It’s National Volunteer Week!

This week is National Volunteer Week, and we want to thank all of the volunteers who make our programs possible. As a small non-profit with big goals, we rely on our many selfless supporters and the time they take to give back to the students who need it most.

From chaperoning field trips to helping students improve their writing, volunteers are an integral part of our mission to create readers for life. In the words of one student, who dedicated his story to the BtB writing mentors, “without them our stories wouldn’t have as much dialogue, detail and imagery.” We know how he feels – without volunteers, our programs wouldn’t have as much one-on-one engagement, or as many opportunities for growth, or such profound connections to the community.

Thank you, from all of us here at BtB.

Writing Mentors help out students at DeWitt Clinton HS

BtB recruited DWC alums to work as writing mentors with Mr. Pultina’s(far left) class.

BtB YEB member Alissa helps out at PS 76 in Harlem.

A BtB writing mentor helps this PS 76 student think hard!

BtB Mentor Brian works with a small group of 10th graders at CHAH.

BtB volunteers chaperoned this fun excursion into Chinatown with third graders at PS 376.

A writing mentor works with 4th graders on their bios.

Another writing mentor helps students begin the revision process.

BtB volunteer encourages and supervises a pair of students learning to use digital cameras.

BtB volunteer helps student look up at architectural details in his neighborhood.

One BtB volunteer per two second grade students on this neighborhood walk!

BtB YEB member Hillary works with 10th graders on their short stories

Field Trip! CS 21 Second Graders Take Architectural Walking Tour

A student points out an architectural detail to author Isabel Hill

Yesterday, CS 21 second graders took a walking tour of their neighborhood in search of architectural gems. Accompanied by Urban Animals author Isabel Hill, the students put their knowledge of architectural terms to the test, and discovered what stories the buildings in their neighborhoods had to tell.

A volunteer supervises her pair as they practice using the camera in the classroom.

The day began with BtB teaching artist Barbara Korein demonstrating how to use digital cameras. After a practice round in the classroom, the students were paired up, matched with a volunteer and a camera, and they were on their way!

The tour stopped at several buildings near the school which Isabel had scoped out; the students took turns photographing architectural details and writing down their observations. The buildings, which most of the students walk by each day, were far more interestingly detailed than they had ever noticed before. Before long, they wanted to stop at each building they passed!

Next up, the students will write polished pieces based on their notes and photographs from today to be compiled into a published book. We can’t wait to see the final project!  Want to come on our next classroom visit?  Sign up to volunteer by emailing volunteer.behindthebook@gmail.com.

Special thanks to the Edelman Community Grant Program for their support!

Matt de la Pena’s Rules for Revision

Yesterday, Matt visited the 10th graders at CHAH for a workshop on revision. Here are some of his tips:

1. Start the story where it really starts. Look at your first few lines and ask: is this where the action starts, or am I warming up to it?

2. The language should be as good as the story itself. Go through your story line by line and revise each until it feels good, rhythmic. Matt revised each line “about 20 times” before his novel We Were Here was finally finished.

3. Slow down during the good parts. Think about telling a friend a particularly juicy story; when you get to the best parts you slow down, you exaggerate the details, you draw out your language just a bit more. Make sure your writing does the same thing.

4. Look at the world through the character’s eyes. What would an artist notice that someone else wouldn’t? What would a loner pick up on? Let your character’s perspective drive the description.

5. Take risks in your endings. “I challenge you to be strange.”

 

Matt de la Pena visits the Community Health Academy of the Heights

One of our coolest ongoing programs is with the three 10th grade classes at the Community Health Academy of the Heights (CHAH) (check out our other programs at CHAH) where students have been reading Matt de la Pena’s novel We Were Here. Written as a series of court-ordered diary entries, the story contemplates self-discovery and self-worth as the narrator, Miguel, tries to sort through his experiences at Juvi, his complicated family relationships, and what life means. Miguel’s frank, unapologetic voice inspired a couple of students to declare Matt “the best author” ever and, with his fantastic ear for character, it’s not hard to see why they think so.

On his first visit, Matt read the students a short story where a man describes his life in just two words: car wreck. Shifting to workshop mode, he asked the students to come up with their own two word descriptions which later became the basis for a short story. Today, Matt returned to the classroom to teach a lesson on revision; we were all excited to see how the student’s tales had evolved from their two-word-seeds.

“My favorite part of the writing process is revision,” Matt explained at the beginning of the lesson. “I revise my work over and over and over again because I know it will exist forever between two covers.”

He stunned the class by adding he revised We Were Here nearly 30 times before it was finally published. He revised his first book, Ball Don’t Lie, over 100 times!

Several brave students volunteered to read their drafts aloud and have them discussed. Matt laid out the workshop protocol: start first with what’s working, pointing to specific moments in the story, before moving on to the parts that need smoothing out. It’s not always easy to have your work on the chopping block, but the 10th graders took his advice seriously and some great workshopping ensued. Matt wrapped up the class with some tips for revision – check back tomorrow to see the whole list! (In the meantime, check out Doreen Rappaport’s Rules for Writing Biography.)

Matt and Mr. Dickhudt’s 10th grade class

Fooling around

 After the official visit, Matt stopped in for a quick hello and book signing with some 7th graders who were eager to meet him.

Thanks from all of us to Matt for a great visit!

Thank You Candlewick Press!

We were completely floored by this incredibly generous donation we received Candlewick Press today: over thirty beautiful picture books! The titles include: Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali by Charles R. Jr Smith and Bryan Collier; The Greatest Liar on Earth by Mark Greenwood and Frane Lessac; Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!: A Sonic Adventure by Wynton Marsalis and Paul Rogers; Happy Like Soccer  by Maribeth Boelts and Lauren Castillo; Ish by Peter H. Reynolds; Make Magic! Do Good! by Dallas Clayton; and The Cuckoo’s Haiku: and Other Birding Poems by Michael J. Rosen and Stan Fellows.

We can’t wait to get these into the hands of the growing community of eager readers in our 5 partner elementary schools! Thank you Candlewick Press!