ASAP Scrabble club coach Erica Darken takes great pride in making her club as welcoming as possible for Francis Scott Key School’s 4th-6th graders. 73% of students at her school speak a language other than English at home, but that hasn’t been a barrier to teaching high-scoring Scrabble words or getting kids to connect, whether they are bilingual, learning English, or exclusively-English speaking.
Since 2023-2024, with students more comfortable with the game, “bilingual students have chosen to play in English,” she says.
Her club also has been a great way for siblings in different grades to come together, and for families to maintain bonds with the school community. Not only have siblings joined the club together, but “sometimes I’ve had a student in my club who is the younger sibling of a former student, and it’s great to reconnect with the family,” Erica says.
The club has been a great way for Erica to meaningfully connect with students, too.
ASAP loves hearing from club leaders like Erica Darken, who use their club to not only teach new skills but also to strengthen students’ sense of belonging at school.
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