By Mariam M.
Staff Writer

On Friday, Mar. 10, 2023, eighth-grade students had their first meeting with their first-grade buddies. This was part of SEL, or social emotional learning. During the meeting, eighth-graders asked the first-graders some introductory questions to get to know our buddies better.

Absecon School District Literacy Coach Dr. Horner organized this project.

“The first and eighth graders are being paired together because the eighth grade students will serve as mentors for the first grade. They will kind of be their teachers because they will also practice their reading skills together,” Dr. Horner said.

She said that first-grade students will learn collaboration, communication, how to hold eye contact, and being able to learn from each other. And the eighth graders will have a positive impact as a role model, she said. The two grades have been meeting every other week and will continue to for the rest of the year.

In the last few weeks left of school, the first- and eighth-grade buddies will do some fun things together, including a puppet show. This puppet show will be based on a nursery rhyme that the first graders brought to the meetings. The pairs will make puppets and perform the nursery rhyme. Eighth-graders will also be participating in the Marsh Field Day with the first-graders.