Should the schools within the Charlottesville City School system collaborate with each other? The short answer is yes. It gives great opportunities for students of all ages to learn from eachother.
For the past month and in the upcoming weeks, my Public Speaking 2 class, taught by Ms. Horne will be going to all of the elementary schools to teach 2nd graders about confident public speaking and proper storytelling.
These collaborations have given the high schoolers the opportunity to learn how to communicate with 8-year-olds, create relationships with younger kids in our community, as well as learn teaching strategies and how to act as role models. Not only that, but working with elementary students gives high schoolers an opportunity to visit their elementary schools and reconnect with the teachers who had a lasting impact on their education.
Ms. Horne shared with KTR about the benefits of multi-age collaboration for high school students: “Not only do you have to be leaders, not only do you get to do something that lights you up and makes you engaged and excited, not only are you helping little kids be more engaged in their learning, you are learning how to adapt and course correct which is a lesson that you can apply to anything in life.”
For the 2nd graders, they are given role models to look up to, and public speaking techniques they can use in their presentations at 8-years-old and even into their adulthood.
As part of the high school group, I can confidently say that both groups of students have had wonderful experiences so far.h Ms. Horne attests to this when she says,“Every day you guys get back on the bus, everybody is lit up, and you are non-stop talking about the experiences you had. You are lifting those kids up, all those teachers get back to me and say that was the best part of their kids’ day.”
This is one of the only occasions an opportunity like this has happened in my three years at Charlottesville High School. There are ample clubs and classes that could partner with an elementary or middle school in our school system. The Student Council could speak with Buford students to introduce them to leadership in their community. Future AP biology classes could go into 4th grade classes to teach them about organelles.
Middle school students should have constant contact with high schoolers. It will prepare them for their next educational step, create meaningful relationships, and allow them to explore classes, clubs, and sports they could be interested in rather than going into high school blind.
These collaborations not only create mentorship opportunities, but allows the Charlottesville City Schools community to grow closer and create a needed “fluid motion between elementary and high schools.”
While yes, funding and scheduling might arise as an issue, there should be enough motivation between the school board, school administration, students, and teachers to make these collaborations happen to create a better overall learning environment within the Charlottesville City School system.
Ms. Horne’s final message to other teachers is to “step up and make it happen, contact elementary schools, talk to Dr. Malone, and make it happen” because it truly is a beneficial experience for everyone.
