hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh i i i i i i i i i i A PUBLICATION OF 826MICHIGAN PUBLISHED BY BLOTCH BOOKS, MICHIGAN Written by Ms. Spinelli’s Class Grizzly Learning Camp A Way Home from Dragon World
Once upon a time in lived two human eleven years old. Their and Kayla. They were Dragon World, and the wereNow,dragons.dragons didn’t World. One day after a
1 in Dragon World there twins who were Their names were Nayla the only humans in the rest of the residents always rule Dragon volcano erupted, the
dragons took over the still there today, and the lava from it. Don’t worry is far away from the village dragons live. The village and is near the ocean where fish for food. There are for the wind dragons, and all of the other dragons. in Dragon World that leads to the deep dark woods.
2 village. The volcano is the fi re dragons drink worry though, the volcano village where the village has green grass, where some dragons are houses in the trees and ground houses for dragons. There is a big path leads from the village woods.
Nayla and Kayla are Dragon World. They were after the big volcano erupted, being raised by dragons. painted the twins’ faces like dragons too. The cave in belongs to the evil, slimy grows bigger and bigger day the volcano erupted, was actually trying to more humans, but no one
3 the only humans in were found in a cave erupted, and are now dragons. The dragons faces so they would look cave they were found slimy blob monster that bigger in the dark. On the erupted, the blob monster help the twins fi nd one believed him.
The twins were living World but also missed their and wanted to fi nd them twins wandered into the see if they could fi nd some blob monster. They were afraid but also excited, had warned them about but they also know that will have answers for them.
living happily in Dragon their human family them again. One day, the the deep, dark forest to some answers from the were feeling a little excited, because the dragons about the blob monster, that the blob monster them.
4
When they meet the ask him if he knows a blob monster says “yes.” that way,” he points. forest. Make a right, a home. You will know you’re see other humans. Stop way home and swim for the dragon paint off of is safe.”
“It’s
“Through the left, and then you are you’re home when you Stop by the lake on your for a little bit to wash of your face. The forest
5 blob monster, they way back home. The “yes.”points.
The twins set off on their sudden, the dragons come sky and see the two twins water and washing their “Did you go to the blob in fear. The dragons want with them in Dragon World, that the blob monster could dangerous. The blob monster mean to the dragons in “the blob monster was nice,
6 their journey. All of a come flying up in the twins playing in the their dragon face paint off. blob monster?” They ask want the twins to stay World, and they knew could be mean and monster has only been in the past. Nayla says nice, and he told us
the way back home.” The will help you fi nd your dragons let the twins ride they fly back to their homes
7 The dragons say “we your way home.” The ride on their backs as homes in Ypsilanti. The End
IN-SCHOOL PROJECTS
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 o er all of our core programming virtually.
SCHOOLWORK SUPPORT
WORKSHOPS
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.
We o er 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 o er is our weekly Wee-bots program for elementary-aged writers.
e 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.
ONLINE LEARNING LAB
inspires school-aged students to volunteers in their communities. Our writing and tutoring programs uphold a culture of creativity strong habits of mind. rough publication and community enthusiastic audience for their writing.
write with skill and con dence in collaboration with adult creativity and imagination and support students in establishing community engagement, we provide students with an authentic and FIELD TRIPS
OUR STORES Our Robot Supply Co. stores are one-stop shops for robots, robot owners, and enthusiasts alike. ey are designed to inspire creativity and bring awareness of our programs to the community. Come visit the Ann Arbor Robot Supply Co. at 115 East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor and, hopefully again soon at the Detroit Robot Supply Co. at 1351 Winder Street in Eastern Market in Detroit. 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!
Students come as a class to our writing lab to join a group of volunteers, interns, and sta 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 eld trips always end in a nished publication of original writing that students take home.
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
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
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.
FIRST US EDITION — WRITTEN, DESIGNED, AND DIGITIZED IN MICHIGAN, THE UNITED
Copyright © 2022 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. All papers used by Drs. T & G Blotch are slightly moldy and therefore should be kept in a cool, dry place. Please save this book for when you are older.
OF AMERICA BLOTCH 826MICHIGAN.ORGBOOKS
Library of Congress Catalog Information has been applied for. A Dewey Decimal has not.
hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh i i i i i i i i i i
— STATES