Writers Volunteer Time and Talent to Encourage Kids
At the Kids Writing Connection at John F. Kennedy Learning Center in Dallas, TX, there have been ten years of writing and illustration competitions to help make a difference in the lives of students at this mostly minority school. The East Dallas facility has a program that matches students with professionals who mentor them through a semester-long project.
Principal Carolina Leon oversees grades K-6 with a staff of 66 teachers and five Special Education ones. The student ratio is 25.8 percent male and 74.2 female. Hispanic students make up 31.8 percent of the population, Caucasians 33.3, African-Americans 16.7, and Asians 18.2.
The Hispanic population seems to have the highest enrollment and attendance with 733 children while the state’s average is 44 percent. Ninety-eight percent of students participate at JFK in the free or reduced-price lunch program. At the state level it’s 53 percent. Sixty-three percent of JFK students were learning English for the first time in the 2002-2003 school year while the state had an average figure of 15 percent.
Sixty-six kids are in special education classes at JFK. In some testing of all grades, 131 (the highest number) scored at the Beginning level, representing a percentage of 32. The Hispanic and Asian teachers there appear to have the most experience according to stats with an overall mean year experience for all the teachers of 13 and 9.5 with the district. Students at JFK are typically absent 7 days out of the school year.
Average class size for JFK for 2003-2004 was nineteen with a state average of 22. The statistics come from the Texas Education Agency. According to Third Floor Publishing, children who read are better writers. “Our family’s journey raising a gifted daughter began about 16 years ago,” said Sally Bartha, author. “Since Laura is a very verbal person discussion was and is routine at our house on a broad variety of subjects.”
Greeting card creator and mother of two, Susan Stump said kids often amaze us with their imaginative ideas and parents should give themselves a pat on the back for playing a role in this development. She supports giving children ideas and to keep those thoughts fresh while setting an example and giving them freedom.
Lloyd Weatherford, 10, got his first “school” hand-made book published, full of pictures and anecdotes as well as facts about himself and his family. He wants to be a writer when he grows up. Writer Beth Wilson Saavedra says extroverted children may enjoy putting on puppet shows, plays, dressing up in costumes, play acting, and comedy routines to foster creativity.
For older children, encourage them to keep a journal or write postcards or notes to relatives, says one article from Better Homes & Gardens Magazine. “The bottom line is children are very creative thinkers,” said Dr. Barbara Willer of the National Association for the Education of Children.
The JFK Center is located at 1802 Moser Avenue. The phone number is 972-794-7100.
