Spring Fling puts spotlight on students
In an age of text messaging and e mail, the development of writing skills often appears to be a lost art. That is not the case at Lords Park Elementary School in Elgin. As a school in Elgin Area School District U-46, Lords Park made a commitment last year to align and coordinate writing instruction across the building. This was a timely decision, as U-46 offered professional development opportunities and formed a writing curriculum.
Beginning this school year, Lords Park offered a revised and renewed core writing program to all students, kindergarten to sixth grade. Efforts at improving student writing will culminate on Thursday, April 30 with a "Spring Fling" focusing on student writing, student artwork, and an emphasis on early literacy.
The "Spring Fling" includes a Young Authors festival where individual students have the opportunity to share their writing pieces in book formats. Many of the children include captivating illustrations. The "Spring Fling" also showcases the visual artwork of students.
Acclaimed author and illustrator, Eric Rohmann, will be a special guest during the event. He is the author of several children's books, including Caldecott Award-winning books, "My Friend Rabbit" and "Time Flies." Rohmann will visit with parents, teachers, and students, and offer two presentations during the April 30 event. One session will be directed to children in kindergarten to third grade and their parents, with the second session being planned for fourth- to sixth-graders.
"Children are the best audience: they are generous, and pleased by simple joys," Rohmann said. "They laugh easily at the ridiculous and are willing to believe the absurd. Children are not ironic, disillusioned, or indifferent, but hopeful, open-minded, and open-hearted, with a voracious hunger for pictures and stories."
The "Spring Fling" is open to the public and is free of charge. The program runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Lords Park Elementary School, 323 Waverly Drive in Elgin. For information, contact the school at (847) 888-5360.