Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

November 13, 2009

Students in grades 7-12 from the U.S., Canada, and American schools abroad are eligible to enter the annual contest sponsored by Scholastic Books. Check out their site for more information.

back_1 happy self art scholastic site


Houston, Get Wired with Poetry 11/13/09

November 12, 2009

twitter-poster(2)

Former WITS Writer Radames Ortiz and Houston poets Lupe Mendez and Byron Jones have joined forces to bring Houston @Wired: A Multimedia Explosion of Poetry. @Wired is a revolutionary approach to exposing the literary masses to a new type of poetry reading. By incorporating social media, music, song, imagery and technology to enhance their poetic performances, @Wired seeks to reconstruct the poetry reading and to engage local creatives to actively participate in making a unique event even more special.

WHEN: Friday, November 13, 2009 at 8 pm

WHERE: Rudolph Projects ArtScan Gallery, 1836 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77098

COST: Free


Animal Riddle 4

November 11, 2009

I hang upside down.

Red blood rushes to my head.

My tail curls on wire.

by Lillian, 3rd grade

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Answer: I am an opossum.


Publishing Op: The Blue Pencil

November 10, 2009

head_bannerThe Blue Pencil Online is edited and produced by the students in the Writing & Publishing Program at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Massachusetts. The magazine seeks to publish the best of literary work in English by young writers (12–18). You can find out how to submit to this journal on their website. You can even submit online!


Mice

November 9, 2009

Mini-mice mounting the mad

manta-rays mopping the moon.

They look at machinery,

picking up mysterious metal messages

in bottles, maybe from Martians!

by Lewis, 3rd grade

mice_threw leo lionni tillie and the wall

illustration from “Tillie and the Wall” by Leo Lionni


Houston Music

November 6, 2009

third ward houston tx

I hear…

girls laughing with deep voices like men.

clapping like you’re at church.

Lydia talking softly like rats at night.

birds chirping like they are talking.

hammers beating like a giant stomping.

airplane vrroooooming like an eighteen wheeler.

truck squeaking like a rubber duck.

These are the sounds of the Third Ward!

by Chelsey, 4th grade


Animal Riddle 3

November 5, 2009

I live in silk sand.

I have a big star on me.

My friends are starfish.

by Kyle, 3rd grade

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Answer: I am a sand dollar.


Marc Bamuthi Joseph in Houston 11/7/09

November 4, 2009

LIL Poster

On November 7, 2009, explosive spoken word poet/choreographer Marc Bamuthi Joseph launches Houston’s own “Life is Living,” a national campaign exploring the changing perspectives on environmental justice. The kick-off will feature hip hop performances, competitions, and participatory activities by a range of Houston organizations. For more information, click here.

Location: Discovery Green Park, 1500 McKinney St

When: Nov. 7th, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Cost: Free

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Top Posts for October 2009

November 3, 2009

WITS 25th Anniversary Gala – This Thursday!

November 2, 2009

wits invite 25th cov

The big event is almost here! You can still buy tickets to the WITS 25th Anniversary Gala until Tuesday, November 3, 2009, at 4 p.m. Come celebrate with us. All proceeds will help provide WITS literacy programming to at-risk kids.


Apple Pie

November 2, 2009

I see red apple peels on the counter.

I hear my mom chopping.

I smell cinnamon and brown sugar in the kitchen.

The smell swirls around the room.

I see the crisp crust on the outside.

I know it’s something good for dessert.

It feels like a holiday when I eat it!

by Desiree, 4th grade

apple pie by larisha


Some Spooky WITS Poems for Halloween

October 30, 2009

halloween art by nicki

Here are some favorite Halloween stories, poems, and essays written by WITS students.

Black

Black Cat

Boom, Boom, Boom!

Calabazas (Pumpkins)

One Halloween Night

Orange and Black

The Sad Little Pumpkin

[art by Niki via flickr]


In the Night

October 29, 2009

trespasser by rcameraw via flickr

In the night ghosts tangle in my hair. In the night my truck leaves my family. In the night a wizard comes and takes me away. In the night I conquer sin. In the night the night becomes wind. In the night I fight with monsters. In the night I beat a monster and that monster runs away. In the night I sneeze and say guzuntite. In the night I get bracelets.

by Stephanie, 3rd grade

[photograph by rcameraw via flickr]


Animal Riddle 2

October 28, 2009

I like to eat cheese.

I am a furry rodent.

I always get trapped.

by Andres, 3rd grade

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Answer: I am a rat.


Flipping My Way Happiness

October 27, 2009

flip gymSince I was little, I’ve loved gymnastics. I would practice doing flips and cartwheels at home, even when I was six. I remember once when I was trying to do a flip, I fell on my head. It scared me out of doing it for awhile, but then I got up courage and started doing it again. Even when gymnastics is hard, I love it. It makes me feel free and happy. When I flip, I can feel the wind. It’s a cool feeling.

The problem with gymnastics is that I can’t always do it. I have sickle cell so it prevents me from doing what I love the most. This is really hard. I used to ask my dad if I could do ice skating or ballet, but I couldn’t because of my condition. I remember once in 4th grade I had low blood count and I had to go to the hospital. So, I was expecting a talk from my dad telling me I can’t do activities like gymnastics anymore. When he gave it to me, I felt sad. Whenever I would see gymnasts on TV, I would cry. It’s hard to deal with something like that when you’re so young. My sisters continued to do gymnastics and that would bring a smile to my face. I would learn from what they were doing and practicing. But inside I felt like why couldn’t I be doing that with them?

I have big dreams like going to the Olympics, but my sickle cell is an obstacle. Now it’s up and down because sometimes I can do it and sometimes I can’t. Yesterday was a good day for me. I went to gymnastics and it felt great to be tumbling again. When I turned around I saw my mom smiling and I felt happy. I hope that I can continue gymnastics throughout my life because it always brings joy to me. I will pray to God that he will guide me through this sickle cell and not let me get sick. I want to run, jump, somersault, and flip my way to happiness.

by Mojisola, age 13

photo by Ida-Maria Lehto via flickr