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CBL Spring 2024 Newsletter: (Issue #17)

Writer's picture: GGSE Reading Clinic at UCSBGGSE Reading Clinic at UCSB




INTRODUCTION


This final edition for 2023-2024 is dedicated to our new program, UCSB Club.

We invite you to explore the research projects our colearners from Harding University Partnership School (HUPS) created with the support of UCSB undergraduate students that we call the HUGs (Harding UnderGraduates). This program was largely supported by the Elaine Stepanik Foundation, University-Community Links Program, and Tina McEnroe of the McEnroe Reading and Language Arts Clinic, which collectively funded the coordination, transportation, and undergraduate instruction needed to make this program happen.


Throughout the year, 33 Harding fourth and fifth graders visited UCSB to engage in research projects related to their interests. Within these ‘research affinity groups’, young colearners explored alongside HUGs to learn more about university life. Colearners explored topics and issues associated with sustainable fashion, university athletics, food security, video game design, university conservation efforts, modern artists, and emotional support animals.


Findings from spring assessments suggest that Harding students who attended UCSB Club grew on average more than a year in their reading abilities (one year and two months), which is significantly higher than the average growth of their peers who grew an average of  half a year (six months) in their reading abilities. Such findings suggest that UCSB Club uniquely contributed to participants’ literacy development, hence providing compelling evidence that we get good at what we practice. Given the amazing results, we hope to find enough funding to continue this program next year.


Find out what they learned and collaborated on together during CBL’s  inaugural year of UCSB Club!


Diana J. Arya, PhD

Associate Professor and Faculty Director

McEnroe Reading and Language Arts Clinic

Gevirtz graduate School of Education


 

Research Affinity Groups

SUSTAINABLE FASHION 

By Harding Co-Learners Paris, Meggan, Yessica, and Mariah

In UCSB Club, we learned about how clothes are made. We also learned to not let our clothes go to waste, and to thrift and repurpose old clothes instead. One of our favorite moments was going to the UCSB Makerspace to see the kinds of tools that we can use to make clothes. We learned how to do research by interviewing students at UCSB. We learned about the different styles that students like. Sustainable fashion is very important, because it allows for us to think about ways we can make better choices for the environment and the people that make our clothes. Our research allowed us to find out how college students at UCSB think about the clothes that they wear, and how it impacts our environment. 


Reflections by HUGs Nat, Michelle, and Camden:


Throughout our time at UCSB Fashion Club, we were able to come up with an end-of-the year video that involved data collection through interviews that the young co-learners conducted. Through videos, texts, and discussions we were able to learn about the ways in which fast fashion impacts the environment, as well as how sustainable fashion promotes better working conditions for those who produce the clothing. We examined the mission statements of companies such as Patagonia, that promote fair trade and sustainable clothing. Additionally we learned about websites such as goodonyou.eco that rate the sustainability of brands. Our group had the opportunity to tour the Maker space at the library, which contained a multitude of sewing, embroidery, and crafting materials. We talked about how we can use resources like these to renew and alter our clothing, rather than throwing it away to buy new ones.


 

ANIMALS & PEOPLE 

By Harding Co-Learners Juan, Aailyah, Mae, Zullet, and Gabby 


Our favorite part of UCSB Club was getting to know Teddy! We had such a great time getting to run all of our experiments together with Teddy. The first experiment we did was testing what Teddy's favorite food was. We learned it was cheese! The second experiment we did was how Teddy reacted to different emotions. We were able to learn that Teddy typically went to people who seemed sad over people expressing joy. We tested to see if Teddy could find lost or hidden items. With a little bit of help, Teddy was always able to locate the item we hid. We had such a great time getting to know Teddy and more about how support animals impact our local community. Through our research, we learned that support animals have super important roles in helping individuals throughout their everyday lives. We cannot wait to conduct more research in the future and meet with more support animals! 


Reflections by HUGs  Bailey, Isabella, Laurel, and Lucely:


Throughout UCSB Club we were able to work with our amazing young co-learners to formulate our final project to show all that we have learned! Our group, animals and people, focused specifically on the importance of supporting animals for those in need. Together we learned some of the responsibilities of service animals, how support animals are present on UCSB present, and why people need support animals. We were so lucky to get to meet with Dr. D’s support animal, Teddy, and run a few experiments with her. Through these experiments designed by our young co-learners we learned how Teddy reacted to different emotions, how Teddy found hidden items, and what Teddy’s favorite food was! We also incorporated weekly readings to learn how support animals are making a difference in people’s lives all over the world. UCSB Club has shown us how talented our young co-learners truly are as they tackled their individual research questions and formulated their findings. We are so excited to see what they continue to accomplish over the course of their academic journey!


