THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9603290199
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
A Butts Road Primary School class attended a book-signing ceremony at Great Bridge High School Wednesday.
The 22 first graders each received a personalized book, expressly written for him or her by a member of June Vinson's 10th grade English honors class.
It was a case of Fay H. Hodges' first graders and Vinson's 10th graders helping each other learn.
The first-grade class was ``adopted'' by Vinson's students, thanks to the efforts of Missy Hodges, a member of Vinson's class and Hodges' daughter.
The exercise was held to give the primary school students the opportunity to learn about writing and book publishing and give the high schoolers a chance to stretch their creative writing abilities.
``As early as the first grade we expose our students to writing, illustrating, publishing and copyrighting their own books,'' Hodges said. ``We have a publishing center in each class and have our children learn all about writing.''
She said the idea of pairing first graders with sophomores was part of an exercise where students from both schools would learn about writing and each other.
``Each child was paired with one of Mrs. Vinson's students,'' Hodges said. ``Each high school student was then given information and details about the child they were paired with.'' The details includedthings like age, friends' names, pet's names, favorite foods, favorite television shows and books, hobbies, parents' names.
Since there were more high school students then first graders, those sophomores not assigned to a student were given the task of writing a novel about Hodges' entire class.
Using a school computer, each high schooler had to create a book about his or her young partner, weaving all through the story the facts they were given.
``This way, my children learn more about the writing, creative and publishing process,'' Hodges said. ``And Mrs. Vinson's students get the chance to work on a challenging exercise in creative writing.''
During the writing process, Vinson's students examined other popular children's books to get an idea on how to create their own novels.
One child, who liked basketball, was the hero of an important game in his book. Another student said one of her favorite foods was macaroni, so her book depicted her as a princess of a mythological kingdom where she was able to indulge in her desire for noodles and cheese in her own fanciful palace.
Each book was published on a computer printer using color, computer graphic illustrations and plastic covers
During Wednesday's ``book signing,'' each Great Bridge student read his or her book aloud to the assembled kids. In addition, Hodges' children were given a tour of the school.
Some of the high school authors even offered varying surprises for the visiting primary students including trinkets, small toys and candy. One student even prepared a small Easter basket.
``That same day we had an Easter party, and all my children wanted to do was read their books and share them with each other,'' she said. ``The party was second to their books.''
Besides learning a lesson in writing and boosting each child's self-esteem, Hodges said the books will increase each child's vocabulary.
``Some of the words are difficult for them, and I know that they will go look them up and learn them. You can be sure of that,'' she said.
``I think we're going to make this an annual event. The high school kids enjoyed it and learned a thing or two, and my children loved it. It made them feel so special and made them want to learn and write. Some of my students even asked their authors if they could baby sit them when their parents have to go out. I think everybody benefited.'' by CNB