If I Were You Advice from Students for Students
If I Were You Advice From students for students
Ms. King’s Fourth-Grade Class at Bates Academy
FIRST EDITION 2021 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 Dr. Naimah Wade, Executive Director
Judy Tipton, Development Director
Catherine Calabro Cavin, Education Director
Frances Martin, Operations Director Megan Gilson, Program Manager
Ariel Kaplowitz-Hahn, Volunteer Engagement Associate Josi Evingas, Development Associate
Copyright © 2021 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 Bates Academy, Detroit, 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 Ms. King’s Class. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
If I were you Group Inklings Group 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Group 2
.................................................................8
Group 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Group 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
If I were you . . . Write Your Own Inklings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Kraken The Code: How to Give Great Advice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 About 826michigan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
vi | Ms. King’s ClASS
Advice from Ms. King’s Class
Dear 826, I’m getting really bored being stuck at home during quarantine. 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 or more than 30 minutes each day. What should I do? Sincerely, Quarantina
DEAR QUARANTINA, First, you should go outside and play with family, brother, sister, or friends. Then, you should play games like Roblox, Just Dance, chess, Friday Night Funkin’, Sims Four, or Fortnite. You could even make your own board game. Next, I recommend you get a job, dance, go to a pool, work out, write your own book, make slime, or do yoga. Last, you should watch TV or find a movie. You could always clean, draw, nap, or just sit and stay bored.
Sincerely, MS. KING’S CLASS
Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 3
If I Were You Group Inklings
I’ve heard rumors that the principal at my school is actually an alien. In fact, he even told my class he has a spaceship! How should I deal with an alien running our school? Sincerely, Spaced Out
DEAR SPACED OUT, First, be aware when the principal comes to you and be looking at him. Watch to see what he does alone to decide if he is a dangerous alien. If he is a dangerous alien, you may not want to go to school anymore. Then, take the principal to the hospital to check if he is an alien. Next, you might be scared and it might be weird, but if he’s an alien it could be cool! Last, stay calm, don’t freak out—you do NOT want the alien to come after you. Tell the alien, “Where is the real principal?” Hopefully, they didn’t eat the principal or kidnap him.
Sincerely, ALYSSA, ZSABETTA, MEG, AND ARI
Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 7
My birthday is coming up, but because of COVID, I can’t have the party I was dreaming of. How can I still celebrate my birthday? Sincerely, Fiesta Waitsforever
DEAR FIESTA WAITSFOREVER, We have suggestions for how you can celebrate your birthday. I’m an expert in celebrating birthdays. I’ve had two quarantine birthdays during the past year. First, you should have a Zoom birthday party or go out to dinner! At the Zoom party, you can play Kahoot on what you know about the birthday person, or could do activities like playing Roblox or watching a movie on someone’s shared screen. These are great ways to celebrate! Then, you should have a small birthday party at the park with your family. You can invite your friends, just make sure you don’t touch each other. Next, you should have a birthday party in your backyard with just your family. At the party, you could watch a movie outside on a projector screen. You can also eat some popcorn! Last, you should eat strawberry cake with strawberry ice cream. And, at least if you can’t have a birthday party at all, you know you’re still getting tall! You can also still get presents from the mail! Or, for your birthday you could also spend some alone time without anyone bothering you— especially if you have younger siblings.
Sincerely, GROUP 2 8 | Ms. King’s ClASS
Our advice request is: My moon cats escaped from my basement lair, how do I get them to come back? Blotch, Dr. Blotch
DEAR DR. BLOTCH, First, you could try using something to attract them back to your lair. Maybe they have a favorite food you could use, like moon sauce! It tastes like fish and the moon! If they don’t come back, then try looking for them outside during a full moon. They might like a place where they can see the moon. Next, I would recommend calling their names–if you gave them names. Lastly, shine a projector of the moon in the sky to lure them back to the lair, like the Batman symbol.
Sincerely, GROUP 3
Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 9
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 will try to communicate with the ghost. You might find out that they’re trying to steal your Oreos and mess up your chess game, so they’re a bad ghost! You might want to talk to the ghost and figure out why they’re there–maybe the ghost needs a home. Then, you should try to shoot the ghost with a paintball gun to try and show the ghost with paint. You might be able to trick the ghost by making a deal with the ghost or by pretending you’re an angel. Next, you should make a team. You can call friends, other people with ghost problems, Casper the Ghost, Ghostbusters, and Skid and Pump, who like spooky things. You can also flash your flashlight around the house to see the ghost’s shadow. Last, you should get the team together and try to confront the ghost in front of your family. You will all sing “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands!” so that the ghost will give itself up.
Sincerely, GROUP 4
10 | Ms. King’s ClASS
Illustrate your good advice Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 11
12 | Ms. King’s ClASS
Write Your Own Inklings
Author Name: If I Were You: First,
Then,
14 | Ms. King’s ClASS
Next
And then,
Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 15
Finally,
About the Author
16 | Ms. King’s ClASS
Illustrate your good advice Inklings from the most spectacular Squids in Class | 17
Acknowledgments 826michigan Publications Team Jessica Pace, Designer/Illustrator MaKenzee Van Buren, Publications Intern Robyn Charles, Publications Editor
Fieldtrip Volunteers
Charlotte Moore Analise Doorhy Kristen Marani Caitlin Koska Alexa Weinberg Jillian Dunlay Mikaela Trowbridge
Partner Teachers
Stacy Kings, 4th-grade teacher
The School Staff and Administration David Bailey, Principal
Sarah Bigelow Yursa Mahmood Libby Flower MaKenzee Van Buren Hailee Zahreddine Michelle Ascrizzi
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. Our programs provide an energizing creative outlet for students and meaningful volunteer opportunities for community members.
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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
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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!