 

CONSERVATION @ UCSB

By Harding Colearners Osbaldo, Rey, Yazzlin, and Victoria


Our favorite parts are field trips and interviews. Experiencing how to protect the environment in different places shows us what we need to protect the environment compared to sitting in a conference room. We visited the Lagoon of UCSB and we really enjoyed the turtles and fish there. We also walked along the roads of UCSB to search for some unnecessary garbage on the road, took photos of it, and knew that littering like this was not right. This experience of pollution in our environment helps us better understand and protect the environment. We talked to Dr. Pihen who fishes with a spear! She also showed us how she protects nature and how we can help her.


Reflections by HUGs Ameena, Maren, Sadie, Yi:


Through experiences of research at the UCSB Club, our group has learned a variety of knowledge about conservation and showcased our findings in a final presentation. We started with various endangered animals, studying the life habits, nesting behaviors, endangerment causes, and ways to save species like Snowy Plovers and Blue Whales. By reading various books, we learned about some of the Earth's ecosystems, such as islands and the flora and fauna that inhabit them. We took field trips, visited the AlloSphere, and saw how researchers use these tools to better protect the Earth's environment. We also interviewed Estefanía Pihen, a climate educator, and through this interview, we gained a deeper understanding of spearfishing and how she protects the environment. Overall, the UCSB Club has helped us gain a better understanding of the environment we live in and inspired us to want to protect it through reading, field trips, interviews, and other activities.


 

BRAIN & FOOD PSYCHOLOGY 

By Harding Colearners Sophia, Iza, Elizabeth, and Janie


Our favorite part of UCSB Club was getting to explore the Dining Hall. We had so much fun sharing about our favorite foods and learning about new kinds of food. At the dining hall, we got to choose our own balanced meal and realized how being able to make choices about our food makes us feel better about what we eat. When there are a lot of options in terms of types of food and a range of healthy options, we were more satisfied and energized by our meals. We also always had fun eating together, even when we were just having snacks at our weekly meetings. Food connected us all. Through our research, we came to the conclusion that food affects us in almost every aspect of our lives. 


Reflections by HUGs Sophia, Lauren, and Vanessa:


Throughout our time at UCSB Club, we were able to coordinate our final project to show all that we’ve learned. We were able to learn that we gain connections with our peers at school by eating together and socializing. This stimulates our brains and helps us all get to know each other better. We also form close connections with our families by eating together. We can share about our day and share in cultural celebrations or dishes. Through our videos, readings, and conversations we learned about the core food groups and the importance of having a balanced diet. Food can energize us and set us up for success on the playground and in the classroom. All in all, our time at UCSB Club has taught us that food plays a major role in everything we do. UCSB Club showed us that everyone, of all ages, can conduct research to answer the questions they have and it can be really fun too.


 

SPORTS

By Harding Colearners German, Christian, Joao, and Ricky


Being in the Sports group was an unforgettable experience for us fourth graders from Harding Elementary School. We had the amazing opportunity to interview UCSB soccer players, learning firsthand about their journeys and what it takes to excel in sports. Touring the UCSB soccer stadium was so cool, as we got to see where the magic happens and imagine 

ourselves on the field one day. Throughout our activities, we also discovered how playing sports can benefit our health, strengthen our relationships, and positively impact our lives. We are grateful for these experiences and new ways to think about the world of sports.


Reflections by HUGs Abigail, John, Alyssa, and Dennise:


Working with the Sports group this year has been an inspiring and rewarding experience for us. Guiding German, Christian, Joao, and Ricky through their exploration of sports at UCSB has been a joy. We watched them eagerly interview UCSB soccer players and light up with excitement during the stadium tour. It was fulfilling to see them grasp the many benefits of sports, from physical health to building strong social connections. Supporting these young students in their journey and witnessing their growth has been a highlight of our time at UCSB, and we look forward to continuing to inspire and mentor them.


