Dual approach to learning with Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s Buddy Program
As part of a cross-grade level initiative called the Buddy Program,
fifth-grade students in Christine Wicks’ class have been sharing their
love of learning with the kindergarten students in Melissa Martin’s
class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School.
Most recently, they combined their English Language Arts skills to draft
letters to Santa as part of the Macy’s Make-A-Wish letter campaign,
which donates one dollar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for every letter
it receives.
The older students made a template of a letter and encouraged the
younger ones to fill in the words, helping them to sound out letters and
assisting them with spelling and ideas for the content.
The two teachers have partnered for close to a decade on having their
classes work together and have both seen growth in the school’s program
with other classes partnering and more importantly the friendships that
are formed and endure throughout the school year.
According to Wicks, together the students experience the skills of
communication as the older students learn patience and perseverance and
the younger ones are being helped with spelling and sentence structure, a
twofold positive outcome for learning.