BY COURTNEY NOVELLINO, CHS JUNIOR
Mrs. Erica Fielder, a dedicated seventh-grade teacher at Oakridge Middle School, has spearheaded an innovative and inspiring initiative known as the Novel Writing Project aimed at nurturing a love for writing among her students. The origin of the Novel Writing Project traces back to Mrs. Fielder's previous position at a different school, where she saw the favorable results of a comparable eighth-grade project. Loving the process, she started by thoroughly investigating the idea and applied for a grant to fund the necessary supplies for creating the program at Oakridge. Despite the unexpected challenge of the COVID-19 outbreak, Mrs. Fielder, supported by her English Language Arts team, successfully launched the initiative the following academic year, efficiently transferring it to a virtual format. When asked about the goals of the Novel Writing Project, Mrs. Fielder emphasized wanting students to recognize their writing capabilities, accomplish significant tasks, and find joy in the writing process when given the freedom to explore their creativity. The project aims to empower students, giving them the belief that they can write well and achieve great things. Mrs. Fielder focuses on developing a firm understanding of the writing process, teaching students how to handle obstacles, and improving their general writing skills throughout the Novel Writing Project. The project also emphasizes the development of writing stamina and making sure that students are prepared to tackle longer writing assignments. To support and guide students through the novel writing process, Mrs. Fielder includes a pre-writing phase called PrepTober. During this period, students engage in mini-lessons to build their plot and excitement for their novels. This preparation phase sets the stage for a smoother writing process and contributes to students feeling more confident and prepared to embark on their writing journey. With over 430 seventh-grade students participating in the Novel Writing Challenge, Mrs. Fielder manages the event over a two-month period within language arts classes. Daily support from language arts teachers is supplemented by volunteer assistance during the editing and revising stages. This collaborative effort ensures that each student receives enough guidance and support. Reflecting on past challenges, Mrs. Fielder highlighted the transformative moments when students who initially expressed dislike for writing discovered a newfound joy in the creative process. One of Mrs. Fielder's favorite parts of the project is still seeing students enjoy the writing process and express themselves through it. As part of the novel writing process, students are encouraged to go through the revising, editing, and publishing stages. The teachers, including Mrs. Fielder, play a hands-on role in guiding students through each step. A step-by-step guide ensures a structured approach, and the school has established partnerships with local businesses, Publix and The Bank of York, to sponsor a Publishing Party on the school website for students who choose to publish. Currently, one student, Solomon Hopkins-Smith, stands out as a published author on Kindle, marking a significant achievement for the project. Mrs. Erica Fielder's Novel Writing Project is proof of the positive effects that creative expression may have on students and its transformative power. Mrs. Fielder's passion for nurturing a love of writing clearly leaves a lasting effect on the seventh-grade students at Oakridge Middle School.
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