing their pieces during conferences and at a writer’s circle.
Of course, the topic of Thanksgiving was looming large, so the warm-up activity included writing down everyone in each child’s immediate family, their relation, and what their job was going to be during the holiday. “Each week, we have a different sign-in and warm-up. It’s really fun, and they really enjoy it,” Jan explained. The fourteen or so writers are in first or second grade, and while their patience may be a tad short, their enthusiasm abounds.
This particular class included revising and rewriting the children’s opinion pieces. This type of writing is simply one item in a long list of different types of writing the children have explored. Stories, poems, letters, lists, thank-you notes, and e-mails fill out their past eight weeks of work. “Next session, I want to also do some persuasive writing, I think,” Jan said.
Sitting in a writer’s circle, Jan read two stories to the kids, explaining elements they should include and watch out for in their own writing. “I love how this author always puts people talking in his story, and that’s what I want you to do,” she told them. “He also put something funny in his story! Don’t you love it when writers use feelings?” Jan continued to ask questions to the children to help them really think about the concept of writing beyond simply the words on the page. “Do writers have ideas? Do they have thoughts? Do they have ideas?” were just some that she threw out.
Even though Jan focuses the children’s minds on new ideas and concepts in writing, she definitely likes to keep it fun. During the beginning of the class, one student raised his hand, to which she responded, “You don’t have to raise your hand, you’re not in school!” The clear demarcation between this course and school was an interesting concept. Before each writer is sent off to revise, they are given a checklist, including a question posed to the reader, including specifics in their opinion piece, including bridge or transition sentences within their pieces, and writing a conclusion that feels like a conclusion.
Even though this round of students only has two more meetings, Jan will offer another session in the Spring. Her dedication and patience with these new writers is incredible. Within the walls of the Medfield Library, a new generation of storytellers is emerging.
