Super School by First Grade Students from Ms. Jones-Clark’s Class at University Prep

Super School

by First Grade Students from Ms. Jones-Clark’s Class

Prep Science & Math

a publication of 826michigan published by blotch books, michigan

Once upon a time, a hairdresser named

Sarah was doing hair in a magical school in the sky. Sarah was a short sheep; she had a special blow dryer and comb she would use on

thick hair, including her own.

Sarah’s elementary school (kindergarten and first grade) was called Super School. It was big and cold because it was in the sky; different kinds of magical birds and airplanes flew all

around. All the students wore special uniforms. Unicrystal, a crystal unicorn who was a student at the school, was playing on a cloud, making hearts with their tail. Baby unicorns rode by on smaller clouds.

Cody, the alien without a face, zoomed over on a rocket ship that looked like a boat shooting out spikes. Cody liked being in outer space more than being in school.

Cody and Unicrystal started running around Super School. They ran so fast they knocked over the gold trophies. The trophies said, “Ouch!”

Sarah came in and sent Unicrystal and Cody to see Principal Nya. Principal Nya asked Cody and Unicrystal why they were running around. Cody and Unicrystal both said, “It was such a nice day, we couldn’t help ourselves!”

Principal Nya understood and told them they could keep running but to be careful. When they left Principal Nya, Cody and Unicrystal helped the trophies up and took them to the doctor to be safe.

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.

AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING

We organize trained volunteer tutors to work with students one-on-one with their homework after school. Homework support is available for all subjects, for students ages 7-18.

AFTER-SCHOOL WRITING LAB

In 2021, we added this program to meet the interest of our many after-school students who wanted to go deeper into the writing process. Through breakout rooms, students are supported by volunteers as they brainstorm, write, revise, share, and publish their writing. Each week we focus on a different habit of writers (such as writers make plans . . . and change them).

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. 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

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. In addition, our online store is always open; visit the Robot Supply Co. at onwardrobots.com. All proceeds from our stores directly fund our free student programming. Onward robots!

WRITING IS

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

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

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