This Week at the Indiana Writing Project

This last week of June and first week of July finds the Indiana Writing Project's summer activities in full-swing.

Left - Comp Camp teacher Christie Dalton (TC 2008) listens as two students participate in Share Time. This summer, the elementary Comp Camp is being taught by Christie Dalton, and Maria Holden (TC 2001); the middle and high school Comp Camp teachers are Jenny Smithson (TC 2003) and Betsy Duckworth (TC 2008). On Friday, July 2, students' friends and families will enjoy the Celebration featuring read-alouds of students' published writing.

For more information about Comp Camp and to see students' writing published in an online anthology visit the IWP website.


Below - Fellows in this year's IWP Summer Institute are visited by teacher consultants and Open Institute participants during the Brown Bag Lunch on Wednesday, June 30.

Summer 2010 Advanced Institute: Teaching with Technology

During the week of Monday, June 14, through Friday, June 18, the first of this summer's IWP Advanced Institutes offered teacher consultants the opportunity and support to explore various technologies and incorporate these new tools into their lessons and classrooms for the coming school year. "Teaching with Technology" was attended by Becky Thibodeau (TC 2005) and Gail Gayda (TC 2009), and was co-taught by Casey McCardle (TC 2008), Matt Hartman (TC 2007), and Alena Bogucki (TC 2007).

Throughout the week-long workshop, attendees learned about and experimented with blogs, Prezi, PowerPoint, Google Calendar, Weebly, and delicious. Here are links to some of the projects created by the "Teaching with Technology" participants: check out Becky's innovative Movie Maker log, and website; and, see the neat wordle art on Gail's blog, and the class website she is preparing for the new school year.

"Teaching with Technology" Advanced Institute
Front Row - Gail (TC 2009) and Becky (TC 2005)
Back Row - Alena (TC 2007), Casey (TC 2008), and Matt (TC 2007)

Computers and Writing 2010: "Virtual Worlds"

On Saturday, May 22, and Sunday, May 23, six representatives of the Indiana Writing Project (Matt Hartman, TC '07; Robin Sowder, TC '02; Barb Miller, TC '09; Jodie Scales, '09; Alena Bogucki, TC '07; and, Carrie Milliner, TC '01) attended the annual Computers and Writing Conference, which was held this year at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. During the two days, IWP teacher consultants participated in a variety of workshops, demonstrations, and discussions focused on new technology and applications for such programs within elementary, secondary, and higher education; the Computers and Writing program may be viewed here.

Buckwell University's Eric Faden began his lunchtime presentation with an amusing clip entitled "A Fair(y) Use Tale," which features soundbites and clips from Disney films to educate the audience about copyright laws and fair use guidelines.

If you are interested in collaborating to create a program session for the 2011 Computers and Writing Conference, "Writing in Motion: Traversing Public/Private Spaces," at the University of Michigan, contact IWP Site Director Linda Hanson.

Comp Camp

The spring 2010 IWP Comp Camp concluded on Saturday, April 24, with a Young Authors Celebration. In addition to hearing readings by the Comp Camp authors, family and friends in attendance also enjoyed participating in a miniature writing marathon based on notable and historic sites across the Ball State University campus. Students received their own print copies of the group anthology at the celebration, and will also have their writing published in an online anthology.

Above - Spring 2010 Comp Campers

Visit the Indiana Writing Project website to get information about registering for future IWP Comp Camps. The upcoming summer 2010 Comp Camp will occur Monday through Friday, June 21 through July 2. Elementary-age students in grades 2 through 5 will attend camp from 9AM-12PM, and the camp for middle and high school students will occur from 1PM-4PM each day.

IWP at the 2010 NWP Spring Meeting

From Wednesday, March 24, through Friday, March 26, the Indiana Writing Project was represented at the 2010 National Writing Project Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C. by IWP Site Director Linda Hanson, IWP Co-Director Linda Walker, and local teachers Barbara Miller(TC 2009) of Cowan High School and Alena Bogucki (TC 2007) from Alexandria-Monroe High School. Once at the Spring Meeting, the IWP representatives were joined by Kristin Katsu, a Teacher Consultant from the Hoosier Writing Project and a Language Arts teacher at Noblesville High School.

