Cows in search of grass
The power of choice in the writing cycle
Tricia Wagner
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Every quarter students in grades five to eight go through the writing cycle. They brainstorm ideas, research themes, write rough drafts, edit their peers’ papers, and then meet individually with a teacher for final revising and editing. Two quarters a year, students write in a specific genre,
about certain themes, in order to improve their skills in specified areas. For the other two quarters, though, they write in any genre, and about any topic, they choose. A project my fifth- and sixth-graders did this fall shows how choice yields a deeply engaged writing cycle.
In September, a fence was broken between the school property and the land of a local farmer. His cows wandered onto school grounds, and left dung in the corridors and on the cancha. This was especially frustrating for students playing out back. One of these students, Rafita Vargas, was moved by the situation and began to write a play on the theme. With his own blend of wit and humor, he developed a piece about a group of cows from Mexico traveling in search of greener grass. After many trials and tribulations, they eventually arrived at the Monteverde Friends School to live out their happy existence.
When Rafi shared his writing with his peers, they unanimously decided to present his play at the school’s next coffee house. The students chose shadow puppets as the medium of presentation. They cut out the puppets, created a script, and chose actors, puppeteers and a special effects crew that made the sounds of the cows, the storms, the falling trees, etc. The fifth- and sixth-grade class performed their show for the rest of the school and the Monteverde community at large. As Rafi’s classmate Isabel Sander said, “It was very entertaining!”
Tricia Wagner teaches 5–8 English and social studies at the Monteverde Friends School.
Photograph by Michael S. Strickland
Our school is sustained by donations to our scholarship fund. Over one-third of our students are on financial aid. This year we have depleted our fund. With tuition going up for next year, we need to be prepared to support all families at the levels they need in order to continue to attend our school.
Your donations to our scholarship fund allow us to retain quality teachers, as well as to buy books and supplies. Monteverde Friends School is grateful to our broad base of donors who enable us to provide a high quality education to all eligible students regardless of their ability to pay.
If you are in need of a U.S. tax deduction, you can make a donation to Monteverde Friends U.S., and send it to:
Monteverde Friends U.S.
c/o Clara Rowe
PO Box 993
Amherst, MA 01004
Checks can also be made out directly to the Monteverde Friends School and delivered here.
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