Category Archives: education

23

May. ’12

Fire Escape Writing Contest

_MG_4614 "Fire-Escape"

_MG_4614 “Fire-Escape” (Photo credit: Michael Menard)

Here is a contest that will appeal to many Houston youth that have at least one parent born in another country.
The following information comes from Mitali Perkins, an author who navigates the border between her Bengali roots and her California upbringing. For more information, please visit her website:
Do you love to weave words together?
Were you and/or one or both of your birth parents born in another country?
Do you live in the United States or Canada now?
Are you 13-19 years old?
If you answered yes to ALL of the questions above, YOU qualify to enter the 2011 Fire Escape Writing Contests! Submit an original, unpublished poem or piece of prose (fiction or non-fiction) that reflects some of the joys and struggles of growing up between two cultures in America. Mitali’s Fire Escape will only consider one poem and one piece of short fiction per person, so send your best work.

Contests
Poetry (up to three poems)
Short Fiction or Essay (up to 1000 words)
Prizes
Winner in each category: $50

How to submit an entry

  • Paste your poem or story into an e-mail message and send it to
    contests – at – mitaliperkins.com. I will not open attachments.
  • Proofread thoroughly and keep your presentation simple. Entries with spelling, grammar or punctuation errors and funky characters/fonts may be disqualified without notice. Do not include any clip art, images, or photos with your entry. Words only, please. Fiction longer than 1000 words will not be considered.
  • Include your name, age, and e-mail address in your e-mail. Also include your countr(ies) of origin. You and/or ONE of your birth parents must have been born outside North America. If you were born in Puerto Rico and are now living in one of the states or Canadian provinces, you qualify.
  • Current U.S. or Canadian residents only please, and previous winners are not eligible.
To qualify, your entry must be received by June 1, 2012.
REPEAT: You must be an immigrant or internationally adopted teen (or a teen with one immigrant parent) currently living in the United States or Canada.
NOTE: Failure to follow all of the contest guidelines will disqualify your entry.
Winning Poems and Stories will be published on the Fire Escape. Winners will be notified by July 30th. If you do not hear from us by September 15, 2012, you can assume that your entry was NOT a winner. Prizes must be claimed by September 30, 2012. Please note that editorial or any other personal comments will not be provided for contest submissions. The Fire Escape reserves the right to award no prizes if no entry meets the judge’s standards.
The Fire Escape seeks the following permissions from young authors: permission to publish your work on the web site, and permission to include your work in online archives after publication. Authors retain the copyright to their work. Once selected, winners must send their school information and a mailing address so that the Fire Escape can validate the entry and send the prize. Read the Fire Escape’s privacy policy for more information.
Posted by . Categories: contest, creativity, education, essay, family, poetry, story, student, student writing contest, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: , . Leave a comment

11

May. ’12

Students Will Rock the Menil

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On Thursday, May 17th, at 7pm, Writers in the Schools (WITS) students will share their art-inspired creative writing at the Menil Collection. This reading, called The Watchful Eye, will feature stories, essays, and poems that come out of a collaborative project called Writing at the Menil. The event is free, and the public is welcome.

Posted by . Categories: art, contest, education, event, Houston, Reading, student, writers in the schools. Tags: , , . Leave a comment

09

May. ’12

Calling Houston Young Writers

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Summer is coming.  Have you made your plans? There are still spaces available in the Writers in the Schools (WITS) Program.

Who: Middle and High school students

What: Summer writing workshops

Where: Bellaire High School

When: June 11-29, 9 am -12 noon

Why: Because you have a story to tell

How: Click here to sign up today

In the Creative Writing Camp, you explore different literary genres (poetry, fiction, essay, drama) with friends. You learn about craft and revision in one-on-one conferences with published authors. Through multi-disciplinary projects combining text and art (such as painting, sculpture, or music), you will also find new ways to address a particular audience. At the end of the three weeks, you will publish your best work in an anthology and celebrate!

