The BJA elementary school WordWhiz Club is not just about words—it’s about students helping students love to read and write. Celebrating its inaugural year, WordWhiz Club meets weekly and includes pairs of students from a first-grade and a sixth-grade class. Each student works with his or her buddy on a variety of literacy activities … including reading books together, completing reading response activities, sequencing, illustrating stories and even writing their own fictional tales. Students also work together to compete in interactive vocabulary activities using the iPad lab as well as to act out and record their own stories using green screen technology. “Collaboration between younger and older students is a win-win situation. While the older students act as guides, they are also being challenged to develop their own literacy skills as they partner with the younger students who are so eager to learn from them,” says Jennifer Klipp, assistant principal. “The friendships being built between the students are invaluable—not just for developing a love for learning but also for life skills in relating to and helping others.” The elementary school is considering expanding the opportunity in the future and possibly including other academic subjects.
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