After School Program Helps Students with Reading and Writing
Wes-Del Elementary Comp Camp was begun several years ago by Shirley Thacker. Comp Camp is held in the spring, fall, and in the summer as an after school program. Mrs. Thacker is a certified presenter with the Indiana Writing Project and has presented her information in Washington D.C. This program was started at our elementary school because Mrs. Thacker felt it was so important for students to make the connection between reading and writing. She introduced mentoring texts to the faculty and many educators have taken her lead in the classroom through cycles of writing using these texts. Comp Camp meets two afternoons a week and students sign up quickly to attend. There is a celebration with parents at the end of Comp Camp, and each student reads their favorite written piece to the audience. This has fostered a love of writing in all who attend.
Challenges or Obstacles:
- None
Benefits and Successes:
- Student writing has increased throughout the building.
- Student work is displayed in the hallways.
- Students who have attended Comp Camp want to return each time it is offered.
- Children have a love of writing and this is noted in their comments about writing and in their desire to continue to write.
Submitted by: Shirley Thacker, Wes-Del Elementary