One of the main objectives of the NWP Spring Meeting was to share with legislators the unique impact the National Writing Project has on teachers, students, and learning. On Thursday, March 25, the delegation from Indiana shared the accomplishments and efforts of the six Writing Project sites across Indiana in the offices of U.S. representatives Brad Ellsworth, Andre Carson, Joe Donnelly, Mark Souder, Mike Pence, Dan Burton, and U.S. senators Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh.

Pictured from left to right:
Alena Bogucki (IWP TC), Barbara Miller (IWP TC), Kristin Katsu (HWP TC),
Indiana 7th District Congressman Andre Carson,
Linda Hanson (IWP Site Director), and Linda Walker (IWP Co-Director)

During the Spring Meeting keynote on Friday, March 26, Katherine Schultz, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, shared the research behind her 2009 book Rethinking Classroom Participation: Listening to Silent Voices. The final day of the NWP Spring Meeting wrapped up with a selection of roundtable discussions focused on issues related to the classroom practice, core standards, partnerships between sites and schools, research, professional reading, and the history of the National Writing Project.

The Power of Writing: In Her Own Words

Drops by Peace

Chapter One: Goodbye

“I don’t understand why we have to go, I love it here. There’s everything we need here.” I said, but I knew that I didn’t have everything I needed, a mom.

“I know you don’t want to go, but we have to go because we don’t have enough money and I need more help on the farm.” Dad replied.

“I told you I can help.”

“Sam,” he said looking at me. I could see the sorrow in his eyes. I knew he didn’t want to leave either, but I knew we had to. I looked away because if I looked any longer I would cry. I turned around and headed up the stairs to finish packing. I found Mama’s favorite book that fell from my nightstand. She gave it to me two weeks before she died.

I finished cramming everything into my bag I started to go down stairs, but I had to look at the empty room one last time. It seemed so plain. I heard the truck start so I ran down the stairs and out the door. It slammed shut and I got into the truck.

Dad was waiting, I could tell he had been crying and I knew why, we had to leave all the memories of Mama behind. When we started to pull out of the driveway, he looked at me and said, “Would you like to say goodbye one last time? And don’t forget Mittens.”

“Okay, I’ll be back.” I got out of the truck and hurried through the rusty barn door. Mittens came running towards me as soon as I opened the door. I picked her up and kissed her on the back. She meowed. I looked at the barn, there was cobwebs everywhere and dirt all over the floor. I loved it in here, I always wrote poems sitting on hay bales. Then I would send them to Grandma, she loved reading my poems.

I walked out, shut the old door, and got into the truck. We started to drive and after hours and hours of driving, we reached a small white house behind tall, green trees.

Chapter Two: New Home

This was my new home. I might never be able to see the farm again. It made me sad to think about never being there and that the farm would never be my home again, now it was just a house in the middle of fields and trees.

I grabbed my suitcase and Mittens, then I heard a screech. I looked up and saw the screen door opening. “You’re here!” yelled Grandma. Dad went over to her and gave her a hug. She squeezed him hard. I could tell because he had an awful look on his face, but he smiled. I laughed a little.
I picked up my bags and started for the door, but Grandma gave me a big hug. She does squeeze hard, but I felt safe in her arms. But there was one thing that wasn’t good about the hug, she smelled like Mama. It reminded me of that horrible night. The night Mama died. I hated that April night, it was raining hard. It was very dark outside. Only a few stars shined, the moon was covered by the clouds, and you could barely see anything through the rain. We were heading home from the doctor, but Mama never made it home because of that big truck. Mama and I were talking about the baby. I was hoping for a girl, but I’ll never know because Dad and I lost two people that night, Mama and Anna is what I wanted to name her.

When Grandma let go, I almost fell over. “Sammy, George! I thought you would never make it. I wanted to see my little Sammy for so long. I’ve been waiting for years, ten years ago since I’ve seen you two, it seems. Grandma said with a huge smile on her face.

“Oh Rosie, it’s only been a few months.” Dad said smiling, too. He laughed. He hadn’t laughed since Mama died. Four months ago Mama died, Grandma went to the funeral.

