Seattle, Washington

Hawthorne’s Minion Scholars

Everyone loves a good “Whodunnit?”  At Hawthorne Elementary School’s mystery literacy night, students and parents gathered clues through reading activities to solve a mystery.  This year the theme was “Minions.”  Students and parents were given a minion goggles to wear for the evening, made by family volunteers.  They watched a video clip where Gru (played by a teacher) told the student minions that he was writing a mystery book about unicorns, and he needed their help.  Gru explained that to solve the mystery, students and their families had to complete three literacy activities to gain clues.

The literacy activities varied by grade level to reinforce skills taught in class.  They included decoding puzzles, conducting a treasure hunt using the Dewey Decimal System, playing family word games, reading passages from grade-appropriate books, identifying parts of speech, and more.  When students completed an activity, a volunteer leader stamped the work.  The activities enabled students to practice skills they had learned in class in a new and different atmosphere. When they completed their activities and solved the mystery, students earned a free book to take home.

The organizers worked to connect with diverse families.  The school serves students who speak 15 different languages at home, and many students are English Language Learners.  Flyers and phone messages about the Minion Scholars went home in multiple languages, and interpreters were present to assist families.

Hawthorne’s Minion Scholars is featured in Promising Partnership Practices 2017.

Culturally Diverse Partnerships University – Part III

Hawthorne continued information sessions based on families’ needs and requests for more cooperative respectful, and warm relationships with their children.  This year’s topics included “positive discipline” and “navigating their child’s education in middle and high school.”  Seven courses were offered, led by graduate students from the School Counseling Department at Seattle Pacific University and the school’s community partner Puget Sound Adlerian Society.  Feedback was positive and indicated that parents applied the strategies, improved interactions with their children, and said they gained ideas on how to transition successfully into middle and high school.

The graduate students also encouraged students at Hawthorne to discuss their experiences and ideas about peer to peer conflicts, bullying, physical development, and serving as interpreters for their parents who did not speak English.  The counseling students from the college and school counselors incorporated games and activities to help students feel safe in discussing these important issues that they faced, but rarely discussed.  The elementary students were supported in exploring and managing their feelings and problem solving strategies with the goal of helping them prepare emotionally for middle and high school.