  • Write your own poems and stories, real or imaginary.
  • Compose an essay or a manifesto.
  • Perform your play.
  • Discuss your revisions with published writers.
  • Spend your Fridays on the Rice University campus.
  • Gather material and gain the skills to write a great essay for college applications.
  • Visit a real publisher.
  • Publish your work in an anthology.
  • Make friends with other writers.

Click here to find out more from a Rice News story. This summer program is sponsored by Writers in the Schools (WITS) and Rice University’s School Literacy and Culture Project.

Space is very limited. Click here to enroll.

Posted by . Categories: creativity, education, essay, event, homeschooling, Houston, publishing, spoken word, student, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

01

May. ’12

Blooms: The Young Writers Reading Series at Discovery Green!

Writers in the Schools (WITS) will celebrate some of Houston’s most talented young artists at its Young Writers Reading, an annual literary event held May 6th, at 3 pm at Discovery Green Park in downtown Houston. The event is free and open to the public.

WITS Young Writers Reading event enriches the lives of students ranging from elementary to high school age by giving them the chance to read the work they have written under the guidance of a professional writer. Each student has been chosen from a juried competition. WITS publishes the best work in a bound anthology called Blooms.

The Young Writers Reading Series began in 1989 as a way to celebrate the achievements of the city’s most gifted young writers.  For more information, visit www.witshouston.org.

You won’t want to miss this wonderful event at Discovery Green!  Arrive early to play with our friends from Playworks Houston.  Please come out on Sunday to support Houston’s youngest poets and writers!

Posted by . Categories: contest, education, event, family, Houston, Reading, writers in the schools. Tags: , , , , . Leave a comment

18

Apr. ’12

Celebrate Earth Day with Writers in the Schools

Houston school children will celebrate Mother Earth at A Light in the Forest this Sunday afternoon at the Houston Arboretum. Please join us!

Who: Talented students from HISD schools

What: Come hear students from the WITS program read their nature-inspired poems, essays, and stories in celebration of Earth Day.

When: Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Where: Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive (map)

Cost: FREE and open to the public

Sponsors: Shell Oil Company, Texas Commission on the Arts, City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Kroger, The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation, Copy.com, and the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center.

Posted by . Categories: education, event, family, Houston, nature, poetry, Reading, spoken word, story, student, writers in the schools. Tags: , , , , , . Leave a comment

29

Mar. ’12

A Poem a Day, As You Like It

April is almost here. This year there are more ways than ever to get your daily poem.  Pick your favorite. Celebrate National Poetry Month your way.

apad

Posted by . Categories: education, Houston, national poetry month, poem a day, writers in the schools. Tags: , , , . 1 Comment

20

Mar. ’12

5 Ways Parents Can Encourage a Reluctant Reader

Once a child has the motivation to learn to read, you as a parent are in the clear. Sometimes a reluctant reader might need a little nudge to discover the brave new world offered by reading. Here are some suggestions.

1. Let your child choose his or her own books at the library. If your child chooses Captain Underpants, swallow your pride and check out that book. A child who falls in love with reading will most likely continue to enjoy it for many years to come.

2. At the library, you should choose a few books for your child as well. Do a little research ahead of time or ask your librarian for suggestions that respect your child’s ability and interests.

learning-to-read-by-saundrag-via-flickr.jpg3. Model nuanced reading for your child. Release your inner actor and read with gusto! New readers are so consumed with sounded words out and learning new vocabulary that they often lose track of the story.

4. Read aloud together. Reading together is a wonderful social activity at any age. You and your child share the experience and can discuss or refer back to it later.

5. Encourage your reluctant reader with positive feedback. Given the right reasons, every child can be excited about reading–and writing too. Let your child’s interests lead the way.

