If I Were You Advice from Students for Students
FIRST EDITION 2022 PRINTED AND BOUND AT 826MICHIGAN MRS. GRAY’S CLASS at GRIZZLY LEARNING CAMP If I Were You Advice From students for students
Copyright © 2022 by 826michigan and Blotch Books. All rights reserved by 826michigan, the many whims of Drs. T & G Blotch, and the authors.
Many thanks to Ypsilanti Community Schools and our volunteers for their participation in this field trip. By purchasing this book, you are helping 826michigan continue to offer free student programs. For more information, please visit: 826michigan.org
As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps of learning occur, we commit to inclusion: We will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, immigration status, military service, or disability.
826michigan Staff
826 National’s Commitment to Inclusion
The views expressed in this book are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of 826michigan. We believe in the power of youth voice and are thrilled that you picked up this book. No part of this book may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher, except for small excerpts for the purposes of review or scholarly study.
Caitlin Koska, Volunteer Manager
Megan Shuchman, Executive Director Catherine Calabro Cavin, Education Director Frances Martin, Operations Director Megan Gilson, Program Manager
Kinyel Friday, Program Coordinator Maya Jain, Programs & Communications Coordinator Paige Bennett, Summer Teaching Artist
Table of Contents If I were you . . . Advice from Mrs. Gray’s Class.............................. 3 If I were you Group Inklings Group 1 .................................................................. 7 Group 2 ................................................................ 8 Group 3 9 If I were you . . . Write Your Own Inklings 12 Acknowledgments ..................................................... 16 Kraken The Code: How to Give Great Advice ....................................... 17 About 826michigan ................................................... 18
vi | Mrs. gray’s class
Advice from Mrs. Gray’s Class
Next, if your friend can come over, you should ask them what they want to do because the guest is always right (sometimes). Then you should do what they want to do, because otherwise you’ll be like your little sister bored and watching TV.
I’m getting REALLY bored at home this summer. I’ve already played with each of my toys a million times, have read all of my books, and my grandma won’t let me be on the computer for more than 30 minutes each day.
Then, ask them if they would like something to eat or drink. I’d recommend a ham sandwich or pizza or water. Last, ask them if they want to go swimming. You can ask your friend’s mom or your grandma to see if they can drive you there. Sincerely, MRS. GRAY’S CLASS
Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 3 Dear 826,
First, you can call your friend’s parent to ask if they can come over. If they can’t come over you can read one of your favorite books again or write your own story.
DEARBoredBenjaminSincerely,BOREDBENJAMIN,
If I Were You Group Inklings
Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 7 Dear 826, A time machine has suddenly appeared in my house! What time should I travel to? What should I see in that time period? Is there anything I should be concerned about?
First, you should think of where you might want to go. Also, make sure there are no dangerous materials. Then, find a friend to go with you and set the coordinates to go to the best year of your life (so far).
Next, make sure you don’t run into your past self because it can mess up the timeline. Then, explore the past. Last, you should go to the present time and keep your trip a secret. Sincerely, GROUP 1
Sincerely,HannibalC.
Quantumship DEAR HANNIBAL C. QUANTUMSHIP,
GHOSTS, First, pretend that you want to move because the house is old and not because it is haunted. Also, because there are spider webs all over the old house. Then, if your family says no to moving you should run away from it. Or, you can pretend that the ghost isn’t there at all. You can also be friends with the ghost and say “what’s up Bob?”
Mrs. gray’s class Dear 826, My house is definitely haunted, but no one in my family believes me. What should I do?
Next, when your parents find out about the ghost, the ghost will hide from them, which is good because as long as your parents are there you will be safe from the ghost. Last, after hiding for many days, the ghost might be ready to talk to your parents. At first, your parents will be scared, but then they will become a family.
8 |
DEARSincerely,BusterGhostsBUSTER
Sincerely, GROUP 2
Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 9 Dear Everything826,
DEARCheezedSincerely,OutCHEEZED
Next, find some gloves and wear them for the rest of your life.
Last, you should go to the doctor and see if there is some kind of surgery or see if the doctor can figure out what is happening. Sincerely, GROUP 3
OUT, First, don’t touch anything and walk somewhere where they can get everything off. Then, try to find a genie bottle and make a wish that if you touch something you wouldn’t actually touch anything.
I touch turns instantly into cheese. At first it was great, but now I miss my books and games, and also, I’m getting sick of the smell of cheddar. What should I do?
