By Eric Erickson

Como Park High School students in Suzanne Myhre’s University of Minnesota English 1301 College in the Schools class recently wrote personal narratives—and then re-wrote them for a very different audience: third graders at Como Elementary.

During a visit to the elementary school, the “big kids” paired up with the “little kids” and read their adapted stories aloud. In exchange, each third grader wrote about what they imagine high school might be like and shared it with their older partner.

The older and younger students gave each other feedback and began revising their final drafts, with plans to meet again for a second round of sharing.

“It was very cool,” Myhre said. “All the students were super engaged.” 

Eric Erickson is a social studies teacher at Como Park Senior High School and a regular Bugle freelance writer.