“Well, it has seemed like forever. Now let’s get inside before the storm hits.” I’ve hated storms after Mama died.

Chapter Three: Rain

It only drizzled after we went inside. There was nothing to do, so I watched it drop. It was coming down fast now. It made everything look different and blurry, and then it started to thunder and lightning.

Grandma came in and watched it with me for a few minutes, then she handed me a couple pieces of paper and a pencil. “ Write a poem for me.” I smiled and went onto the porch to write.
There were two rocking chairs, one for Grandma and one for Grandpa, but now it was only Grandma, with a small table in between. A few drops of rain hit me on my shirt. I could hear the rain pounding on the awning. I thought a little while about what to write about. Then I looked up at the rain, it was calm. There were puddles everywhere, it reminded me of Mama. She was calm.

Chapter Four: Mama

Mama loved it outside, the birds chirping and the bees buzzing. She loved painting, too. I’d never be as good as her. She liked to paint the outdoors most of all. I started out like this;

‘I’m writing this poem
Far away from home
Because my mama died’
I crossed that part out and put,
‘I’m writing this poem
Far away from home
I wish my mama didn’t die
Because I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye
I miss her so much’

I crossed all it out and then a drop of water hit the paper. I realized it was my tear. I tried to think of something else. I crumbled up the paper and went inside.

“School is about to start,” Grandma said as I threw the paper away.

“I know.”

“Well, you better get ready for it.”

“I will.” I felt sad thinking of Mama and the rain. Rain always made me feel gloomy, like I was tired of life, but I wasn’t. I love life and try to cherish every moment because I could die tomorrow. I might never see my family again. I went to my new room and shut the door.

Chapter Five: School

It was time for school tomorrow and it was already late. I made sure I had everything for school and went to bed.

In the morning I woke up early to feed Mittens, but of course Dad was already up drinking coffee at the small table. I got some cereal and milk, got dressed, brushed my teeth, and did my hair.
The bus was coming down the road when I got to the end of the driveway. My heart had butterflies in it. I was going to be the new kid.

The bus ride wasn’t bad and then when I got in Miss Daniels class, I was introduced to her class and everyone went around and said their name. There was another new kid in her class, his name was Alex. He was bald. He was also very shy and he didn’t say much.

“Hello,” I said as he sat in the empty seat next to me. He smiled, but didn’t say anything back.
School didn’t seem very long and when I got home Dad was at the store and Grandma was picking vegetables in the garden. I went to my room and did my homework. I only had to read a few chapters in our new book and a little bit of math.

When I finished, I remembered I had to write a poem, so I went outside, walked through the woods, and found a tree to sit in to write. Soon the leaves would change color and fall to the ground. I didn’t like fall or winter because I think it’s too cold and you always get sick. And you never feel good.

I decided to write about summer. How everything shines and seems happy. And how everything seems to be okay in the summer. I drew a small apple at the end, it wasn’t very good, but it was best. Mama was the best at drawing things.

Chapter Six: Cancer

Miss Daniels said she loved my poem and hung it on the bulletin board. Alex’s was the best poem though, it was about having chemo. I felt bad for him, he must hurt every day. Grandpa had cancer, that’s how he died. I couldn’t imagine having cancer.

When he came to the back of the room to sit down, I saw a small tear drop from his eye. I tried to make him feel better, “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t imagine-“ then I realized it made him feel worse because I saw more tears drip from his eye.

That night when I went home I told Dad all about it, he didn’t say anything back, but I could tell he cared and was listening.

Chapter Seven: Dream

Every night I pray for Mama, Grandpa and, Alex. I thought about all of them while I lay in bed. I had a little trouble sleeping, but sometime in the night I fell asleep. I had a dream about the night Mama died. It wasn’t raining, it was snowing and we slid off of the road and ran into a tree. I only remember part of it, but I woke up at the end of the dream right before Mama died in the hospital bed. It was sort of like what really happened, Mama lying in the hospital bed that she loved me right before I heard a loud beep. A million tears were running down my face. I couldn’t stand thinking about that.

