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October is a busy month in literacy education, opening with Banned Books Week and closing with Media Literacy Week. And right in the middle is Write Out. Check out ideas and resources for you and your students to get outside and write!‍
It’s Banned Books Week. How are you marking the 41st year of this tradition? Stephen King has this advice, “What I tell kids is, run, don't walk, to the nearest nonschool library or to the local bookstore and get whatever it was that they banned. Read whatever they're trying to keep out of your eyes and your brain because that's exactly what you need to know.”The Write Time archive features authors such as Laurie Halse Anderson, Jerry Craft, Nic Stone, Matt de la Peña, Tiffany Jackson, and Chris Crutcher in conversations that include thoughts on being banned and why representation really matters in our classrooms and libraries. Be sure to check out the newest episode of the Write Time with Don P. Hooper, author of True True, available October 24.
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There's lots of excitement in the air about this year’s Poetry, Prose, and Parks! theme for Write Out 2023. Teachers and Park Rangers from across the country are preparing “sparks” to inspire writing and creating in the out-of-doors. We encourage you to visit parks—local, regional, and/or national—or other public spaces and play with writing outside across different genres. You’ll find sparks featuring simple ideas like Notice Nature … Try a Haiku; Seek a Sit Spot … Compose a 6-Word Story; Create a Connection … Craft a Found Poem (or Story). We have some highlights below, but to be sure you get all the sparks and other resources, be sure to sign up for the Write Out newsletter. It all kicks off October 8.
Intersections Of Poetry, Prose, and Place: A Visit With Birmingham Civil Rights National MonumentThe first week of Write Out features a poet-Ranger team of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument including Alabama State Poet Laureate Ashley Jones, Magic City Festival Earth Poet Nabila Lovelace, and Park Ranger Kat Gardiner. They will share work they have done with youth and community members exploring the intersections of poetry, prose, and place. October 10, 7p ET/4p PT‍
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A Special Write Out Episode of The Write Time featuring Nikki GrimesThe Write Time will “Write Out” by welcoming poet and author Nikki Grimes discussing her new children’s book A Walk in the Woods. She will be interviewed by elementary school teacher Willeena Booker and Park Ranger Maryann Zujewski. Join live and be prepared to write together. October 17, 7p ET/4p PT
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After a joyous summer of virtual travel and writing, the Write Across America writing marathon continues with monthly stops throughout the academic year! In the spirit of the 50th anniversary of the National Writing Project, Write Across America is on a quest to visit all 50 states on its virtual writing marathon. Their next stop, hosted by West Virginia on October 10, may provide just the spark you need to jump-start your own writing during Write Out.
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This year’s U.S. Media Literacy Week runs October 23-27 and celebrates one of the five components of media literacy’s definition each day: Access, Analyze, Evaluate, Create, and Act. Media Literacy Week is free to all with activities for teachers and students.
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Join the WRITE Center for their latest free webinar “What Works in Secondary Writing Instruction: A Meta-Analysis of Writing Treatments for Students in Grades 6-12” where panelists will share results from a new meta-analysis examining the effect of writing treatments for grades 6-12. Led by WRITE Center Co-PI, Steve Graham, the study synthesizes hundreds of studies to answer the question: What works in secondary writing instruction?
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Planning a Year of Argument online course starts October 15th! A year of argument writing immerses young writers in understanding arguments in the world, writing claims, interacting with a range of nonfiction texts, and writing about issues that matter to them and their lives. With support from an NWP Thinking Partner, your will design your own path using rich materials and resources that best fit the skill level of those you serve. This course is packed with a range of instructional resources that can be used as-is or easily adapted for your teaching context.
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If there’s ever been a year for National Writing Project teachers to attend NCTE, this is it. Join your NWP colleagues in Columbus, Ohio, where we’ve reserved space for NWP leaders to spend the day together on Thursday, November 16. Co-hosted by the Buckeye State Network and NWP, we will celebrate NWP in the mid-west and launch the network-wide 50th Anniversary campaign. Then, we’ll continue that celebration with a social Thursday evening. There are NWP-hosted sessions throughout the conference, culminating with an NWP brunch featuring our very own founding mother, Mary Ann Smith. Register before October 11 for early-bird prices.
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This fall the Write Now Teacher Studio is buzzing with activity. Besides the many activities listed above, every day there’s great conversation. In case you’ve missed them, here are a few conversations you could jump into. Join For Free Today
In the Everyday Advocacy group Sarah Hochstetler shared their newest episode of a feature they call “Teacher Chat.” In this episode Terry Stout Anderson discusses how to find support to build a culturally relevant and responsive literature curriculum.
In Bookclubbers, Elyse Eidman-Aadahl invited discussion of two books (Celeste Ng's Our Missing Hearts and Zadie Smith's The Fraud.) Feel free to stop by and drop some thoughts and/or suggest other books you’d like to talk about.
If, though, you are looking for some recommendations for professional reading, you might rather check out this post.
