If I Were You by 826michigan

If I Were You

Advice from Students for Students

826michigan Staff

Megan Shuchman, Executive Director

Kinyel Friday, Operations Director

Megan Gilson, Program Manager

Denise Ervin, Program Manager

Amy Sumerton, Development & Communications Manager

Eli Sparkman, Volunteer & Program Coordinator

Diamond Sharpe, Program & Volunteer Administrative Assistant

Alexa Carlozzi, Retail Administrative Assistant

826michigan Board of Directors

Maria Montoya, President & Secretary

Holly Hunt, Treasurer

Christopher Ankney

Abby Fanelli

James A. Hiller

Tanya Line

Denice Olson

Danté Richmond

Patti Wheeler

826michigan gratefully recognizes the incredible generosity of its Board, individual funders—including our recurring givers, our “Hero Bots”—and foundation and corporate partners that make its work possible in providing free quality writing programs to the students of southeastern Michigan. In particular, we wish to acknowledge: the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Detroit Arts Support, Domino’s, EOTECH, the Flagstar Foundation, Galens Medical, the Hawkins Project, the Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Foundation, the May Family Foundation, the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, the Michigan Humanities Council, Skillman Foundation, the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, the United Way of Southeast Michigan, Warby Parker, and Zingerman’s Mail Order.

Design by Jessica Pace.

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.

By purchasing this book, you are helping 826michigan continue to offer free student programs. For more information, please visit: 826michigan.org

Advice

from Ms. Shawanibin’s Class

Dear 826,

I got home from school yesterday and there was a giant squid in my living room. How do you care for a giant squid?! Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

Squidney DEAR SQUIDNEY,

First, you should call 911—that will get you to pest control or the police. If they don’t answer, you can pick up the squid with a GIANT shovel. Squids are pretty heavy, so you might want to get a forklift to load it in a pickup truck.

Then, have the pickup truck fill with water to take the squid to the ocean.

Next, you should think: “how should I carry a squid into the ocean?” after getting it to the beach.

Last, find a way to get it to Hawaii with the other giant squids. You can use an airplane, but if it doesn’t fit in an airplane, you can find a giant cannon that can blast it to the ocean. Keep the squid in water so it doesn’t die!

Sincerely,

MS. SHAWANIBIN’S CLASS

Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class

If

I Were You Group Inklings

Dear 826,

I’ve recently discovered a secret room in my house and it’s completely empty. What should I do with it?

Sincerely,

Quintin Q. Quackenbush

DEAR

QUINTIN W. QUACKENBUSH,

First, you should put a giant projector screen on the wall and a projector in the room.

Then, get a mini fridge and fill it with soda. Also put cake, pizza, and a pretzel machine in there. You will also need a popcorn machine and a microwave.

Next, get two king-sized beds so that you can watch movies with your friends. Put the beds together.

Last, invite friends over to watch football and movies with you. We suggest The Hunger Games! And maybe Hamilton.

Sincerely,

GROUP 1

Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class

Dear 826,

My house is definitely haunted, but no one in my family believes me. What should I do?

Sincerely, Buster Ghosts

DEAR BUSTER GHOSTS,

First, you should leave your house.

Then, you could try to take a picture of the ghost through the window and show it to your room.

Next, you can both get in your car and also call ghost busters.

Last, the ghost busters can set a trap for the ghost and bait it with chocolate chip bread. Then they can suck the ghost into their ghost-sucker machine.

Sincerely,

GROUP 2

Dear 826,

Everything 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?

Sincerely, Cheezed Out

DEAR CHEEZED OUT,

First, you should find the source of the cheese touch. You could have touched a powerful cheese that is cursed or radioactive.

Then, you should research who cursed the cheese and find them. Maybe it was a witch or wizard or even a mad scientist who exposed the cheese to radioactive slime.

Next, you should ask them why they made the cheese this way and then make a bargain with them to change your hands back to normal.

Last, you can ask them to change the useful things in your house back to normal, but keep some cheese around for a tasty lunch.

Sincerely,

GROUP 3

Dear 826,

A magical portal has suddenly appeared in my house! Where should I travel to? What should I see? Is there anything I should be concerned about?

Sincerely,

Henry C. Quantumship

DEAR HENRY C. QUANTUMSHIP,

First, gather suppplies for a day at the beach: a bathing suit, sunscreen, floaties, and snacks like Takis, sushi, and slushies. You’ll also need laser eye shark-proof armor.

Then, go through the portal to a beach in Miami or Cali. Call your favorite celebrity to join you. Then, build a titanium capsule castle beach house to protect you from kraken, tsunamis, and sharks with laser eyes.

Next, go swimming! Say hi to George the manta ray. Do the limbo. Then, borrow your favorite celebrity’s credit card. Use it to buy pillows and build a pillow fort in your beach castle.

Last, be sure to watch out for the giant squid, newts, and fish. Go to sleep in your pillow fort.

Sincerely,

GROUP 4

Author Name:

If I Were You:

First,

Then,

And then,

Ms. SHAWANIBIN’S ClASS

About the Author

Illustrate your good advice

inspires school-aged students to write with skill and confidence in collaboration with adult volunteers in their communities.

Our writing 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 programs provide an energizing creative outlet for students and meaningful volunteer opportunities for community members.

WORKSHOPS

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.

IN-SCHOOL PROJECTS

Our trained volunteers go into local public schools to support teachers with their classroom writing assignments. In partnership with the teacher’s curriculum, writing projects range from writing fairy tales to crafting college essays to exploring poetry.

FIELD TRIPS & ROADSHOWS

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 grumpy 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 and roadshows (where we bring our volunteers, interns, and staff to your classroom with a kit full of 826 magic) always end in a finished publication of original writing that students take home.

OUR STORE

Our Robot Supply Co. store is a one-stop shop for robots, robot owners, and enthusiasts alike. It is designed to inspire creativity and bring awareness of our programs to the community. In addition, our online store is always open; visit the Robot Supply Co. at onwardrobots.com. All proceeds from our store directly fund our free student programming. Onward robots!

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 things

We support the ways that writers work (like thinking, sketching, talking)

We 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 other

www.826michigan.org

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.

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.

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 at 826michigan.org!