Brookwood School

“As Kindergarten teachers, we bring to the editorial process a shared love of children's writing and an appreciation for the written word,” says Sarah.  
     Prior to the 1999 debut of Treasures, Brookwood had one school-wide literary publication.  A divisional magazine dedicated to the Lower School recognizes Brookwood’s youngest community of readers and writers.   The content on the pages respects the development of students in Grades Pre-K through 2 and is accessible to readers of all ages.
     Both Sarah and Katie agree that while online communication has its place in today’s society, young children need to hold books in their hands.  Comments Katie, “A printed publication allows children to manually flip through pages, develop an awareness of print concepts, and track text across a page.”  Sarah adds “students transport and share their creations with others as they bring their magazines in the car, to the breakfast table and under the bed covers.”
     Previous Treasures themes include children's literature, family structures, service learning and sustainability.  This year's magazine won’t have a specific theme but will be an authentic collection of children's writing and work done in Lower School classrooms.  A variety of genre will be represented – from poems, advice, and tributes, to narratives, recipes and letters. Pages will be filled with drawings as well as words because illustration is also an important part of the children's writing process.
     Focus on the written word is prominent in the Kindergarten curriculum as students choose to write about the people, places and experiences that are meaningful to them.   Risk-taking is encouraged as children begin to transfer their oral stories onto paper for the first time.  Experimenting with the tools and resources that writers use, Brookwood’s youngest writers begin to develop a sense of voice and share their perceptions with others.
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