That day at school Alex and I talked and I guess we became friends. He is really nice. His chemo has gotten worse. He told me that he didn’t feel good. He went home early that day.
When I got home I did my usual routine. For dinner we had green beans from Grandma’s garden, corn bread, chicken and ice tea. The cornbread was chewy, but the green beans were delicious.

I played with Mittens for a while, watching a movie. He fell asleep in my arms. I fell asleep, too because I woke up the next morning lying in my bed.

Chapter Eight: Alex

Alex came back a week after he missed school. He said, “I’m not doing so good, but I wanted to come to school.” Below his eyes he had dark circles and he was pale.

He came to school for a few more weeks, but Miss Daniels told the class that Alex has moved to find a place with a better hospital. I couldn’t help but cry, Alex had been my only friend. I hope he would get better, but what if he didn’t. I was thinking the worst things, but then I realized that things just happen for a reason, like how Mama and Grandpa died. Maybe Alex would get better and live life to the fullest or go to a better place, but I didn’t know what would happen because I can’t make things happen. Everything just has to go along, you can’t control life and if it’s not good you’ll be hurt, sad, and you’d miss what you had, but you would always have the memory and the love. That’s why you need to cherish every moment of your life because your life could end tomorrow or someone you know. Remember every little, happy moment of your life because you could lose all of it in a second. Your tears will drop, the rain will fall, and things might not turn out to be good, but live life and be thankful to have it.

About the Author - In Her Own Words

My name is Peace and I'm 11 years old. I live in Gaston, Indiana and born on February 3rd, 1999. I go to Wes-Del Elementary and I’m in fifth grade. I have two brothers, a sister, and my mom and dad. I have two cats, two dogs, and 3 horses. I love to write poems and stories, I love to be outside, taking pictures, and I love animals. My favorite colors are light blue, lime green, orange and yellow. I also like summer and spring, to draw and paint, do crafts, play volleyball, and read books. I’m inspired to write from reading. I love to write!

About the Author - In Her Mom's Words

I did tell Peace that she should put in her "All about the author" that she has an anxiety disorder called Selective Mutism (SM), but she didn't want to. But, when I asked her if you could write anything you wanted about the author, she said, "Sure." I didn't specifically ask about the SM, but she's a smart girl so I think she knew what I meant by the expression on my face. Maybe this is her way of it not being her, but somebody else to tell her story.

She only uses her voice around us....nobody else. No friends even if they are here (at our home). She has been this way since she was three years old. It seems sad to me, but she seems extremely happy. I know it bothers her because she cries and wants to be normal (like “the other kids” is how she puts it). My heart goes out to her and it is hard to be her mother and watch this daily. My hope is that someday she will be able to use her voice to just have a normal day.....to interact with the kids at school, to voice her opinion, to ask the teacher a question.....it has to be so hard being her. I could not imagine how hard it must be to have not talked to any of my friends at all since the age of 3 and now she is 11...... eight years of being silent. When will the silence end? That is all I really want to know. - Angie, Peace’s mom

Submitted by Shirley Thacker, TC 2007

2010 NWP Indiana Network Retreat

During the last weekend of February, over forty representatives from the six Writing Project sites across Indiana gathered together in Indianapolis for the annual National Writing Project Indiana Network Retreat. Below, you will see a collection of photos featuring IWP Teacher Consultants involved in the weekend's activities.




Left - Tammy Taylor reads a mentor text while leading a teaching demonstration, which featured color-coding of feelings, dialogue, setting description, and action to guide revision.






Above - Shirley Thacker (TC 2007), Heather Poston (TC 2009), Jamie Stapleton (TC 2009), and IWP Co-Director Linda Walker compose letters and postcards to state representatives and senators to encourage support of IWP and NWP.


Right - Jenny Smithson (TC 2003) and Betsy Duckworth (TC 2008) work to set up the "National Writing Project Indiana Network" Community on The Learning Connection website.


Above - Jenny Smithson (TC 2003), Robin Sowder (TC 2002), and D'Anne Ettl (TC 2005) of the Indiana Writing Project participate in a breakout session on Saturday afternoon during the NWP Indiana Network Retreat.