Students enjoy kindergarten visit

Students from the freshman and sophomore Writing Foundation classes taught by Gail Greaney and Collin Price spent time on Friday, September 19, at the elementary school reading with kindergarten buddies.

The high school students are writing children's stories as a part of their class. In order to have a better sense of their audience, they teamed up with Barb Kamrath and her kindergarten students.

"To be able to go and read with the kindergartners simply made everybody feel really good about themselves," said Greaney. "The kindergartners were a great audience and really paid attention to the high schoolers. The teenagers were fantastic with them."

The high school students loved the experience.

"They (the kindergartners) were really sweet and shy," said sophomore Dakota Bristow. "I was excited to read to them and it was amazing to see how much they'd learned in just three weeks of school. I'm excited to work with them again."

Freshman Trenton Kropf said, "My kindergartner was cool. He wasn't nervous talking to me or reading with me."

Kamrath told The Nugget it was a great experience for her kindergartners.

"They were a bit awed when they walked back into the classroom after recess and saw all of their chairs filled with big kids, but thought that the high school students could read so good!" said Kamrath. "The kindergartners enjoyed sharing their pictures and stories with the 'big kids' and are excited about going to the high school and reading with the high schoolers again."

The kindergarten comments were also positive: "I liked to show my pictures to them. They liked it." "I liked them reading a book to me." "They were cool."

Kamrath added, "I think this is a great way to cross the age divide and let the high school students get back in touch with their 'younger selves.' Sometimes they can forget how far they have actually come in their educational experience until they're reminded where they started. I think it will also help them write better stories if they realize who their audience is."

Sophomore teacher Colin Price said, "The outing allowed our students to practice literacy skills at an approachable level as well as help promote literacy for a new generation."