Book Learning: A Lander Resident Creates a Literature Group for Youth

While there are several homeschool groups in Lander, none offers the focus on writing and literature that Lander parent Joni Gould desired for her 11-year-old daughter. So she determined to fill the gap by creating a literature discussion group for other homeschooled students to facilitate exploration of literary themes and practice public speaking skills. She figured she could host six or seven students around her dining room table once a week, leading a literature program she has experience using. The problem was, the idea was so good it took off, and soon nearly a dozen fourth- through sixth-graders were interested. To meet the need, Joni worked with the library to secure space for a weekly meeting, but she still needed help with the start-up expenses. In addition to some of the start-up materials, LOR’s funding will be used to support the culminating Literature Fair in April, in which students present a fairly involved project about a book of their choosing, and are interviewed and judged by volunteers.

This project is fiscally sponsored by the Lander Community Foundation.