[photo by saundraG via flickr]

Posted by . Categories: books, education, homeschooling, parenting, student. Tags: , , , . 2 Comments

08

Mar. ’12

College Students: Become a WITS Intern

Summer 2012 Internships

College students, if you are interested in:

  • creative writing
  • K-12 education
  • early childhood education
  • arts education
  • community service
then we have some good news for you.

Writers in the Schools is recruiting one full-time and several part-time interns to serve as summer workshop assistants. Interns will work in a variety of areas, gaining experience in creative writing instruction, early childhood education, non-profit administration, and arts education.

Each summer Writers in the Schools and the School Literacy and Culture Project (Rice University) sponsor the Creative Writing Camp. Nearly 1,000 children in grades K-12 participate in the workshops, which provide a supportive environment where children write stories, poetry, essays, and plays. Children are divided into small groups by age, and they get to work with teachers as well as writers. The low teacher-student ratio ensures individual attention.

Teaching Assistant Internship (part-time, June 1 – 29, 2012)

Adolescent Literary Arts Curriculum Intern (full-time, June 1 – July 26, 2012)

Deadline to Apply = April 13, 2012

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24

Feb. ’12

Start Your Own Writers in the Schools (WITS) Program!

Writers in the Schools (WITS) at AWP 2012 in Chicago – Join the Movement!

The Writers in the Schools (WITS) Alliance will present an exciting series of panels, meetings, and events at the 2012 AWP Conference in Chicago. Here is a schedule of all the WITS happenings. We will be in the Bookfair the entire time. Come say hello at Booth #609. See you in Chicago!

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Membership Meeting
Wednesday, February 29th, 4:30 to 5:45 PM
Joliet, Hilton Chicago, 3rd Floor
Writers in the Schools (WITS) Alliance invites current and prospective members to attend a general meeting led by Robin Reagler, Executive Director of WITS-Houston.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Celebration in Any Language: Teaching Bilingual Students  
Jack McBride, Alise Alousi, Merna Ann Hecht, Milta Ortiz, Cara Zimmer
Thursday, March 1st, 9:00 to 10:15 AM
Location: Grand Ballroom, Palmer House Hilton, 4th Floor
As student populations become increasingly diverse, most writing teachers work with bilingual students. We face specific challenges in creating an inclusive classroom community but ultimately celebrate linguistic difference through powerful writing and creativity. Panelists will discuss strategies for reaching all students, the challenges in navigating multiple languages in one classroom, and successes in creating a safe place for students to tell their own individual stories.

What You Need to Know Before You “Stand and Deliver”: K-12 Teaching 101
Rebecca Hoogs, Cecilia Pinto, Valerie Wayson, David Hassler, Cecily Sailer
3:00 to 4:15 PM
Location: Empire Ballroom, Palmer House Hilton, Lobby Level
Standing in front of a classroom and delivering inspiring and effective lessons doesn’t just happen. And just because you’re a great writer doesn’t mean you’re ready to be a great teaching artist in a K-12 classroom. But this panel will help you understand the path to becoming the teacher you want to be, that your teachers expect you to be, and that your students deserve. We’ll share tips and tricks of the trade and offer concrete advice for how to get the experience you need to succeed.

WITS Alliance Reception
Thursday, March 1st, 7:00 to 8:15 PM
Location: Hilton Chicago Hotel, Astoria, Hilton Chicago

Friday, March 2, 2012

Finding a Common Language in the Public Schools
Long Chu, Renée Watson, Giuseppe Taurino, Keith Yost
Friday, March 2nd, 1:30-2:45 PM
Location: Private Dining Room 1, Hilton Chicago, 3rd Floor
WITS organizations have deep artistic roots, and may approach the teaching of creative writing in ways public school administrators and teachers misunderstand or find irrelevant to their concerns. How do we make the case for WITS programs as valuable partners in meeting schools’ goals for student learning, but still remain true to our artistic identity? This panel of school administrators and WITS leaders share real world ideas to strengthen outreach to school partners.

The Wired Writing Classroom: The Marriage of Technology and Teaching
Cecily Sailer, Jeanine Walker, Janet Hurley, Jim Walker, Bertha Rogers
Friday, March 2nd, 3:00-4:15 PM
Location: Lake Huron Room, Hilton Chicago, 8th Floor
With an endless supply of evolving technology, how can educators capitalize on innovative web platforms and social media to augment classroom teaching, inspire students, and showcase their work? In this panel, several administrators from writers-in-the-schools organizations share multi-media projects that marry technology and traditional teaching methods. These stories of “teachnology” touch upon best practices while considering questions of safety and authenticity.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Low Res, Full Res, No Res: The Poet and the Terminal Degree
Christopher Salerno, Amy Gerstler, Bob Hicock, Timothy Liu, Robin Reagler
Saturday, March 3rd, 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM
Location: Wiliford C, Hilton Chicago, 3rd Floor
This panel will address what about the different MFA/CW program models is transcendent, what is common, and what is hindrance. We’ll discuss ways poets use, ignore, dismiss, or are damaged by aspects of each. What intersections are there amongst the MFA options? How does one take ownership of their track? Is an MFA necessary? Panelists will discuss why they did (or did not) pursue their particular terminal degree, and how those experiences inform their teaching practices in these programs now.

Marketing the Literary, or Putting some Poetry into your PR
Robin Reagler, Alison Granucci, Tree Swenson, Kristine Uyeda
Saturday, March 3rd, 1:30 PM to 2:45 PM
Location: Boulevard Room A,B,C, Hilton Chicago, 2nd Floor
For many writers, the business of promoting literature does not come naturally. Many literary organizations are led by writers for whom marketing is unfamiliar terrain. But some programs are finding surprising ways to connect with a larger public through low-cost campaigns to promote individual writers, literary arts education programs, memberships, and donations.

Crisis Economics for Nonprofits
Amy Swauger, Rebecca Hoogs, Michele Kotler, Melanie Moore
Saturday, March 3rd, 3:00 – 4:15 PM
Location: Grand Ballroom, Palmer House Hilton, 4th Floor
How are some nonprofits thriving in the current economy while others struggle to keep the doors open from one day to the next? The panelists in this session, who represent presenting organizations, literary publishers, and writers-in-the-schools programs, discuss their strategies for weathering the financial storm by identifying different sources of funding, collaborating with other nonprofits and for-profit partners, and finding ways to maintain programs and services while cutting costs.

Posted by . Categories: education, wits alliance, writers in the schools. Tags: , , . Leave a comment

15

Feb. ’12

Writing/Yoga Retreat

yoga on the beachAre you a teacher?  writer?  mom?  dad?  CEO?  Then you might be feeling the winter blues.  Here’s your chance to re-charge with a midwinter retreat where you will practice Forrest Yoga ®, Mondo Zen, and Creative Writing with a Zen practitioner and a teacher from Writers in the Schools (WITS).

Where: Blackwood Educational Land Institute (Hempstead, TX)

Instructors: Zenrin Jeff Goodman and MaryScott Hagle

When: February 11-12, 2012

What:

This brief retreat is designed to “spark you up” and light your way through the last few weeks of winter. You’ll get tools for building physical and emotional health, a new approach to spirituality and opportunities and inspiration for creative expression.

Facilitators MaryScott Hagle, a WITS writer, and Zenrin Jeff Goodman, a Zen priest, will guide your journey through yoga practice, MondoZen sessions and writing exercises in the beautiful serenity of Blackwood Educational Land Institute.

About the practices

Forrest Yoga ® cultivates strength and flexibility through sequencing principles designed over three decades by Ana Forrest, who sees yoga as central to her mission of “mending the hoop of the people.” Forrest Yoga emphasizes breath, core work and hands-on assists from teachers to help students get maximum, stress-melting benefits from every pose.

Hollow Bones Zen/ Mondo Zen, developed by Jun Po Roshi, is a form of Zen Buddhist practice stripped of cultural and monastic confines that offers immediate and portable benefits after just three sessions. You’ll gain deep insight into the truth of who you are, enhancing your ability to transform your reactions and interactions and understand the purpose of your emotions. If you have been curious about meditation, or if you’re a failed or lapsed meditator, Mondo Zen will give you just the kick start you need to begin or revive your practice.

Field Writing is the working title for a group of creative writing practices MaryScott has developed through her work with students of all ages for Writers in the Schools (WITS) and as a consultant for HISD. Field Writing exercises cultivate introspection, reflection and invention across genres and in a variety of settings.

About the Setting

Blackwood Educational Land Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to land-based learning that encourages the spirit and feeds the soul as it challenges and educates the mind. It inspires all of us to be complete, healthy and accountable to ourselves, our colleagues and our natural world as a whole. Located near Hempstead, Texas (about one hour from Houston), a formerly neglected tract of land has been turned into a living learning environment. There are many wooded acres, a pond fed by a natural spring, abundant plant and animal life, and more. Blackwood is an ecosystem and living classroom that inspires and teaches students of all ages to explore the natural web of life and to develop a healthy, respectful relationship with nature.

More information?
Email MaryScott at mshagle@gmail.com

Photo by patriziasoliani via Flickr

Posted by . Categories: creativity, education, event, imagination, inspiration, nature, poetry, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: , , , . Leave a comment

09

Feb. ’12

Writing Retreat for Kids and Parents

Have you ever wanted to attend a writing workshop with your son or daughter?  Now is your chance!  Esalen Institute, a workshop and retreat center in Big Sur, California, is offering a special opportunity for parents and children to journey together into the imagination.

Shadow

Here is the information about Rip the Page! A Workshop for Kids and Parents from the Esalen website:

Weekend of April 13-15, 2012

Rip the Page! A Workshop for Kids and Parents

Karen Benke

“This is an imaginative writing weekend for children aged eight to fourteen and their parents to loosen up on the page while experimenting with zany poem-making prompts, dares and double-dares, and truths and lies,” writes Karen Benke. “This experience can un-stick ideas, dreams, and stories. We will erect a fun and safe tent of wonder in which to unleash the dreaming and doodling sides of our minds as we put the zing back in our writing and capture images guaranteed to connect to our hearts and voices. This is a creative writing play-shop where the punctuation police are left behind and best-guess spelling is more than fine. No grades. No gold stars. Just plenty of encouragement and quirky experiments involving magic word tickets that you’ll make and take back home. No prior experience is necessary. All materials are provided. Simply arrive with a willingness to surprise yourself and a fast-moving favorite pen. On Saturday afternoon, we’ll be joined by singer/songwriter, Scott Grace, who will create on-the-spot songs using our poems and literary creations.” 

Please note: This workshop has the following schedule. Friday: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 3:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday: 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Reservations Information (Accommodations & Pricing)


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07

Feb. ’12

Journey to the ‘City of Gold and Silver’

Writers in the Schools partners with Beeville ISD for intensive writing project

When we think of big cities, we think of tightly packed, vertical apartments, clustered skyscrapers, and commuter-filled trains. But to the residents of Beeville, TX, the “big city” means the colossal sprawl Houston. During our wonderful visit to Beeville, we found that our students’ initial interest in us centered on our metropolitan origins. For many of them, Houston is a mythical land accessible only by traveling sports teams, a land filled with shopping malls, upscale restaurants, and, strangest of all, professional writers.

“Are you a real writer?” students asked. When we showed them our books or told them about our projects, many seemed to be in awe.

Perhaps this is part of why the students at Moreno Middle School, where the three of us spent two intensive days teaching creative writing, were so engaged. “They never write that much for me,” one teacher told us. It was clear, however, that many of the students had a genuine interest in writing, and were excited to meet adults who had prioritized it in their lives.

