ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 24, 1997 TAG: 9702240011
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
PROUD OF THEIR WORK, the students are willing to stand up in class now and read aloud what they've written.
For David Hodge, the hardest part of writing is getting started.
After the sixth-grader at Glenvar Middle School writes a few paragraphs, the words come easier.
Words used to frighten Hodge and his classmates at the Roanoke County school.
They were hesitant to read a book or write an essay because of their learning disabilities and painful experiences with schoolwork, says Ann Johnson, their teacher.
"The greatest obstacle for them has been overcoming their fear," she said. "A lot of them have had negative experiences. They were afraid because they have failed at reading and writing in the past."
But the students are gaining confidence as Johnson uses novels, newspapers, magazines and other resources to help them improve reading and writing skills.
She rarely uses a textbook, because she said the youngsters see that as a "vehicle to failure." She uses children's novels and other literature to teach reading, grammar and writing skills.
"When students read novels together as a class, they don't see it as work," Johnson said. "We have fun as we read and discuss the books."
The students are willing to stand up in class now and read aloud what they've written.
"Once they got over that fear, they've made quantum leaps," Johnson said. "I'm thrilled with what they've done."
One recent morning, Hodge read his essay on school uniforms to his classmates.
"People say we should wear them because it would stop the violence in school, but just because they wear uniforms, it isn't going to stop fights," he wrote.
"People also say kids bring guns into school by hiding them in their baggy jeans. It isn't the clothes that make people do that stuff."
Uniforms could create practical problems, T.C. Carter wrote.
"If a teacher or a student is looking for someone, it would be hard to find that person because people are all wearing the same thing," he wrote.
"I bet our parents wouldn't like their kids wearing the same clothes to school every day either. Maybe parents want to pick us up from school and they notice that everyone's wearing the same thing, then what do they do."
Johnson, a special education teacher, gave her students a writing assignment recently on uniforms, although Glenvar is not considering them.
In the language arts class, she tries to choose topics that have a special interest for middle school students.
Sometimes she asks them to write initially about a topic or issue based on their opinions. Then she asks the students to research the subject to broaden their views and write again on the same issue.
"I try to show them that a more informed view results in better and easier writing," she said.
By chance, the Glenvar students wrote about uniforms a few days before a newspaper story reported that Ruffner Middle School in Roanoke was studying the possibility of requiring uniforms.
The students' initial essays were based on their opinions. Before writing a second time, they reviewed the main points that are being debated at Ruffner, contacted other sources, and discussed the pros and cons of uniforms among themselves.
Under Johnson's guidance, the students spent about 30 minutes during a recent class developing a list of arguments on both sides of the issue. Each then wrote several paragraphs.
The students still remained divided over uniforms after broadening their views (nine in favor, 13 opposed), but many said they better understood both sides of the issue.
"Yes, I think kids should wear uniforms. Girls and boys should dress properly," Nicole Ratcliffe wrote. "But some kids say it's not fair. But you know the old saying: Life's not fair."
Others had a different view.
Jason Dalton wrote that uniforms would make school boring because everyone would look alike and there would be no contrast.
"Reason two is that private school students wear uniforms, not public schools kids. We're not rich and we don't go to private schools," he wrote.
C.W. Houchins said uniforms probably wouldn't have the '90s look.
"And on top of that, the clothes they give you may not fit as you want them to," he wrote. "So what's the point of going to a Wal-Mart to get school clothes. I wouldn't be caught dead wearing a uniform."
Kristi Caldwell said uniforms would stifle creativity and individuality.
"Everyone has their own style and they should be able to show it," she wrote. "No one wants to be just like someone else."
The students are beginning to enjoy writing. They recently had to write an essay as part of the state's Literacy Passport Test for sixth-graders.
Hodge wrote about why the minimum age for getting a driver's license should be raised to 18.
Ratcliffe said the hardest part of writing for her is spelling words correctly, but she's getting better. She has written about her pet, snow and other topics.
Johnson said she tells her students that they will have to work harder and more - not less - because of their disabilities.
"My room is not a place to protect them, to make the work easier," she said.
"I try to create a safe environment where no one will laugh at them, a place where they can practice and improve and overcome their fear."
Johnson has an assistant, Jennilou Eades, who is an experienced teacher who gives writing tips to students.
Johnson has used books such as E. B. White's "Charlotte's Web" and "Stuart Little" in her classes. She uses passages from books to teach language and writing skills.
"Sometimes I'll have them write about something related to the book we're reading."
Principal Michael Crowder, who sat in on a recent class, said the students' writing skills have blossomed this year under Johnson.
When the school year began, some parents said their children didn't like to write and couldn't write a paragraph, Crowder said.
"I'm pleased with how they're doing, and hopefully it will show in the Literacy Passport Test results," he said.
Crowder sided with the students who favor school uniforms.
"I get tired of kids being made fun of because of their clothes," he told the students. "Some parents can't afford to buy the latest fashions or the sports jackets."
LENGTH: Long : 122 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. David Hodge: ``It isn't the clothes that make peopleby CNBdo that stuff.'' 2. Nicole Ratcliffe: ``Girls and boys should dress
properly.'' color.