Category Archives: Houston

Support WITS: Buy ticket to see RED @ Alley Theatre

 

Writers in the Schools (WITS) is excited to partner with the Alley Theatre’s $10Tix program and the Menil Collection.  Please support WITS by buying a $10 ticket and bringing a donation of crayons, colored pencils, or markers to the production of RED by Josh Logan.  The $10 tickets are available for the 2:30 PM performance on Saturday, March 3rd.  The tickets are available beginning at 11 am the same day.  There is limited availability, so get tickets early.

Scheduled on the first Saturday matinee of each Hubbard Stage play, the $10Tix program is the Alley’s effort to generate in-kind donations for partnering social non-profit organizations.  The Alley offers $10 Tixs  (limit two per person) to patrons who bring in the item(s) requested by the participating organization. This offer is available in-person at the box office, on the day of the performance only – limited number of seats available. Cash or check only.

Thank you, Alley Theatre!

Writers in the Schools (WITS) Writer To Present at Houston Public Library

An Afternoon with Mignette Patrick Dorsey 

as part of the Houston Public Library “An Afternoon With” Author Series

Saturday, February 25 | 1 PM

Henington-Alief Regional Library

WITS writer and award-winning journalist Mignette Patrick Dorsey will discuss her book, Speak Truth to Power: The Story of Charles Patrick, a Civil Rights Pioneer, which tells the story of the author’s father. Charles Patrick’s quest for justice in segregated Alabama on the eve of the civil rights movement represents a telling instance of the growing determination of African Americans to be treated fairly; it was part of the broadening and deepening stream of resolve that led to the widespread activism of the civil rights movement.

Public Poetry on February 4th

Here’s the latest news from Public Poetry, winner of the Best Reading Series 2011 from the Houston Press.  Don’t miss this free event on February 4th featuring several former Writers in the Schools (WITS) teachers!
Did you ever think you’d hear a local TV news anchor read poetry?  Well, that’s what will happen at Park Place Regional Library on Saturday, February 4, when Art Rascon makes a special guest appearance at our next Public Poetry event at 2 PM.  We’re really happy to feature him in a growing list of great special guests, including Mayor Annise Parker, choreographer Dominic Walsh, a NASA administrator, artists, musicians and more.  As always, we have our line-up of outstanding featured poets with words ready – Alan Ainsworth, Joseph Campana, Sarah Cortez, Jeannie Gambill and Van G. Garrett.  We’ll also hear a few short poems from some talented young students.  Afterwards, there will be poetry books available and poets to sign ‘em.   And if poetry leaves you feeling hungry, come join us after that at the local Mexican on the corner.
Public Poetry events are all free, all ages, and everyone is welcome!  See you there.

Congratulations to Helms Elementary Students!

Three Writers in the Schools (WITS) students at Helms Elementary (HISD) will have their winning poems published in the Young Writers of America Annual Students Anthology!

Congratulations to 3rd graders Joshua Martinez, Bella Corona, and Emily De Leon, who are students in Ms. Jennifer Martinez’s class and work weekly with Writers in the Schools (WITS) writer Yolanda Schulte-Ladbeck.

Here is Bella’s poem:
What I Learned from my Uncle

I learned from my Uncle how to be funny.  I know how to make my Mom and Dad laugh.
I learned from my Uncle how to communicate in sign language.  I can teach my friends now.
I learned from my Uncle how to look for pictures in the sky.  I can find me riding horses in clouds.
I learned from my Uncle how to say kind words.  I don’t say bad words and I stay away from strangers.
I learned from my Uncle how to decorate my room.  I have stars in my room that glow.

To read the other winning poems, please visit Helms Elementary website.  Go, students!Writer at work 259/355

Photo by immsm via Flickr

My Passions

Radio Lollipop logo

Image via Wikipedia

I love music because it clears my mind.  When I’m in a good mood, I listen to Indie music on the radio.  The first time I ever heard Radio Lollipop (a fully equipped radio station staffed by a team of volunteers at Texas Children’s Hospital) was January 31, 2011.  I was in a bed feeling down on the 9th floor.  It was just my second day, and I was thinking about home.  When the music came on, I listened for a while.  Music is a way to daydream for me.  Someday I’d like to be a professional cello player. I learned how to play in 5th grade, and I feel in a better place when I play.  I had to quit when I got sick, but I want to start again.  Writing is another art that I like.  I use it to express myself.  I don’t share everything I write, but I think it helps me to get it out.  I remember I wrote a story once about two kids in an enchanted forest.  I don’t get writer’s block usually.  The words just flow out and onto the paper.  If I could tell people something, I would say that there are lots of ways to express yourself and to go out and find your passion.  For me, it is music and writing.

By Jasmine, 10th grade

Deborah Frontiera Celebrates New Book

What: WITS Writer Deborah K. Frontiera celebrates the release of her memoir, Fighting CPS.

