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March 03, 2006
Curriculum Spotlight: First Grade 3-03-06
Cross-Age Interaction is Alive and Well at PHS!
Every week in the first grade there are regular and meaningful opportunities for cross-age interactions. They are among my favorite parts of the week.
Each first-grader has an eighth-grade writing buddy who works with them for 30 minutes during writer’s workshop one day a week. I met with the eighth-graders early in the year to brief them on how to conference with beginning writers so that they would know what to expect. Each week the little kids get one-on-one writing help along with all the benefits that come with some undivided attention from a big kid.
First-graders also meet weekly with a second grade buddy during one of the D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) times. At the beginning of the year, the first graders would listen to their peers read a story. Now the first graders do the reading and the second graders have an opportunity to be the coach. Patty has worked with her class to help them know how to offer reading strategies instead of a word when the reader is stuck.
Occasionally, we can take advantage of other cross-age opportunities as they arise. Soon the 4th graders will pair with us to read their original Myths. The first grade Compost Captain (a job that rotates every week) also goes upstairs to collect a seventh-grader to help empty the common area compost bins into the big bin.
It’s really heart-warming to see a pair of buddies give each other a high five or a hug in the hallway, or seek each other out to wave hello during an assembly. It can be a huge challenge to create a schedule that allows for this to happen, but it’s definitely worthwhile.
Kelly
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