Most of all, community writing projects move literacy to the forefront. Writing life stories and sharing them with others is a humbling experience. Reading others’ life stories gives greater perspective on the world.
When communities and their children write and read together, everyone begins to see the value of literacy. This leads to ripple effects of literacy, ultimately helping to change the ways students and members of the community interact within and beyond their neighborhood.
Community writing projects also allow for healing, cultural expression, trust building and catharsis. When communities enter schools, everyone can begin to take responsibility for the students who inhabit them and the learning that takes place.
It’s possible to make learning fun, interesting and engaging year-round for students through community writing projects that invite the outside inside and welcome community members into the classroom space.
Keep reading! Check out our recent blog post about preventing summer learning loss to learn more about the importance of learning all year long.
More about Dr. Critchfield:
Meredith Critchfield, PhD, is a former public school teacher and current faculty member, researcher and writer at Grand Canyon University. Her work focuses on literacy education, teaching English as a second language and educational equity in urban, multicultural contexts. She has written more than 12 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and has a co-authored a book with Columbia University’s Teachers College Press, titled “Real World Writing for Secondary Students.” Dr. Critchfield’s most recent award for her work is the Grand Canyon University Leadership in Research and Scholarly Activity Award.