One of my duties at KAS has been to run a middle school club every Wednesday for 50 minutes after lunch. For two years I have offered weaving. All of the teachers are also required to offer an after school activity for at least one quarter. Again, I offered weaving, this time to 4th and 5th graders for six weeks in the spring. My elementary club wrapped up last week but my middle schoolers are still chugging along. I've had three groups cycle through this year, each one about 15 kids and all but one student has been a girl.

I've had a love-hate relationship with this particular duty. I love that at least once a week I get to play around with fiber. On the other hand, the level of interest in my students has varied - some kids get assigned to weaving, rather than having chosen it themselves - and I've had mixed results with my teaching approach. Club has really been a work in progress. This trimester has been a good group, fun and chatty. A few I've taught in class but mostly they're kids who are new to me, which has been a nice way to get to know a whole new group of students.

At the moment we've veered away from weaving and they've been working on braiding friendship bracelets. Here's a sample of what they were up to today: