Kaiserslautern Middle School students hold up their copies of the Stars and Stripes “Dandelions” magazine. (Kaelyn Ronnau)
Recently, writer Kat Nickola and Kaiserslautern High School career practicum student Kaelyn Ronnau had the chance to meet with two sixth-grade science classes at Kaiserslautern Middle School.
Their goal was to discuss how the CER method - Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning - isn’t just for science class, but it is a skill that can be used in writing and in real-world problem solving.
To show this, Kat explained how she uses this method when writing articles for Stars and Stripes. No matter what she is writing about, she makes a clear claim, gathers strong evidence, and connects it with logical reasoning to create the article. Kat taught them that this method can even be used in fiction writing.
Writer Kat Nickola spoke to two sixth grade classes about CER in both science and writing. (Kaelyn Ronnau)
By passing around copies of Stars and Stripes magazines, students could flip through and identify the claim and the evidence used. Kat and Kaelyn also encouraged these students to become writers themselves.
They shared that Stars and Stripes accepts submissions from military-connected students for publication on the StripesEurope.com website. Several of the students immediately showed interest, and the possibility of becoming a published writer excited them.
In addition to a seasonal Christmas magazine, Kat and Kaelyn introduced the class to a magazine for military-affiliated kids, “Dandelions.”
The “Dandelions” magazine is published specifically for a military kid audience. (Kaelyn Ronnau)
The “Dandelions” magazine includes crafts, activities and stories specifically written for a military kid audience. While they were talking to the class, some of the students opened their magazines and asked if they could start on some of the activities inside.
Overall, the visit blended writing, science skills and creative expression, leaving the sixth graders inspired to think about their experiences and how to communicate - in the classroom and beyond.
Students learned how the CER method - Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning - isn’t just for science class, but it is a skill that can be used in writing and in real-world problem solving. (Kaelyn Ronnau)