 


ARTS & CRAFTS

By Harding Colearners Damien, Nancy, Shannell, Brittney, Sharkey, and Victor


We started this year drawing on large pieces of paper. We talked about what type of art we were interested in. We decided on graffiti for our first subject. We learned about artists like Banksy, Lady Pink, and Invader. We learned about not only their style of graffiti but the message behind their art. We later experimented with different materials, including paint, legos, clay, and found objects. We enjoyed having the freedom to create whatever we wanted. When we learn about famous artists like Picasso, we were inspired by their techniques and created art of our own. Our art was on display for the entireUCSB Club with descriptions of our work. We also looked at different artists and recreated some of their most famous paintings with a twist of our own. We experimented with Andy Warhol and the bright colors he used for his Pop Color paintings. We drew portraits of soccer players Neymar and Mbappe in bright colors like green and orange. We looked at other artists like Lady Pink and recreated her famous painting La Dama Rosa; in this painting she used pastels colors and so did we. By looking at Picasso's paintings we were able to learn how he used colors to describe feelings like blue to show sadness. With the artist Invader we looked and learned about his famous street art. We have learned a lot about different artists over the weeks and enjoyed it!


Reflections from HUGs Nicolle, Sierra, Tania, and Erica:


Throughout our time with our colearners, we learned different types of art mediums and styles to create an art exhibition at the end of the course. By introducing different artists to the students, we were able to discover the practice techniques that artists use when creating art. We allowed the students to explore different mediums such as painting, clay, 3D found materials, and watercolors. By allowing the students to explore and use different materials, they got to discover why artists use some materials over others and how artists use such mediums to create a unique art piece. Even we got to learn a lot about different artists and their artwork. It was a great experience for all of us as we got to learn from each other and also teach the students about art. In  addition to introducing creative mediums, the Co-Learners participated in active collaboration. For their final presentation, they were paired in groups of two, creating a total of three groups focused on three individual art concepts. These pairings fostered a productive learning environment allowing the co-learners to express their ideas with one another while working on their art pieces. Through this division we were able to focus our attention on the Co-Learners and assist them by advising them on not only their art but how they would present it themselves during the Youth Summit. During the Summit the Co-Learners did a great job presenting making this experience all the more enriching.


 

VIDEO GAMES

By Harding Colearners Alex, Eduard, Kevin, and Ricky 


Our favorite part of the UCSB Club was creating a game on Minecraft. Creating games requires a lot of time and knowledge about computer science. Now, technology is moving fast, which is why we have cool virtual reality games. We love using Minecraft to build our own game worlds. When we went on a field trip to the AlloSphere, it was awesome! It reminded us of virtual reality games, the AlloSphere did many different pictures like the desert. UCSB Hugs have taught us different ways to use technology and the challenges of making a game. With their help, we created a game and were able to be creative with technology. 


Reflections by HUGs Serenity, Denisse, and Harrison


During our time with the young co-learners, we conducted interviews, traveled around the campus, and enjoyed a field trip to the AlloSphere. Our main group's goal was to show the connection between learning and technology. The kids wanted to emphasize that technology is an excellent tool for learning and should not be seen in a bad light. With this in mind, the group decided to design a game in Minecraft to demonstrate the creativity of young minds while also highlighting creativity, imagination, collaboration, programming, and building structures using geometric concepts. Our time with the UCSB co-learners taught us to collaborate and share ideas on new ways to learn. It was fun to work with the co-learners because they helped us take their passion for building on computers and turn it into something amazing, like creating their own world on Minecraft.


 

CODA

By Sarah Hirsch


UCSB Club has been a remarkable experience as an educator, lifetime learner, and community member. As a faculty member at UCSB, working as part of a leadership team consisting of my esteemed colleagues Dr. Diana Arya and Dr. Valerie Meier I was able to work not only with our undergraduate HUGS, and graduate students,  but with our Harding Colearners. One of the most rewarding parts of the UCSB Club was getting to know our fourth and fifth graders. Talking with them on bus rides to and from UCSB I got to know what their interests were and how they see and navigate the world around them. I felt truly fortunate to be a part of their educational journey and part of their Harding community. Early on they would check in and head with me to the bus. By the end of the year we got into an easy groove as they would quickly say “Hi, I’m here!” while running to the bus. It was incredible to see them become part of the campus community and engage with undergraduates across campus. They saw UCSB as a school they became a part of and belong to. After our last session, one of our fifth grade Colearners asked if she could be part of UCSB Club next year as a sixth grader. Statements like these reaffirm how rewarding UCSB Club was for our Colearners, but also how rewarding it was for me as a teacher and researcher. I learned so much from working with the Harding Colearners, in particular how to write for and with young scholars. UCSB Club will continue to evolve and refine in the future while keeping its main foundations in place. This is key for keeping education dynamic, engaging, and impactful. UCSB Club is an example of what community partnerships can do and why they are extremely important to our future. I’m so grateful to be a part of it.

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