may community outreach
Here’s what we’ve been up to this past month! If you are interested in bringing a program to your school or organization, email Jennifer Chauhan at jennifer@projectwritenow.org.
Red Bank Middle SchoolThe month of December provides so much inspiration for our young writers! Using words pulled from the poem “Lines for Winter,” by Mark Strand, our 8th grade AVID students participated in a Write-a-Thon while our 7th grade AVID class typed up their “Where I’m From” poems, which we will feature in the next issue of Bridge Ink. Later in the month, we read “Between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice, Today,” by Emily Jungmin Yoon, using the word “today” to prompt our reflections. Most of our students wrote about an AVID trip they were going on that night to New York City, and we loved the excitement pouring from their pens into their notebooks.
We also worked with our second cycle of 4th and 5th graders in the AVID elective, writing about the theme of courage. First, we reading the picture book Courage, by Bernard Waber, and then we broke into small groups and brainstormed what the word courage means to us. Students then drafted lists of moments in their lives when they had to be courageous before displaying their courage statements creatively on posters. As they shared their final pieces, we listened as writers proclaimed: “Courage is going to the dentist,” “Courage is moving to a new school and not knowing anyone,” “Courage is standing up to a bully on the playground,” “Courage is saying you’re sorry when you know you’ve hurt your friend’s feelings.” We love being able to introduce PWN and beginning to cultivate the joy of writing!
Shore House (Long Branch)
With Shore House members, we also used “Lines for Winter,” by Mark Strand, while enjoying peppermint candy canes. We then pulled lines from the poem as prompts for our own writing: “Tell yourself …” “Go on …” “Find yourself …” and “What you know …” It was so uplifting to hear what participants came up with. “Tell yourself that you are loved,” one writer shared. “Go on making music,” shared another. What a great way to support and encourage one another–the perfect way to end the year with our Shore House writers!
With Shore House members, we also used “Lines for Winter,” by Mark Strand, while enjoying peppermint candy canes. We then pulled lines from the poem as prompts for our own writing: “Tell yourself …” “Go on …” “Find yourself …” and “What you know …” It was so uplifting to hear what participants came up with. “Tell yourself that you are loved,” one writer shared. “Go on making music,” shared another. What a great way to support and encourage one another–the perfect way to end the year with our Shore House writers!
21st Century Community Learning Center (Long Branch)We had our last session with our first group of 3rd graders in the after-school program in Long Branch. On the last day we read Ralph Tells a Story, by Abby Hanlon, in which Ralph–who struggles to think of something to write about because he thinks nothing ever happens in his life–discovers that stories are everywhere, even when he is simply lying in the grass watching an inchworm. The students finished writing and illustrating their own picture books and several read their stories to the class. We all enjoyed listening to their creations! We are excited to begin our next session in early January.
Tween Writing Group
Over the last few weeks, we have written shape poems, participated in Write-a-Thons, and created silly stories in our Write Arounds! Our tweens love to pull from real-life experiences and exaggerate the stories until they no longer look real. For instance, time spent with friends turns into a story about a group of friends locked in a room for days on end, surviving on a strange unlimited supply of bananas. Our tweens have the most vivid imaginations that we love inspiring! Our tweens also created decorations for our holiday tree with positive messages for the new year. We love our Tween Writing Group! Our next session begins January 15.
Teen Writing Group
The deadline for the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for our area was midnight on December 12. So that afternoon, our teen writers showed up an hour or so early to Teen Writing Group so we could help them submit their work before it was too late! While they filled out online forms and uploaded their pieces, encouragement and loving support flowed–so much that even one teen who was hesitant finally agreed to submit their piece. It can be scary to be so vulnerable, but our teens are braver than they realize. Winners will be announced in March, but we believe our teens are already winners just for sending their work at all! The next session of Teen Writing Group begins January 16.
Bridge InkWe released our newest issue of our online young adult literary magazine, Bridge Ink, this month, and we are so excited to share it with you. This issue brings you stories and poems from coast to coast–from New Jersey to California. Pieces range from reflection to projection–looking back on our pasts to ideas of what our futures hold. Perfect reading as we enter a new year! Read this issue now at www.bridgeink.org! We are accepting submissions for our next issue. For more information, check out our submission guidelines.
Readings & Celebration with Monmouth University
On Wednesday, December 11, we provided a free event featuring three authors and Monmouth University professors: Melissa Febos, Mihaela Mosculiac, and Michael Waters. Each read from their respective works and shared stories about their pieces. We are grateful to Asbury Book Cooperative (formerly Words!) for hosting us at the Tony La Salle Gallery (a beautiful backdrop for an inspiring evening!) and Monmouth University for providing delicious food from Sami’s Mediterranean Street Food. We look forward to co-hosting future events with both groups!
Writers Showcase & Open MicThank you to all who came out for our adult Writers Showcase & Open Mic, held December 12 at Urban Coalhouse in the Galleria! We are so inspired by the pieces you shared–some we are still laughing about while others continue to tug at our heartstrings. There is so much talent in our writing community! Thank you to Urban Coalhouse for hosting us. Our next Writers Showcase & Open Mic will be announced soon!
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