When: Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 3-5 PM

Where: River Oaks Bookstore, 3270 Westheimer @ River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX 77098, ph. 713-520-0061

Cost: Free and open to the public

More about the author

Deborah Frontiera grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and came to Houston in 1985. She taught kindergarten, pre-K, and K-5 science in HISD for over twenty years and was part of the Project A.C.C.E.S.S. curriculum writing project. Experienced at presenting workshops for teachers and writers, she is published in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s works with eight books currently in print. For more information, visit her website.

2012 January Early Literacy Conference

Every summer Writers in the Schools (WITS) partners with Rice School Literacy and Culture Project (SLC) to host Summer Creative Writing Workshops across the city of Houston.  We are pleased to let you know about their January Early Literacy Conference, which takes place this Saturday, January 14th, at Rice University.  If you value creativity in the classroom, then you won’t want to miss this!

Here is a blurb from their website:

A 2010 IBM survey of international business leaders cited creativity as the most important skill in today’s economy. How does this finding impact the real world of schools, teachers, and students? Join the School Literacy and Culture Project of Rice University’s Center for Education for our 13th annual half-day early literacy conference as we focus on practical ideas for supporting creative thinking and problem-solving in the classroom.

Dr. Patsy Cooper (SLC’s Founding Director), Associate Professor of Education at Queens College, City University of New York, and Karen Capo (SLC’s current Director) will deliver the opening address. Karen will set the stage by asking the question, What is Creativity and Why Does It Matter? Patsy will provide our first perspective, The Very Practical Role of Imagination in Early Literacy.  This year we will offer two featured breakout sessions. We are pleased to welcome Anthony Brandt, Associate Professor of Composition at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, who will inspire all educators with his session, Why Young Minds Need Art.  Also,Patsy Cooper will reprise her popular keynote from last year, Let’s Try It Again: A Positive Approach to Helping Young Children Recover from Their Missteps and Misbehavior.

Other breakout sessions for teachers of toddlers through second grades, led by School Literacy and Culture Project (SLC) staff and guests, will include several on SLC’s renowned language/literacy based storytelling curriculum for first time attendees as well as a variety of other sessions addressing special interests such as toddler literacy, bilingual concerns, integrated curriculum, and creative writing for the school-age child. Details will be available in mid-December on this web page.

Attendance is limited, so please register early! For the past few years, the conference has filled quickly.

Houston Texas Online Contest for Young Writers and Artists

Target by Jasper Johns

2012 Children’s Contest Rules

Subject = Adventure

The final deadline for entries is March 31, 2012. Children are encouraged to submit their work to Houston-Texas-Online as soon as possible. They will receive 10 extra points if they submit their work prior to December 31, 2011. These extra points will count toward the final judging.

Entries will be displayed on the web site once they are received so more people will be able to admire their work.

AGE  Children in grades 1 & 2 (also those who are 6 years old and not yet in 1st grade during the year of the contest) are eligible.

Children in grades 3 – 5 (also children in 6th grade who are 12 years of age any time during the year of the contest) are eligible.

QUALIFICATIONS  Children must be residents of Harris or Fort Bend County, Texas and may attend public or private school or be home schooled.

REGISTRATION  Any child who plans to enter the contest should be registered as soon as possible. You may simply send an email with the child’s name, grade, age and parent’s contact information.

ENTRIES  1st-2nd Grade – may compete in art. Only one entry may be submitted per child.

3rd-5th Grade – may choose only one category – either art, poetry or short stories. Only one entry may be submitted per child.
ART WORK  Art work must not exceed 18″ x 24″ and may be media of the child’s choice. If you are considering submitting art work other than water color, oils, pastels, chalk, crayons, colored pencils, etc., please send an email describing the type of art you are considering so that we may verify if it would be acceptable.um number of entries in each category = 100. The first 100 entries received will be eligible. Please submit your work as early as possible.

Original art entries should be delivered to Linda Moore. Please contact Linda when you have an art entry ready to drop off and she will furnish you the location.

POETRY Poetry must be neat and easy to read and limited to one single page. It is preferable if the entry is typed and double-spaced (Times roman, 12 pt), but may also be printed if child does not have access to a computer and printer.

SHORT STORIES  Short stories is a new category for 2012. Short stories should be no longer than two single pages, preferable typed (Times Roman, 12 pt.) and double spaced. If child does not have access to a computer and printer, they may print as long is it is very legible and limited to two single pages.

Entries for poetry and short stories may be emailed to Linda Moore or you may contact Linda for mailing instructions or address for personal delivery.

Each entry must have an entry form completely filled out in order to be eligible.

IMPORTANT  Do not put the child’s name or any other personal information on the “front” of the entry or they may be disqualified.

