North Shore Eighth Graders Demonstrate Writing and Public Speaking Skills To Peers in the Annual “Story Slam”

On Friday, eighth graders assembled in the North Shore Middle School commons area to participate in the annual “Story Slam” where each student had an opportunity to read a portion of their narrative essay or a friend’s essay to their peers, teachers, and staff. The 8th grade essays captured various personal experiences including beautiful memories of a grandfather, the heartbreaking Mets losing streak, an unexpected bathroom leak at a friend’s home, and a nerve-racking locked front door while pet sitting at a friend’s house– just to name a few!

Bravo to the “Vikings in the Middle” for engaging in this important writing and public speaking opportunity. These authentic memoirs not only demonstrated each child’s writing ability and collaboration skills as committed individuals, but also better prepared our eighth graders for future writing assignments. For example, future English writing courses as they move up to North Shore High School or narrative essays as part of the college entry process.

English Teacher Elliot Touretz said, “The Story Slam is a great way to give these burgeoning writers an authentic audience that can appreciate not only the life experiences and memories, but what it took to develop their essays into something that could be proudly shared.”

Thank you to all of the English teachers at North Shore Middle School who worked tirelessly on this successful “Story Slam” where students had an opportunity to show-off their writing and public speaking skills to their peers!
Go Vikings Go!

Article and photos by Shelly Newman