10 | Mrs. gray’s class
Write Your Own Inklings
Author Name: If I Were You: Then,First, 12 | Mrs. gray’s class
Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 13 AndNextthen,
About the Author Finally, 14 | Mrs. gray’s class
Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 15 Illustrate your good advice
Kaitlyn Willis Olivia MeganLindsayPerrierToreyGilson Partner Teachers Jennifer Gray
Administration Mark Coscarella,
Field
Supporting Educator Excellence
Acknowledgments Trip Team Grizzly Learning Camp Project Director and
Knowledge (SEEK)
Kraken the Code: HOW TO GIVE GREAT ADVICE Wait to be asked IT’S JUST GOOD MANNERS Tell your story STORIES HELP US REMEMBER Get to the point BE SPECIFIC & KEEP OUR ATTENTION Break it up BABY STEPS! Give it some feeling EMOTIONS HELP US MAKE CONNECTIONS Inspire to action CREATIVITY PLUS MOVEMENT EQUALS IMPROVEMENT Be kind EVERYONE IS DOING THEIR BEST
WORKSHOPS
The program formerly-known as tutoring has been given an updated name, but the same great foundations remain. We organize trained volunteer tutors to work with students one-on-one with their homework after school. Schoolwork Support is available for all subjects, for students ages 8–18.
inspires school-aged students to write with skill and confidence in collaboration with adult volunteers in their Ourcommunities.writing and tutoring programs uphold a culture of creativity and imagination and support students in establishing strong habits of mind. Through publication and community engagement, we provide students with an authentic and enthusiastic audience for their writing.
Our trained volunteers go into local public schools every day to support teachers with their classroom writing assignments. Based on the teacher’s curriculum, assignments range from writing tales to crafting college essays to exploring poetry. FIELD TRIPS Students come as a class to our writing lab to join a group of volunteers, interns, and staff in order to help solve a problem through writing—whether that is our editor Dr. Blotch’s insomnia, our looming story deadline, a mystery in need of solving, or one of the many others we encounter. Our field trips always end in a finished publication of original writing that students take home.
OUR STORES
In the spring of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we quickly transitioned all of our programs online. For the 2020–21 and 2021–22 school years, 826michigan programs remained online. Beginning in Spring 2022, we started moving slowly into engaging with in-person programming, and continue to offer all of our core programming virtually.
Our Robot Supply Co. stores are one-stop shops for robots, robot owners, and enthusiasts alike. They are designed to inspire creativity and bring awareness of our programs to the community. Please visit us online at onwardrobots.com. All proceeds from our stores directly fund our free student programming. Onward robots!
IN-SCHOOL PROJECTS
We offer a number of free workshops taught by professional artists, writers, and our talented volunteers. From comic books to screenplays, bookmaking to radio, our wide variety of workshops are perfect for writers of all ages and interests. One of the most popular workshops we offer is our weekly Wee-bots program for elementary-aged writers.
ONLINE LEARNING LAB
SCHOOLWORK SUPPORT
WRITING IS A way to figure things out by ourselves A way to help us connect to our world A way to help us learn who we are and who we will become A way for us to use our power to make changes and build a better world We create a safe place to be ourselves and try new Wethingssupport the ways that writers work (like thinking, sketching, Wetalking)study the writing we want to do so we can try it We learn how to change our writing for genre, audience, and purpose We work with a group of writers who help and support each www.826michigan.orgother
As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps in learning happen, we commit ourselves to inclusion: we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, military service, or disability.
826 National was inspired to take a stand on issues of inclusion and diversity in light of the many events that spotlighted social and racial injustices throughout the country. We as educators, volunteers, and caring adults need to be aware of the wide range of issues our students face on a day-to-day basis. We need to support these young people as they navigate through and try to make sense of the world and their own identities. We need the support and the feedback from our community to ensure 826 is living up to these standards.
Through our inclusion statement, our internal diversity and inclusion group, cultural competency resources provided to staff and volunteers, and partnerships with other organizations, we are always working towards being a more inclusive and supportive organization. We at 826 have the privilege of working with the next generation of scholars, teachers, doctors, artists, lawyers, and writers. It's our job to make sure they are able to take their own stands.
The 826 National network is committed to encouraging youth to express themselves and to use the written word to effectively do so. We encourage our students to write, take chances, make decisions, and finish what they start. And 826 strives to do this in an environment free from discrimination and exclusion.
by Gerald Richards, CEO
826michigan inspires school-aged students to write with skill and confidence in collaboration with adult volunteers in their communities. Find out more 826michigan.org!at
