I started a club in my 5th-grade literacy class with the purpose to incentivize my students to become proactive and self-directed with their education and to take it more seriously. The name I chose for this club is Wolverine Literacy Club.
Although it is exclusive to my literacy class, it is not hard to become a member. The only requirement for entrance is to memorize and recite the following creed in front of the class. It must be delivered with a 99% accuracy rate and under 99 seconds. Furthermore, the individual must recite it with conviction, expression, and an in-your-face attitude like Gracie and Annie in the video below!
Annie and Gracie, identical twins, memorized and practice this creed in the course of two evenings. They were two of the “most fun” students I had for the 2016-2017 school year!
Gracie and Annie Peck Rap’n the Wolverine Literacy Creed
Wolverine Literacy Club Creed
PrintBeen round the world and back again.
Learned how to ask questions, climbed Big Ben.
Activated my background knowledge,
Made connections taught in college!
Visualized the Battle of Thermopylae;
Defeat of the Spartans 480 B.C.
I read more books, write more pages,
Use more words than literary sages.
I make inferences with blazing speed
And determine the importance of what I read.
No book too thick, no text too hard, no words I cannot read,
I can–search and retrieve– ANY information I may need.
I’m a hard work’n, read’n, write’n, never give up fight’n scholar, hence…
A poet-warrior in the classic sense.
Ain’t nothing penned that I can’t hack,
Or summarize, or verbalize, or synthesize Jack!
Anything in life worth doing requires comprehension tools.
Moderate and passive learning is for the ignorant fools.
The ebb and flow of the ocean tides,
The flux of continents on their rides,
The precise position of the sun,
As it travels its ecliptic run…
THESE are just a few of the things expert readers and I control
In all of our respective worlds–understand…? Now you know, just how I roll!
~ Mark D. Carlson
Wolverine Literacy Club Information and Member List
The purpose of the Wolverine Literacy Club is to motivate students to become self-directed learners, voracious readers and writers, and champions of pursuing and protecting their educational opportunities and interests in life.
I chose the wolverine, as the club mascot, because it is one of the fiercest animals in the animal kingdom in fighting to protect its territory, interests, and well-being. This is how I want my students to view their educational and relative pursuits. To treasure knowledge, learning, and wisdom enough to fight for it, to protect it, to nurture it; like a wolverine would endeavor to do for its survival.
I am beginning this club at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. Anyone in my literacy class may become a member. The only membership requirement is to memorize the Wolverine Literacy Club Creed and pass it off in front of Mr. C’s literacy class with a 99% accuracy rate, under ninety-nine seconds and with conviction, expression, and an “in-your-face” attitude!
Wolverine Motto: Adapt, Improvise, Achieve Objective!
Wolverine Literacy Club Membership Oath:
Inductor: “You are about to become a member of the Wolverine Literacy Club. Membership offers members the opportunity to earn rewards for taking their educational pursuits seriously, take part in worthwhile projects, fulfill a need for personal growth, and contribute positively to society. Raise your right hand and repeat after me:”
Inductee: “I, (state your name) do solemnly pledge that I will uphold the principles, ideals, and traditions of the Wolverine Literacy Club, and become a self-directed learner, voracious reader and writer, and a champion of pursuing and protecting my educational opportunities and pursuits throughout my life.”
Membership Certificate Example:
Wolverine Literacy Club Members:
Front Row: Vincent Montalvo, Dominic Baker, Gabe Garcia
Back Row: Morgan Rey, Giona Weston, Max Rip, Abelene Ulibarri, Gracie Peck, Annie Peck
Charter Members:
Mr. Carlson
Gracie Peck
Annie Peck
Abelene Ulibarri
Giona Weston
Max Rip
Morgan Ray
Dominic Baker
Vincent Montalvo
Gabe Garcia
Honorary Members:
Principal Emily Swan (2017)
Michelle Roderick (2017)
2016-2017 Members
Emma Johnson
Brooklyn Greenwood
Aliya Hall
Abbey Wyatt
Lexi Strunk
Hannah Hayes
Grace White
Mylee Mendenhall
Lachlan Mangum
2017-2018 Members
Camilla Senior
Kenna Merrell
Truman Gygi
Nico Barraza
Molly Bell
Chase Devey
Landon Godbold
Mallory Lawrence
Merary Sandoval
Isabella Pinaire
Hannah Gunn
Ann Cadjun
Works Cited
Images – Post and Rich Snippets image: “Garden Library” by R Orville Lyttle is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Post image: “Spartans 6 SIR” by b is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Wolverine Literacy Club Creed for Mr. C's literacy students to memorize as a requirement for membership in the Wolverine Literacy Club.