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Grant helps teacher sew up knitting program

Millennium Fund paves way for elementary school students to learn skill

By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 12:26 p.m. EST, Dec 03, 2009

Pfeiffer Elementary School teacher Marie McDonald was cautious to not let her heart rule her head when she set out to form a knitting club at the school three years ago.

''I kept my fingers crossed that I'd get 10 kids,'' McDonald said. ''I figured I could handle 10 by myself, and I didn't want to be disappointed if we didn't get a big turnout.''

The only disappointment the third-grade teacher experienced was that she couldn't handle all the kids who bombarded her with permission slips.

''I got the word out one day, and when I left school that day there were a bunch of permission slips already signed under my windshield wipers,'' McDonald said. ''The next morning I had more taped to my door. I was absolutely shocked, but I'll admit it was a great feeling.''

There were 45 applicants the first year for the club that meets from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday in McDonald's third-floor room in the Southwest Akron school.

What surprised McDonald the most is that about 30 percent of the kids who participate are boys.

She applied for a grant from the Millennium Fund and received $900 to help the program grow.

''The grant from the Millennium Fund is wonderful because it helps to provide things we couldn't otherwise afford to have,'' McDonald said.

The grant money and other donations were used to purchase books on knitting, needles, cotton and specialty yarn such as felting yarn and eyelash yarn.

''The grant and donations have really helped us to grow,'' said McDonald, who began knitting in 2007 while recovering from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. ''And I want to include as many as possible.''

McDonald said the club is important to the kids.

''It gives them something to do and they really do want something to do after school,'' she said. ''It gives them other kids to do things with, and they really want camaraderie.

''It also gives them a great sense of accomplishment and builds their self-confidence. They are absolutely thrilled when they create something with their own hands.''

McDonald considers Montana Cheek, a fourth-grader, the most prolific performer in the group.

''All I do after school every day is knit,'' said Cheek, who used double-pointed needles to create an orange pumpkin. ''It's fun to do and gives me something to do. It also makes me feel good when I help other kids learn how to knit.''

Fourth-grader Haley Cannon was more practical.

''It's great because when you get done with what you're making,'' she said, ''you can use it right away.''

Cheek, Cannon and several other young knitters in the club said they were busy all fall creating Christmas presents, such as arm warmers, coasters, sleeping masks, dishcloths and other items for family and friends.

Michaelann Board, president of the school's PTA, is a volunteer with the program. She has two sons, fourth-grader Dylan and third-grader Devyn, in the program and clearly sees the benefits the children derive from participating.

''The first thing I noticed is that knitting gives each of the kids a chance to relax. It serves as a stress release at the end of the school day,'' Board said. ''And when they get into patterns, it teaches them how to read, how to count and how to follow directions.

''It's really a great program for the kids to be involved in.''

McDonald said the current club has 18 members — with 27 on a waiting list.

''The new kids go to Michaelann and [to] some of our more experienced knitters to learn how to get started knitting,'' McDonald said. ''It's on a first-come, first-served basis, but we try to get to all the kids throughout the year.

''Of course, we also need supplies for the kids to knit the items. That's where the grant money from the Millennium Fund was so important.

''We were able to buy a lot of the supplies we really needed because of the Millennium Fund. It made a difference in a lot of kids' lives.''

People interesting in helping the Millennium Fund fulfill its grant requests are asked to consider donating the equivalent of their last hour's pay for the year. For more information, go to http://www.akroncommunityfdn.org and click ''Family of Funds'' or call 330-376-8522.

Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.

Teacher Marie McDonald and fifth grader, Kasey Smith, 10, chat as they knit in the program at Pfeiffer Elementary School. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal)
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ON THE WEB

Pfeiffer Elementary School teacher Marie McDonald was cautious to not let her heart rule her head when she set out to form a knitting club at the school three years ago.

''I kept my fingers crossed that I'd get 10 kids,'' McDonald said. ''I figured I could handle 10 by myself, and I didn't want to be disappointed if we didn't get a big turnout.''

The only disappointment the third-grade teacher experienced was that she couldn't handle all the kids who bombarded her with permission slips.

