A Unique Way of Encouraging Literacy in the Community

Hello,

I read an article in the February 2009 issue of The Reading Teacher called, "The 42nd Crochet: Getting Students Hooked Into a Literacy Community". The article tells the story of how a second grade teacher taught her students how to crochet as a classroom management tool at the end of the school day. However, it quickly blossomed into a regular part of the classroom's literacy content. The students used their crocheting time as an opportunity to talk about books they were reading, to write about their crocheting projects, to problem solve, and to build relationships with the community outside of the classroom. The students wrote letters to local businesses asking for donations of crocheting supplies. Crocheting also became a big part of the students' home life. Students began crocheting at home either on their own or with other family members. This is a great way to spend some quality time with your child and discuss their literary interests just like in the classroom, to encourage dialogue with your child, and make gifts for family members all at the same time!

When I first read the title of this article, I was a little skeptical and unsure of how crocheting tied into literacy. But, now I'm excited about trying this out in my own classroom of 3rd and 4th graders. I'll keep you posted on our progress!

Happy Reading,

Kathleen