ENTRY FORMSEntry forms must be completely filled out and attached to the back of the entry

To print out an entry form, click here

If you cannot print the entry form, you may type or print the following information and either tape, tack or staple to the back of the submission

  • Child’s full name
  • Child’s birth date
  • Parent’s name
  • Home address (must reside in either Harris or Ft. Bend County)
  • Phone # (home, work, cell)
  • Email address
  • School Name
  • Grade
  • Principal
  • Teacher
  • Contact information for teacher or principal (phone # and/or email address)

AWARDS CEREMONY  Children must attend the awards ceremony to receive their awards. In case of an emergency, another family member or their teacher may accept the award for them.

My First Memory of Rain

rain reflectionsWhen I tasted rain,

it tasted like the water

we drink when we run a lot

on the playground with friends.

When I heard the rain,

it sounded like coins.

It sounded like treasure.

When I saw the rain,

I saw my reflection.

I looked happy.

By Jennifer, 2nd grade

Photo by Impressions by Lindy via Flickr

Writers in the Schools (WITS) Student Wins National Award

Creative Communication: A Celebration of Today’s Writers chose Writers in the Schools (WITS) student Jasmin Johnson as one of the top 10 4th grade poets in the nation.  Three of her poems will be published in an anthology of student writing.  Jasmin also will receive a $50 savings bond.  For more information about Creative Communication contests, please visit their website.  The next deadline for poetry is December 6, 2011.

Here are two of Jasmin’s poems:

The Runaway Imagination

Boom! Oh, no, my imagination is
exploding out of my head. It happened
just this morning coming out of bed.
I put on a headband my imagination
denies. I fall out of bed and cry.
Oh no, I feel dull. I lost my sense of
fun. My crazy imagination is on the run.
I have to catch it quickly, but wait! It’s
time for school but my imagination starts
to head for the pool.  I pull it aside and
bring it to class.  Hurray! It’s 9:30, I’m in
time for math. But wait! There isn’t
school today. You mean that there was
time to play? Oh, what a ridiculous
Saturday. You silly imagination,
get back in my head!

By Jasmin, 4th grade

Cup Full of Elephant: A Self-Portrait

I try to copy what I see.
Is it good enough?
Do you blame me?
Art is hard. I’ll just draw a cup.  Do
you see?  Is it good enough?
I’ll try to copy what I see.
Is it good enough?
Do you blame me?
Art is hard.  I’ll draw a set of paints! Do
you see? Is it good enough?
I’ll try to copy what I see.
Is it good enough?
Do you blame me?
Art is hard.  I’ll draw an elephant butt.
Wait! An elephant butt?  Ewww!

By Jasmin, 4th grade

Writers Tell Their Houston Stories on November 12th

What: Houston Inside Out: A Symposium

Who: Rosellen Brown, Robb Walsh, Bao-Long Chu, Roger Wood, and Gwendolyn Zepeda

Where: Houston Public Library, Central Branch, 500 McKinney St.

When: Saturday, November 12, 2011  at 1:00 pm

Cost: FREE and open to all!

Writing & C/Siting Houston brings together writers, folklorists and scholars to create written portraits that explore the ways and the wheres through which Houstonians know and cherish their hometown. 

Way To Go!

Blue version of Image:Thumbs up.jpg

Image via Wikipedia

Join us in congratulating these past and present WITS writers and students:

Chuck Carlise’s new chapbook A Broken Escalator Still Isn’t Stairs is now available on Amazon.

WITS student Jasmine Davis, who works with WITS writer Melanie Malinowski, won Honorable Mention for her essay “My Life with Clorox” for the Kidney Times Essay Contest.  

WITS Summer Camp teacher Aime Gallardo won the 2011 Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award.

Hannah Gamble won the National Poetry Series. Her book Your Invitation to a Modest Breakfast will be published by Fence Books in 
2012.

News about Van Garrett’s trip to Latvia can be found on his website. Writers in the Schools supported this project through Amy Storrow at the Department of State. Van was featured in a TV story here.

Artist Raul Gonzalez (artist in residence with WITS) was the featured artist for Houston Community College Southwest’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Janine Joseph was named one of the Best New Poets of 2011.

Former WITS writer Marc McKee published a new book titled Fuse.  You can purchase your copy at amazon.com.

Executive Director Robin Reagler’s chapbook Dear Red Airplane was published  by Seven Kitchens Press.

Tria Wood and partner-in-art Tara Conley announced that their art installation, My Life as a Doll, will open at DiverseWorks on November 11th, 2011—that’s right, 11/11/11!

Public Poetry

Don’t miss out on what Houston Press named the Best Reading Series 2011.  The next Public Poetry event will take place at 2 PM on November 5th at Discovery Green.  As usual, you’ll meet award-winning poets as well as children authors who have worked with WITS writers in schools, hospitals, libraries, museums, and homeless shelters.

The Featured Poets on November 5th are Sam Amadon, Robin Davidson,  Elisa A. Garza, and Dave Parsons, the 2011 Texas Poet Laureate.  Each Featured Poet has 6 minutes to read, followed by a short WITS student poem, another fast round, and a final bonus student poem.  You won’t want to miss the 2 PM start, with a special guest appearance by Houston singer/songwriter Don Sanders.