RUN, SPOT, RUN! Getting together for running and writing by Carol Goodrow This is my event. It's the event I love, full of literacy, running, families, participation, fitness, health, smiles, and fun; all of what I want KidsRunning.Com (KR) to be about. We run the cross-country mile every year and with each mile, it seems to get better and better. The children and I start our planning for the event on the first day of school, when the children are given their running journals. They know that they will be running and writing all year; practicing for the day of Run, Spot, Run! when they will run a mile and then write in their journals at the actual fun run in front of their families. The children use the running journals, in the classroom, to learn to write simple sentences, and record their thoughts about our runs. Along the way, they begin to apply their spelling skills. I make sure to build "running" words into our weekly spelling lists and then check to make sure the children spell them correctly when writing about their running. I call the event a "cozy family fun run". It's small enough that I can try to get every student to the run. My students, their families, my alumni and their families are invited back every year. There is no hesitation with the running. The kids have learned about pacing themselves. They start off slowly, pick up the pace when the feel strong, take walking breaks if need be, and save their energy for the finish line. This year, there was no hesitation with the writing either. When it was time to start, they all got to it, then the parents, teachers, and principal joined in as well. The children have learned to complete at least a whole journal page at each sitting. And the practice and training served them well. Here are some excerpts from the entries today. If you have never had a classroom fun run, why not plan one for next year and while you're at it, why not enrich it with a little literacy? It was fun to run In the sun. Running fast, It was a big task. But it was a blast. It was so much fun. I could do it again, Because I felt like a flying hen! Erica/big sister Monique/parent - "Bringing families together for running and writing stimulates not only the mind but the body, too." Taylor - "I loved it because my mom came to Run, Spot, Run!" Jason/student - "I like to run." Meghan/little sister - "I see lots of my friends." Emily/little sister - "I had fun running and walking." Tobie/alum - "It was very fun running with my brother." Ian/alum - "Today was a fantastic day. It was sunny." Kyle/alum - "I ran in a fun run with my brother and my dad." Ashley and Caroline/student and big sister - "We liked when we crossed the bridge." Justin/alum - "I was running fast, then running slow and at the end I started to run as fast as I could." Tyler/student - "When I ran across the bridge was my best part." Brianna/alum - "I think this year's Run, Spot, Run! was the best one yet." Tyler/student - "I ran really fast and beat my dad." Shona/student - "I hope I can do it again." Nick/alum - "The hardest part was probably the hills. They slow you down." Julia/alum - "Run, Spot, Run, leaves memories I will never forget." Chad/alum - "Thank you Mrs. Goodrow." Anna Lee/big sister - "I was running very fast." Donna Lee/little sister - "I had fun." Tim/student - "I ran a mile." Patrick/alum - "I really enjoyed running one mile at Run, Spot, Run!" Deanna/big sister - "My heart almost burst." Ashley/big sister - "I gave my little brother, Adam, a horseback ride." Miss Luman/teacher - "Three of my students were here today." Emily/big sister - "It was fun." Adam/student - "It was fun." Miss Smith/student teacher - "Next year I think I'll run (or walk)." Bradley/student - "It was a blast." Senora Hutton/Spanish teacher - "The children were incredible." Arthur/little brother - "I was very hot when I was done running." Clem/student - "I love the gold medal." Steve/big brother - "I would do it again." Chris/student - "I won a medal." Quinn/student - "The brooks and streams were pretty." Rob/little brother - "I ran a mile at the fun run." Erica/alum - "I ran with people I knew and at the end I got a medal, a certificate, and food." Dr. Lincoln/principal - "What an awesome event!" Rachel/student - "I ran a mile with Henry (my dog)." Taylor/student - "When we started I was nervous." Robin/student LINKS: Run, Spot, Run! Printable Journal Writing Paper Classroom Planning for Run, Spot, Run! Want to have a classroom fun run? Please read about how we planned our event.