Focus on the College Essay

Wednesday, September 29th

On Wednesday we started class with another game of charades. This time the theme was 'cartoon characters,' inspired by La'nae's expert drawings of all things animated.

Jen as 'Oscar the Grouch'

Sharaya laughing at something....

Dominique attempting to mime 'Penny Proud' to her group....

Dominique's group doing their best to get it....

Katie, Crystal, Le'von, and Luis trying to figure out their groups character

After a lively game of charades, Jomaira led the class in an activity to help students identify some of the important characteristics about themselves

In their journals students responded to three prompts:

I am....

I believe...

I value...

In response to each of these prompts, students generated lists of things they "are," believe," and "value." After sharing these with their groups, students chose one quality, belief, or value to write about in more depth. After writing these students got to share them with their groups and get feedback from their group members. In the groups the college students also wrote in response to the question and shared with the Parkway students.

La'nae

Aaron and Dorian

Darcy and Jen's group discussing (Ramire, Aaron, Dorian, and Sharaya)

Nadine and Le'von

Talking with Briana about her essay

Dominique

Tanisha and Shelby

Luis

Le'von

Britney M. working on her essay

At the end of class Jomaira gave each of us three small slips of paper. On each one we wrote something that was important to us or made us who we are. We all stood in a circle and dropped one of our pieces of paper in the middle of the circle. Afterward we went around and said what we had dropped. Then we each dropped a second piece of paper and went around said what we had dropped and what we were still holding on to. The activity helped to bring home for everyone in the room what we valued and what made us who we are. It was an excellent way to end class as students continue to work on their essay drafts, which are due on Monday. The feeling in the room was that everyone was connecting the importance conveying what is essential about you in your college essay.

Jomaira leading our closing activity