If I Were You: Advice from the Pheasants—Mr. Fenton’s 3rd/4th Grade Class

If I Were You Advice from the Pheasants— They’re the Best

If I Were You Advice from the Pheasants— They’re the Best

Mr. Fenton’s 3rd/4th Grade Class at The James & Grace Lee Boggs School

FIRST EDITION 2022 AN 826MICHIGAN DIGITAL PUBLICATION

826 National’s Commitment to Inclusion 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 Judy Tipton, Development Director

Catherine Calabro Cavin, Education Director

Frances Martin, Operations Director Megan Gilson, Program Manager

Michael Spaeth, Development & Communications Coordinator Caitlin Koska, Volunteer Coordinator

Maya Jain, After-school Program Coordinator

Kinyel Friday, Field Trip Program Coordinator

Copyright © 2022 by 826michigan and Blotch Books.

All rights reserved by 826michigan, the many whims of Drs. T & G Blotch, and the authors.

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.

Many thanks to The James and Grace Lee Boggs School 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

Table of Contents If I were you . . .

Advice from The Pheasants Class. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

If I were you Group Inklings Group 1

................................................................. 7

Group 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Group 3

...............................................................

11

If I were you . . .

Write Your Own Inklings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Acknowledgments.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Kraken The Code: How to Give Great Advice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 About 826michigan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Advice from The Pheasants Class

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, First, ask an adult what the room is for—don’t use it if it is dangerous!

Then, make a plan for what the room should be.

Next, ask yourself what rooms you already have to figure out what room you want.

Last, ask yourself what furniture you want in the room and then use the room!

Sincerely, THE PHEASANTS CLASS

Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 3

If I Were You Group Inklings

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, we become Ghostbusters.

Then, we get some cameras (if our parents don’t believe us) and show them proof the house is haunted. Bait them to the basement. If they still don’t believe us, show our parents the ghosts.

Next, we should move houses or burn it down. We should call the Ghostbusters so they could bust the ghost and buy another house.

Last, they could buy a disco ball and gym, and celebrate in the room and play soccer.

Sincerely, GROUP 1

Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 7

8 | Mr. Fenton’s 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 install at least 13 security cameras in every hallway in the house. There should be some cameras inside and outside, and in the front and back. They should be in your room, the living room, and the dining room. Some walls in buildings are hollow. Put some security cameras in the hollow walls. If the ghosts go through there, an alarm will go off and spray them with water.

You also need bodyguards and an army of black cats. The cats are going to be somewhere just to see the ghosts. They’re gonna be all throughout the house. A bunch of scratchy cats, like dogs, will jump, bite, and scratch. You have to be careful with them.

Then, get someone who knows how to deal with it and also look around the house. If you think it’s haunted, look in the places where you think the ghost might be hiding. Sometimes, it’s family members playing a trick on you. Sometimes, it’s the power going out, and that makes the lights flicker.

Next, if it’s actually ghosts, I think you should check everywhere. But since ghosts can hide in the walls, you should get a new house. Usually, haunted houses are made of wood and they have creepy candles and black cats. The black cats don’t give you bad luck. They’re just very cute!

Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 9

Lastly, you should get a black cat so you can hear the cat just in case the ghost “woos.” If the ghost says, “Woo,” the cat will meow and lead you to where the ghosts are. If the cats can’t see the ghosts, the security cameras can alert them to where the ghosts are!

Sincerely, GROUP 2

10 | Mr. Fenton’s ClASS

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?

Sincerely, Hannibal C. Quantumship

DEAR HANNIBAL, First, check with an adult, or if someone else is around because of the time machine.

Then, stock up on food materials and prepare to time travel with a professional.

Next, go to the future in 2099!

Lastly, maybe go see Spider-Man 2099, to try and get his powers. Get bitten, possibly by a spider or a mix of a spider and a bat. Finally, stay in the future and become another Spider-Man.

Sincerely, GROUP 3

Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 11

12 | Mr. Fenton’s ClASS

Write Your Own Inklings

Author Name: If I Were You: First,

Then,

14 | Mr. Fenton’s ClASS

Next

And then,

Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 15

Finally,

About the Author

16 | Mr. Fenton’s ClASS

Illustrate your good advice Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 17

Acknowledgments 826michigan Publications Team

Jessica Pace, Designer/Illustrator A Shaikh, Publications Intern Robyn Charles, Publications Editor

Fieldtrip Volunteers

Allie Beach Elena Chambers Charlotte Moore Mediha Rovcanin Anna Scott Kaitlyn Willis

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

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

Our 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.

ONLINE LEARNING LAB

For the 2021–22 school year, our programs remain virtual. When is it safe to return to our in-person programs, we plan to continue to offer virtual program opportunities as well!

SCHOOLWORK SUPPORT

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.

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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 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.

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WRITING IS

A way to figure things out by ourselves

We create a safe place to be ourselves and try new things We support the ways that writers work (like thinking, sketching, talking)

A way to help us connect to our world

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

A way to help us learn who we are and who we will become

We work with a group of writers who help and support each other

A way for us to use our power to make changes and build a better world

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!