“Battle of the Books” and "Battle of Lacrosse"

Griffith Elementary School

 

Marc Winbush, Forsyth Country Day’s Lacrosse coach, and Kim Peatross, teacher of 25 years in WSFCS are leading an after school program for Griffith Elementary School students, “Battle of the Books" and "Battle of Lacrosse".

 

"Battle of Books" and "Battle of Lacrosse" is an after school mentor program for students. Students will meet on Monday afternoons 3:00-5:30. Upon arrival, students will be served a snack and begin a homework session. Teachers and mentors will provide assistance in Math, Science and Language Arts homework. Following the homework session, the students will participate in a Book Talk. Classic novels will be studied. There will be assigned reading outside of the club. Children will be expected to come prepared to discuss assigned chapters read. Instruction will be based on vocabulary, comprehension skills and comprehension strategies (see below for list).  There will be a follow up activity for each novel studied. Students will learn to appreciate literature and increase reading fluency/comprehension.

 

After reading club, students will have the opportunity to participate in a lacrosse instructional clinic directed by Marc Winbush, Forsyth Country Day’s head Lacrosse coach. Marc will bring lacrosse players from Forsyth Country Day School and Reynolds High School to assist with instruction. 

 

Students will be taught the game of lacrosse, America's oldest sport, dating back to 1770s, learn lacrosse's legendary basis, elaborate rituals, rules and manner of play. We will dive into history to learn that apart from its recreational function, lacrosse played a more serious role in Indian culture, such as settling territorial disputes between tribes. We will focus on character development to provide students the skills needed to become productive citizens. A reading/history club and athletic club all in one!

 

This program will give Griffith students an opportunity for growth in reading and an opportunity to play a game that is predominately played by boys from socioeconomically advantaged homes. Students will gain self - confidence both in the classroom and on the field.

 

Reading Skills Focus:

 

Comprehension Skills: Making Inferences, Classify and Categorize, Author’s Purpose, Drawing Conclusions, Reality and Fantasy, Sequence, Author’s Point of View, Fact and Opinion, Cause and Effect, Compare and Contrast, Main Idea and Supporting Details

 

Comprehension Strategies: Make Connections, Visualize, Clarify, Predicting, Ask Questions, Adjust reading Speed, Summarizing