Telling their stories: Writing program lifts students' pride, confidence
If you go
What: Revealing party to unveil the books written by Northside Intermediate School students in the Telling My Story program
When: 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Gathering Place, 715 Campus St., Milton.
To donate
The Telling My Story program has received several grants and donations from local groups and businesses, but it's still looking for long-term sponsors, said Paula Schutt, executive director of The Gathering Place.
The program costs about $2,000 a year for lunches, supplies, printing and reception costs.
To donate or for more information, call Schutt at (608) 868-3500.
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Books created by Milton Northside Intermediate School students last year.
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An Illustration by Hannah Kufrin for the book The Beast and the Three Boys by Sheza Bedzeti at Milton Northside Intermediate.
MILTON — At 11 years old, Denisse Perez-Avendano is about to become a published author.
"(My parents) keep talking about it and telling everyone how excited they are and proud of me because I'm the first person in my family to write a book," the fifth-grader said.
Denisse will join six of her schoolmates Saturday as they see their very own books bound in shiny hard covers.
The students are part of the Telling My Story program, a collaboration that pairs Northside Intermediate School students with mentors from The Gathering Place senior center.
Senior mentors help the students plan and write stories. The stories are turned into professionally printed books that Milton High School students illustrate.
The program just completed its second year and will unveil the books Saturday at a celebration at The Gathering Place.
Telling My Story lets senior citizens connect with children, while the children gain confidence in their writing skills, said the three Northside reading teachers.
"They can't imagine that they could be published authors," teacher Kathy McCann said.
Students write about whatever they want, from outlandish adventure tales to stories based on their own lives. Books from the first program had titles such as "The Mystery of the Stolen Jewel" and "The Bully to Stop."
"It's truly their own story," teacher Carol Watson said.
Sebonty Islam, 11, wrote "The Broken Vase" about girls who break their parents' vase during a sleepover. The girls learn to tell the truth and confess when you do something wrong, Sebonty said.
Sebonty and her classmates said they enjoyed working with the seniors and high school students on the projects.
"It really shows you how to make a book, and it takes a long time," Sebonty said.
The students also learn social skills, said Peggy Hirschberg, one of the mentors and part of a writing group at The Gathering Place.
"The thing I got the most joy out of was to watch them come out of their shell," said Hirschberg, a former teacher. "Some of them were so meek and shy … (Then) they started talking to us, the mentors, and it was just wonderful."
Michele Arduengo, a science writer and Milton Courier columnist, got the idea after reading about a similar program at her alma mater, Wesleyan College in Georgia.
"I thought, ‘You know, we could do something like this in Milton pretty easily,'" she said.
She approached Paula Schutt, The Gathering Place executive director, and the Milton School District. Together, Schutt and Arduengo obtained grants from the Alliant Energy Foundation and the Milton Fund and donations from local businesses.
Students completed the first batch of books in summer 2008. Those books now sit on shelves at the Milton Public Library and their school library.
The students in this year's program, including 10-year-old Gillian Spors, can't wait to see their own books.
"I think I will feel really proud," Gillian said.
May 28, 2009 at 7:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
Nope! While that is a worthwhile venture, kids at this age are "all about ME". And to be able to succinctly write about something they have experienced, will develop a love of reading AND writing. My youngest also had a hard cover book of her own creation, made when she was in the Intermediate school. She's 26 now, but that book has made its way back into our lives on many occasions. She had the best time working on it and is still proud of it (though I don't know if she would admit it to her friends...)
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The mentoring was surely a great asset to these kids. Getting an unbiased opinion and help with the actual assembly of the materials - is awesome! Think of how our Seniors at the Gathering Place, were able to contribute to the youth of our society!
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Simply a FABULOUS program. I hope this is a continuing event for these kids!!!
May 28, 2009 at 7:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
This would be much better for the students if they learned to write the stories of the old people. Where were they during World War II? What were their thoughts at the Kennedy shooting? How did they live when they were children? How has Milton changed? In other words, kids should learn more about telling other people's stories, which they will learn in time are their stories.
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