Student Teaches A Special Elective For Schoolmates at The Montclair Cooperative School

The Montclair Cooperative School offers an ever-changing array of electives for fifth through eighth graders, usually taught by adult faculty, visiting teachers and even parents.  In any given semester, classes may range from topics such as stop-action filmmaking to ceramics to creative writing. Recently, seventh grader Kathryn Correia decided it was time to take the plunge and to teach her schoolmates about the surprising joys of duct-taping.  On a recent visit to the class, monitored by Montclair Co-op librarian Shelley Bedik, seventh and eighth graders were busily researching design ideas on the web and developing their own special keepsakes with the guidance of Kathryn.  Bracelets, wallets, hats, decorations, bags, and even a laptop cover took colorful shape quickly as Correia shared her expertise.
 
Shelley Bedik, librarian at the Montclair Co-op, observes the class each week, and notes, “how great it is that Kathryn Correia has a passion and got the chance to be the teacher – to plan, get the supplies, and provide models and ideas for new projects. Her duct tape creations have caught on with the younger kids like my daughter, who brings her duct tape on sleepovers and to visit her cousins!”
 
Correia has lots of recommendations to create a successful project. “All you need is a cutting board and an exacto knife, and of course any color you wish of duct tape (she swears by Duck brand). You can double up on tape to have a front and back entirely of duct tape. For handles, I use grommets as secondary securing. Once it’s all finished I let it sit (overnight) so fibers adhere to each other. You should spot clean or hand wash only (the washing machine might not be a good idea!)” Duct tape is reasonably waterproof, as you might expect, and has some longevity too, “I have a wallet that’s lasted for three years and it’s still working. It’s worn down but you can touch it up and everything holds. You can take (old duct tape) off but there’s a residue, so it’s better to use a blow dryer to loosen it or just add new tape over the old layer.
 
Students chose a variety of colors to order from a local craft store for their next class, including pink, zebra pattern, yellow, light green black, tie dye, chrome, red, and orange. Learning from a contemporary does not seem to be a sticky issue for these upper-schoolers. An eighth grader exclaims, “It’s cool to be taught by a teacher younger than me!”, and a seventh grader said, “You feel she understands you because she is the same age”, but lest you think Correia is easy on her students, one cautioned,  “No, she doesn’t always let you do the project you want!”
 
Correia, who made an elegant tote bag recently for the Montclair Co-op’s auction fundraiser, has also made clothing and even boots made entirely of duct tape, which she modeled for class. What’s the biggest thing or hardest thing she’s made? “The biggest thing I ever made was The Dress.  The Dress is secured by snaps. This time we’ll make a communal outfit so it doesn’t take too much time, it could be worn by anyone here”.
 
Asked about what it’s like to teach kids her own age at school, Correia said  “I think it may be easier to teach kids than adults, though I’d like to do this too.  Sharing this craft with kids is awesome!” After looking over her student’s works in progress, she said with a proud grin, “There’s so much their minds can do to create something magnificent!”