Kindergarten Students Share Their Stories

Article By: Jeremy Baker

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Kindergarten Students Share Their Stories

Article By: Jeremy Baker

Everyone has a story to share, and no one knows that better than the students in Linda Colontrelle's creative writing classes at Indian River Charter High School. On February 10, 2009, Mrs. Colontrelle took twenty-five of her best and brightest to visit Mrs. Debbie Iacono's and Mr. Matt Manning's kindergarten classrooms at the Imagine Charter Elementary School. The high school students were then matched with their kindergarten "buddies" and set about interviewing the young students with an eye toward creating personalized story books for each. The excited gaggle of kindergarteners were encouraged to offer details about their lives, from their favorite foods and colors to family members and pets. One little girl told her high school buddy that she wanted to be a princess, a little boy chatted on at length about his love for all kinds of animals. The high school students listened, laughed and took notes as the kindergarteners told their stories.

Over the next few months the creative writing students set about the lengthy process of writing, revising, editing and proofing their personalized children's stories. During this time Mrs. Colontrelle enlisted the help of Charter Art Director Harvey Kornicks and his talented students to illustrate the various tales.

Once the projects were completed, the Creative Writing class gift wrapped each storybook and returned to the Imagine Charter School to give the personalized presents to their Kindergarten buddies. The children's reactions were amazing; with Colontrelle's students getting hugs and thanks from their kindergarten counterparts. "Everyone got so much out of this experience. I am really looking forward to doing this again next year and possibly even expanding it" said Colontrelle who chose the Imagine Elementary Kindergarten classes figuring there would be a bond between the two Charter schools. Apparently, she couldn't have been more right.

The event culminated with a large celebration (including cookies!) for all involved and the presentation of a copy of the books to Imagine Charter School's Principal, Joe Mills.

Everyone has a story to share, and no one knows that better than the students in Linda Colontrelle's creative writing classes at Indian River Charter High School. On February 10, 2009, Mrs. Colontrelle took twenty-five of her best and brightest to visit Mrs. Debbie Iacono's and Mr. Matt Manning's kindergarten classrooms at the Imagine Charter Elementary School. The high school students were then matched with their kindergarten "buddies" and set about interviewing the young students with an eye toward creating personalized story books for each. The excited gaggle of kindergarteners were encouraged to offer details about their lives, from their favorite foods and colors to family members and pets. One little girl told her high school buddy that she wanted to be a princess, a little boy chatted on at length about his love for all kinds of animals. The high school students listened, laughed and took notes as the kindergarteners told their stories.

Over the next few months the creative writing students set about the lengthy process of writing, revising, editing and proofing their personalized children's stories. During this time Mrs. Colontrelle enlisted the help of Charter Art Director Harvey Kornicks and his talented students to illustrate the various tales.

Once the projects were completed, the Creative Writing class gift wrapped each storybook and returned to the Imagine Charter School to give the personalized presents to their Kindergarten buddies. The children's reactions were amazing; with Colontrelle's students getting hugs and thanks from their kindergarten counterparts. "Everyone got so much out of this experience. I am really looking forward to doing this again next year and possibly even expanding it" said Colontrelle who chose the Imagine Elementary Kindergarten classes figuring there would be a bond between the two Charter schools. Apparently, she couldn't have been more right.

The event culminated with a large celebration (including cookies!) for all involved and the presentation of a copy of the books to Imagine Charter School's Principal, Joe Mills.