This week's academic spotlight shines on two of our amazing English teachers at Laning Middle School, Mrs. Mindy Brinker and Mrs. Brandy Hamilton. I was invited to come in and watch the students engage in an assignment that was not only academically rigorous but heartwarming as well. The "Letters to Seniors" assignment was inspired by the Ted Talk "Stopping loneliness in the elderly with letters," given by teenager Jacob Cramer.
"It is my hope that, by having students write letters to seniors at Twin Oaks, there will be benefits for both the students and the seniors," said Mrs. Brinker.
Mrs. Hamilton also expressed her fondness for the activity:
"I love doing this activity because I think it's important for our kids to think about others and make connections with our community."
When I observed Mrs. Brinker, I was impressed with her use of her family members as examples during her anticipatory set. This made a relevant and instant connection for the students, which helped them understand the purpose behind the assignment and how impactful writing letters to seniors would be for both parties. It was apparent the students were brought into the activity as Mrs. Brinker gave the directions and parameters. This is a real testament to how great our students are here in Lansing!
"Students were so excited about being able to have a positive impact on someone else's life and at the possibility of hearing back from their potential penpals, and that kind of student buy-in makes this project a valuable one that students will remember," said Mrs. Brinker.
In addition to completing an act of altruism, the students also had the chance to put into action the work they have been working on in ELA class all semester.
"It gives them the opportunity to practice what we've learned in class while making someone else's day brighter," said Mrs. Hamilton.
Students worked diligently to write letters to senior citizens of the Twin Oaks retirement community here in Lansing. They were directed to physically write the letters, as opposed to typing them, so that it was more personal and heartfelt. They were also encouraged to add colors and illustrations to their letters for their pen pals to enjoy. As you can imagine, the students loved the assignment.
"It's a fun way to know about the community and the people that live here," said Berkley Meyers.
"The project was good because it gave us a chance to write about ourselves in a way that most of us haven't before," said Noah Wooten. "ELA is the best class in this school, I feel comfortable all of the time and I'm always happy in the class."
They also expressed their love for ELA and their teachers:
"ELA is an awesome class!" said Aiden Wendt.
"Mrs. Brinker made it very easy for me to understand every subject we learned. I had no problem with tests and quizzes," said Carson Ellington
"ELA is the class I feel the most comfortable in," said Landon Olson.
I'll finish this article with a quote that warms this former English teacher's heart:
"ELA is the best class because I always have an awesome time and learn so much. ELA will always be my favorite," said Michael Lopez.
Great job, Mrs. Brinker and Mrs. Hamilton!