By: Kelsey Collins-Kramble (University of Manitoba, Faculty of Education, Teacher Candidate)
This summer, the Manitoba Writing Project collaborated with Can U’s summer leader program to organize Can U’s Read/Write/Share club. The club was open to all interested Can U participants; ultimately becoming a group of about 15 teens. When creating writing challenges and developing a reading list the coordinators focused on three primary themes: “this matters most”, a continuation of MBWP’s spring essay contest for Middle Years students; “hope and perseverance in the face of challenge”, one of Can U’s mantras; and “204 / 431 Manitoba”, in celebration of Manitoba’s 150th.
During the month of July, participants had the opportunity to read numerous books by Canadian and Manitoban authors, including a number of Winnipeg authors, that spoke to the other themes of what matters and perseverance. While reading, the Can U leaders could complete various reading challenges, including sharing a favourite quote, listening to an audiobook, continuing the series, or reading a new form such as a graphic novel. In addition to reading, Can U leaders were given opportunities to grow as writers through weekly writing challenges and activities that explored a multiplicity of forms.
Due to COVID, the sharing aspect of the club, including the weekly club meetings and workshops, were relegated to online platforms. Can U leaders were able to remain in contact, explore the writing and reading challenges, and share their work through the online platform Padlet. This platform allowed them not only to share their own ideas, but to interact with each other by liking and commenting on other’s posts, creating a community of readers and writers. In addition to Padlet, Can U leaders met with the club coordinators twice a week—once for reading club and once for writing club. During those club meetings, Can U leaders were able to discuss the books they were reading and engage in writing activities as a group. It was in these meetings leaders participated in quick-writes, such as writing a few lines about a photograph. They were also given the opportunity to share their writing with others to find out what their listeners liked about what they had written.
We were lucky to spend our final meeting at King’s Park, so we could do a final celebration with a poetry hike and an in-person sharing of our writing. It was evident as we said our goodbyes that the Can U leaders had enjoyed the club. A few noted they were looking forward to joining similar clubs when returning to school, and some indicated their delight that they would be able to continue working on the online reading and writing challenges during the last few weeks of summer.
This collaborative effort was a wonderful way to engage with young readers and writers. We only wish we could have had more time; our 4 weeks flew by much too quickly.
This summer, the Manitoba Writing Project collaborated with Can U’s summer leader program to organize Can U’s Read/Write/Share club. The club was open to all interested Can U participants; ultimately becoming a group of about 15 teens. When creating writing challenges and developing a reading list the coordinators focused on three primary themes: “this matters most”, a continuation of MBWP’s spring essay contest for Middle Years students; “hope and perseverance in the face of challenge”, one of Can U’s mantras; and “204 / 431 Manitoba”, in celebration of Manitoba’s 150th.
During the month of July, participants had the opportunity to read numerous books by Canadian and Manitoban authors, including a number of Winnipeg authors, that spoke to the other themes of what matters and perseverance. While reading, the Can U leaders could complete various reading challenges, including sharing a favourite quote, listening to an audiobook, continuing the series, or reading a new form such as a graphic novel. In addition to reading, Can U leaders were given opportunities to grow as writers through weekly writing challenges and activities that explored a multiplicity of forms.
Due to COVID, the sharing aspect of the club, including the weekly club meetings and workshops, were relegated to online platforms. Can U leaders were able to remain in contact, explore the writing and reading challenges, and share their work through the online platform Padlet. This platform allowed them not only to share their own ideas, but to interact with each other by liking and commenting on other’s posts, creating a community of readers and writers. In addition to Padlet, Can U leaders met with the club coordinators twice a week—once for reading club and once for writing club. During those club meetings, Can U leaders were able to discuss the books they were reading and engage in writing activities as a group. It was in these meetings leaders participated in quick-writes, such as writing a few lines about a photograph. They were also given the opportunity to share their writing with others to find out what their listeners liked about what they had written.
We were lucky to spend our final meeting at King’s Park, so we could do a final celebration with a poetry hike and an in-person sharing of our writing. It was evident as we said our goodbyes that the Can U leaders had enjoyed the club. A few noted they were looking forward to joining similar clubs when returning to school, and some indicated their delight that they would be able to continue working on the online reading and writing challenges during the last few weeks of summer.
This collaborative effort was a wonderful way to engage with young readers and writers. We only wish we could have had more time; our 4 weeks flew by much too quickly.