One of my favorite jobs was working as the language arts parapro at Eagle Ranch, a group home for at-risk teens. Eagle Ranch had its own school for their 6th-through-9th-grade residents. I was given the privilege to create a writing lab for the students.
Three days a week, I helped out in the classroom, pulling kids aside who needed extra help that day, reading and responding to the students’ daily journal entries, and whatever else was needed. Twice a week, I took each class of students to spend time in the writing lab.
Each child had a designated computer, so while they were in the writing lab, they were writing. I created the curriculum with approval from the language arts teacher. I designed individual and group projects based on the children’s interests and personalities.
The kids wrote magazine articles, short stories, life stories, and other creative pieces. My favorite project was the group collaboration on a story. Each group of four to five students decided what story they wanted to write, and they each contributed a part.
When I came up with that assignment, I had no idea if or how it would work out. But it was an incredible experience. These students had a history of emotional and behavioral struggle, at home and in school. For them to work together so well in groups was amazing. And the stories they created were priceless.
I won’t ever forget the characters they made up and the adventures they wrote. The stories were published in the school magazine. Thankfully, I have a copy of that magazine. I have reread the stories over the years as they come to mind. Just now, I found a handwritten note inside the magazine from one of my students upon his graduation:
“Ms. Eriksson, ma’am, I am sorry this will mostly not be good writing because I am writing this past midnight. You have helped me. You have no idea what confidence you gave me through writing. I love the journals because of the comments. Thank you for helping me when you could have done something else.” Today, this student is doing incredibly well in his adult life. I am so proud of him.
Here is the testimonial of the language arts teacher who encouraged me to create the writing lab:
“I had the privilege of working closely with Janet for two years. She was in charge of a writing lab for teenagers who were participating in a Christian residential facility program. Many of these students were several grade levels behind academically; many were considered very reluctant learners. Daily she encouraged, taught, and worked with small groups of students.
“The work the students were able to produce under her leadership was exceptional! Students made a school devotional, worked on writing their testimony, wrote pieces of non-fiction, and created entries for a school magazine. I saw their writing, their confidence, and their productivity dramatically increase over time. The skills she taught the students greatly helped them progress both academically and emotionally. She was deeply missed by students and staff alike when she was called to other fields.”
— Mary-Lee Reynolds, Former Language Arts Teacher, Eagle Ranch School
Janet Eriksson 