French groups from two Western Québec schools have come together for a literature and storytelling activity. Grade 9 students from Philemon Wright sat together with a group of Grade 2 students from Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary Schools (PETES) to read and discuss unique children’s books created for the occasion.
In the previous weeks, Ms. Geneviève Forget’s French Immersion students have teamed up to imagine, write and draw their own children’s books meant for Grade 2 students. Invited in the library at Philemon Wright High School, French Immersion students with Ms. Caroline Turcotte listened carefully as stories were read to them. They had even prepared series of questions for the amateur writers.
The primary goal of the activity was to spread the passion of books and to share the love of reading and writing, but the gathering also led to a special connection between elementary and secondary students.
PETES teacher Caroline Turcotte observed the effects of this connection immediately thereafter: “As soon as we got back to class, I noticed that the kids wanted to start writing.” Many of her students would even suggest writing stories and inviting their new friends to read them.
Many writers have decided to donate the originals of their first literary works to the young ones. Given the size of the smiles elementary students were wearing when they left, these gifts seemed genuinely appreciated.