We worked with the students to develop an understanding of the key elements of narrative and poetry. We collaborated on story arcs and invented our own cities, some even stranger than Houston. We were truly impressed by their quick grasp of writing concepts like imagery and simile, as seen in this poem by Ms. Mertz’s student, Ysidro:

City of Gold and Silver

Through the walls of gold

you can feel the cool breeze of the morning

the ground still wet from the morning dew

as you look off the diamond balcony you can see

the houses made of gold and silver

with light posts still glowing with embers

the sun is like an orange small and still

as you walk down the stairs the library is still and calm

you slowly walk in the city of gold and silver

with the strange markings on the walls

everyone still sleeping except for the old man

the old man sitting on a gold rocking chair cursing at the

wind

as the day goes on the city turns brighter

than the sun itself and after the hours of sun

night falls with a still glow and the city of gold and silver

is still bright.

This poem testifies to the dedication and talent of Moreno’s teachers, who made us feel welcome in their classrooms and even thanked us during a school assembly. We left Beeville feeling a little sorry to go and hopeful for another chance to leave the big city and return.

By Ryler Dustin, Jesse Donaldson, and Becca Wadlinger, Writers in the Schools

Writers in the Schools thanks Tracy Saucier and The Joe Barnhart Foundation for making this experience possible.

Posted by . Categories: creativity, education, student, teaching, writer, writers in the schools, writing, writing prompts. Tags: , , . Leave a comment

30

Jan. ’12

Award-Winning Children’s Book

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Awards

The Coretta Scott King Awards

For the last 40 years the Coretta Scott King Awards have been given to African American authors and illustrators for their outstanding contributions to children’s literature. The books chosen promote understanding among races and uphold the American Dream. The Awards commemorate the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King.

For past winners from 1970-present, check out this list.  The 2012 winner is Kadir Nelson’s Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans, published by HarperCollins.  The story and the artwork in this book are  stunning.  Go get your copy today and help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Awards in Children’s Literature.

Heart and Soul
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24

Jan. ’12

Win a Scholarship to Young Writers Program at Kenyon College

Picture this: Having your ideas take shape among the rolling hills and sprawling trees that make up the historic campus of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Even better, imagine winning a scholarship to send you there! The Kenyon Review invites high-school students ages 16-18 to an intensive 2-week writing workshop as part of its Young Writers Program taking place June 24-July 7 and July 15-28th. The program offers a supportive, challenging, and rewarding environment for youths to express themselves among their peers and gain insight from leading instructors in literature. Click here for more information and to apply.

What: Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop

Where: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH

Cost: $2,275 includes tuition, accommodations, meals, and activities. Need-based scholarships available.

Contact: (740) 427-5207 or youngwriters@kenyonreview.org

Posted by . Categories: education, poetry, student, travel, writer, writers in the schools, writing. Tags: , , , . 2 Comments

18

Jan. ’12

Teachers to Develop New Ideas on Digital Learning Day

Daicy wins aramark IPAD 5-6-2011-8710

Photo by ortizmiddleschool via Flickr

Schools across the nation are signing up for Digital Learning Day, a national campaign that celebrates innovation in the classrooms on February 1st. On this day, administrators, teachers, parents, and students everywhere will unite to discuss the ways in which technology has revolutionized the curriculum and exchange ideas on how to improve computer literacy.

Started by the Alliance for Excellent Education, Digital Learning Day empowers members of the education community with a number of resources and tool kits that are available on the group’s website. Their professional development offerings include interdisciplinary lesson plans, digital learning examples by district, and webinars.

Individuals are encouraged to participate in this free event no matter what their technical skill level. Best of all, colleagues who spread the word about Digital Learning Day can win a $100 grant for their classroom. Be the first Houston school to get on board with Digital Learning Day by signing up today!

Posted by . Categories: contest, creativity, education, event, Lesson plan, teaching, writers in the schools. Tags: , , . 1 Comment