Girls LitClubs in Virginia Beach: A Close Knit Group

In our Girls Club, we began by learning a chant that was written by one of the girls.  Then we referred back to the seven strengths and discussed how this club would really empower each one of them. 
I then had them fill out the questionnaire to find out more about each one of them. I allowed them to each find a spot in the room so that they could really focus on personal responses. It was amazing to me how quiet and thoughtful they were.  It took almost a half hour for them to finish, but I thought it was best to let them take as much time as they needed since they seemed to be very interested in getting to share more about themselves through writing.   

 When they finished, we began browsing magazines to begin creating a poster about the seven strengths.   One of the girls thought it would be really neat to trace their hands on construction paper and cut them out, and then write a strength in each hand.  Another girl thought we should find pictures from magazines that represented the strengths, and create a large collage around the hand cutouts.  

On our next meeting, the girls continued to work on the poster, but still hadn’t found all the photos they wanted yet.  We decided that we would spend a small amount of time each week on the poster so that it would be a work in progress over several weeks time.  

We read “Chrysanthemum”, and it was amazing to me how much these girls related to the story. Each one of them had such unique discussions about how they sometimes felt pressured by what others thought of them. When we finished the stories, I had them brainstorm adjectives that describe themselves.  They each wrote 20+ adjectives on cards and the girls shared them with one another and put them on a poster board. They created lines connecting similarities and made a web. Each time we come together, the girls bond and truly open up to one another in this close knit group.  

Submitted by Molly, Girls LitClub Facilitator in Virginia Beach

Girls LitClubs Launch in Virginia Beach!

 This entry was submitted by Girls LitClubs facilitator in Virginia Beach, Molly.

This week, I was finally able to begin my first Girls Club in Virginia Beach.  Being new to the city myself, it was a challenge to organize a group of girls.  Through networking, I met three parents of teenage girls in the area who felt that their daughters would love to participate.   The girls were beginning to get very anxious as I continued to attempt to find additional members, so I decied that perhaps a group of three could be a very special for the girls.  

We had our first meeting at a clubhouse in the Town Center.  

One of the parents suggested taking turns sending food and snacks because we are holding our meetings after school close to dinner time.  As the girls gathered, they sat at a round table and shared pizza while immediately beginning to socialize and bond.  There was no hesitation in communication between any of the girls.  As they were finishing up eating, I spoke to them about the background of LitWorld and how our typical meetings would go. 

Each of the girls took turns introducing themselves and how they each came to be here.  When I was explaining the “Hello” and “Goodbye” songs, they decided that they wanted to create their own.  This coming week they are going to share their ideas they come up with and we will generate one as a group.  

We read  “The Peace Book” by Todd Parr.  Each girl shared what her idea of  “Peace” was and how this book truly did a wonderful job at presenting it in so many ways. 

Next, I introduced the 7 strengths and wrote them on chart paper.  I posted the chart paper around the room and allowed the girls a few minutes to think about what each word meant to them.  Then they rotated to each paper had 2 minutes to write their thoughts and ideas.  We then put the papers together and discussed the responses.  

We were nearing the end of our time together so I chose to close for the evening and we are creating a poster next week that will encompass the 7 strengths.  One of the girls asked if we were going to be reading a novel during our sessions. 

I suggested perhaps if we could all agree on a title, we could extend our meetings and have a small book talk each week as well.  The girls decided that we will all read “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” because it would be the most relevant.  I thought this was a wonderful idea!