''I got the word out one day, and when I left school that day there were a bunch of permission slips already signed under my windshield wipers,'' McDonald said. ''The next morning I had more taped to my door. I was absolutely shocked, but I'll admit it was a great feeling.''

There were 45 applicants the first year for the club that meets from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday in McDonald's third-floor room in the Southwest Akron school.

What surprised McDonald the most is that about 30 percent of the kids who participate are boys.

She applied for a grant from the Millennium Fund and received $900 to help the program grow.

''The grant from the Millennium Fund is wonderful because it helps to provide things we couldn't otherwise afford to have,'' McDonald said.

The grant money and other donations were used to purchase books on knitting, needles, cotton and specialty yarn such as felting yarn and eyelash yarn.

''The grant and donations have really helped us to grow,'' said McDonald, who began knitting in 2007 while recovering from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. ''And I want to include as many as possible.''

McDonald said the club is important to the kids.

''It gives them something to do and they really do want something to do after school,'' she said. ''It gives them other kids to do things with, and they really want camaraderie.

''It also gives them a great sense of accomplishment and builds their self-confidence. They are absolutely thrilled when they create something with their own hands.''

McDonald considers Montana Cheek, a fourth-grader, the most prolific performer in the group.

''All I do after school every day is knit,'' said Cheek, who used double-pointed needles to create an orange pumpkin. ''It's fun to do and gives me something to do. It also makes me feel good when I help other kids learn how to knit.''

Fourth-grader Haley Cannon was more practical.

''It's great because when you get done with what you're making,'' she said, ''you can use it right away.''

Cheek, Cannon and several other young knitters in the club said they were busy all fall creating Christmas presents, such as arm warmers, coasters, sleeping masks, dishcloths and other items for family and friends.

Michaelann Board, president of the school's PTA, is a volunteer with the program. She has two sons, fourth-grader Dylan and third-grader Devyn, in the program and clearly sees the benefits the children derive from participating.

''The first thing I noticed is that knitting gives each of the kids a chance to relax. It serves as a stress release at the end of the school day,'' Board said. ''And when they get into patterns, it teaches them how to read, how to count and how to follow directions.

''It's really a great program for the kids to be involved in.''

McDonald said the current club has 18 members — with 27 on a waiting list.

''The new kids go to Michaelann and [to] some of our more experienced knitters to learn how to get started knitting,'' McDonald said. ''It's on a first-come, first-served basis, but we try to get to all the kids throughout the year.

''Of course, we also need supplies for the kids to knit the items. That's where the grant money from the Millennium Fund was so important.

''We were able to buy a lot of the supplies we really needed because of the Millennium Fund. It made a difference in a lot of kids' lives.''

People interesting in helping the Millennium Fund fulfill its grant requests are asked to consider donating the equivalent of their last hour's pay for the year. For more information, go to http://www.akroncommunityfdn.org and click ''Family of Funds'' or call 330-376-8522.

Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.




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themonster
Akron, oh

Posted 02:12 PM, 12/03/2009

What a nice story. :)


Linda

Posted 03:20 PM, 12/03/2009

This is a great story - glad to see the kids are having a good time doing it.


Jules
Akron, OH

Posted 03:46 PM, 12/03/2009

Love it! It's true that learning to understand the patterns will help them with math and reading skills.


magrammy
akron, oh

Posted 06:33 PM, 12/03/2009

What an uplifting story for a change! Kudos to Ms. McDonald for engaging the students in something fun & educational!


jenbredanbra13
Akron, Oh

Posted 07:38 AM, 12/04/2009

I babysit Montana the little girl in the story and she is teaching my daughter how to knit. I could just sit and watch her knit like she has no care in the world. I think they should have done something like this a long time ago then maybe the kids today wouldn't be where they are today.


deidre
Canton, OH

Posted 11:20 AM, 12/04/2009

Great Story - i am just curious as to why parents were putting permission slips under her windshield wipers??
I think it is really neat that their are boys interested in knitting too.


liberty5
Akron, Oh

Posted 04:53 PM, 12/04/2009

Wonderful story, and so great for the kids. This teacher is really giving back to her students, and its a skill for life. Glad she picked up her needles while recovering, and now shes sharing this talent.














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