
Cobble Hill School of American Studies: Editors-in-Chief in the Making

Classroom, Inc. has partnered with Cobble Hill School of American Studies since the summer of 2011. This year, we watched Mrs. Klingensmith’s 9th graders truly extend their roles as editor-in-chief in our learning game After the Storm. The program is being used to directly impact students’ literacy skills in English Language Arts class. During one creative writing assignment, Mrs. K had students choose between writing a story as a local community member who experienced the storm or creating a poem, song, or rap that would give hope to the community as they begin the hard work of cleaning up following the hurricane. In another assignment, students analyzed different texts and letters from historical figures, including Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail as well as letters from W.E.B. DuBois, Maya Angelou, and Louis Armstrong to discuss how communication, written correspondence, and language have changed over the past century.
Students are diving into what it would take to be editor-in-chief of their own news magazines. Using the lessons from After the Storm, they are dissecting articles to identify what is effective and what can be improved before they begin to create their own magazines. The 9th graders are also discussing the nuances of leadership and how various styles can impact productivity and morale. We’re so impressed with the many real life and literary connections that Mrs. Klingensmith’s class is making from After the Storm. We know you’ll all be great leaders in the future!
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