May 29, 2003
Contact: Lois Breedlove (509-963-1046/fax 509-963-1060/e-mail: breedlov@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - More than 300 middle school students from
Mattawa will join Central Washington University students Tuesday, June
3, in a day-long festival celebrating reading, writing and
story-telling.
“We want students to be excited about the possibilities of
telling stories – their stories, other people’s stories – and to become
lifelong writers and readers,” says Lois Breedlove, CWU communication
professor and director of the Bridges Project, which will co-sponsor
the event.
Some 30 college students majoring in English, communication,
education, Spanish and history will offer workshops for the middle
school students, including poetry, newspaper writing, autobiographies,
history and “fractured fairy tales.” The CWU diversity center and the
College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) will present a workshop for
eighth graders on “Building Your Community.”
“As an English student who loves to write, I’m thrilled to
have the opportunity to turn what I have learned in my teaching writing
methods class into practical experience,” says Kristina Daheim, who is
coordinating the student workshops from the English department. “This
day is the culmination of the school year for the CWU students as well
as the Mattawa students. We have planned for June 3rd to be a day
where we, as a community of writers, students and teachers alike, can
celebrate the many dimensions and benefits of writing and reading.”
Some of the workshops are being planned as part of the
teaching methods courses in English and history. The Bridges Project
allows students to integrate the theory and the practice during the
course, according to Bobby Cummings, CWU English professor and one of
the faculty partners in the Bridges Project.
Merle Kunz, assistant professor of history, and a faculty
partner in the Bridges Project, adds, “The Bridges Project provides an
ideal transition for pre-professionals. Students nearing student
teaching or graduation report back that the Project allows them a
non-threatening atmosphere to experiment with strategies and to assess
the grade level needs of future students. On the flip side, younger
students are enthusiastic about opportunities to meet and learn from
non-traditional teachers.”
Kunz teaches the history methods course for pre-professional
teachers.
Community guests and other members of the university
community will also be on site to celebrate with the students.
“The diverse workshops will bring a fun atmosphere, but also
a positive learning experience to the middle school kids,” says Cindy
Shipe, a senior in communication and a student coordinator for the
celebration.
The Bridges Project links college students with younger
students to help them develop their skills and interests in reading,
writing and history, using technology to assist the students in telling
their stories. College mentors work in the school with teachers, in
after-school projects and in summer camps. Many of the mentors plan a
career in education or in communication.
The Bridges Project and the Celebration Day receive funding
from the CWU GEAR UP, a partnership between CWU, five public schools
including the Wahluke School District in Mattawa, and the Northwest
Learning and Achievement Group in Wapato.
