WITS Report

by

Jessica Becker

W.I.T.S., or Writers in the Schools, is a successful program that teachers and students hope will continue year after year. Tammy Nadeau, a fourth grade teacher at F.K.E.S., says, “It's a good add in to the curriculum. I hope it continues.” Joanna Becker, an F.K.E.S. fourth grader, says, “I wish they could have stayed longer. It was so much fun.” The teachers also believe it was well suited to their students’ abilities and a good connection between the students of different ages. “The activities were age appropriate.” Tammy Nadeau says. Shelly Lausier and Linda Marquis, other fourth grade teachers at F.K.E.S., agree. “It's good to have new voices, other than the same teachers the students see every day.” Linda Marquis says. Shelly Lausier continues, “It's good to have new ideas, to tie together the University and the grade schools.” W.I.T.S. is a new program in the area, and the leader of it, Prof. Geraldine Cannon Becker, believes it is doing very well. “It was more successful than I expected,” she says, “especially since we had so few guides.” The W.I.T.S. guides consisted of university and high school students, but there were only nine of them total. Even so, the program helped to open the eyes and minds of fourth and fifth graders at F.K.E.S. “I learned it's not against the rules to break the rules in poetry and creative writing.” Joanna says. “I learned that you can write poetry about anything, anything in the world. What is the world without writing?”

Joanna goes even farther with her insights on W.I.T.S. and writing. “I learned how to use my mind and imagination to help others. ‘Art is the heart of the earth,’ just as you said, Jessica. I love poetry because it could not have started without imagination.” Imagination is something that tends to be seen as on the decline, especially as children grow older. “I think that sometimes older children are encouraged to stifle their imagination.” Prof. Becker says, “‘Act your age!’ ‘Grow up! Live in the real world!’ But I couldn't imagine the real world without imagination. I think we need to encourage younger people to use their imagination even more and to show them more constructive ways to share emotions.”

Writing, in general, is often seen as unimportant by many, but Prof. Becker believes otherwise. “In some classes, I have students interview people in their field of interest to see how much writing they will have to do for their jobs. Sometimes they're surprised, because they didn’t expect to have to do a lot of writing. I can't think of any field where writing isn't important. I want people to know that it can also be fun. Fun is fundamental to W.I.T.S.”

When asked what inspired her to begin doing W.I.T.S. in the area, Prof. Becker responds, “Because I think it fills a need. It helps fill a need for better communication and cooperation between students of different ages. Working together for W.I.T.S. were students from Elementary, High School, and University levels. In the future I want to involve even more people and community members, such as senior volunteers, and hopefully even more people will be able to participate. We weren't able to go to High School classrooms or the Writer's Club. I hope the program will expand in the future.”

The W.I.T.S. workshop experience could also be extended to community learning centers throughout the year, so W.I.T.S. guides will eventually serve area students grades K-12 in participating schools/institutions and community members in participating community centers. W.I.T.S. programs have been in existence since 1983. The program was originally designed to help classroom teachers introduce the fundamentals of creative writing to students in public schools and institutions, enhancing the reading and writing curricula. Various W.I.T.S. programs are available across the U.S.A.

W.I.T.S. guides have planted the seeds through workshops at F.K.E.S., grades three, four, and five. W.I.T.S. has corresponded with C.H.S. grade nine as well. They have high hopes for this program to take roots, to grow and flourish for learners of all ages in our community. The main goal through W.I.T.S. is to nurture creative and critical thinking skills while building reading, writing, and communication skills. At the same time, all learners may develop improved social skills as they actively engage in education in imaginative exciting ways. W.I.T.S. workshops are hands on and heartfelt experiences for everyone who participates. They are experiences that last. These students care about helping others learn to greater appreciate the power and the pleasure of working with words.