The Scary Draligator

ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i D r a y r l a i g c S a e t o h r T ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i Ms. Birgbauer’s Class, Summer 2020 ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg Written by

University Prep—Ellen Thompson Campus A PUBLICATION OF 826MICHIGAN PUBLISHED BY BLOTCH BOOKS, MICHIGAN

Once upon a

time, there was a draligator. A draligator is a half dragon, half alligator and looks really scary. She has long legs and really sharp teeth. She was walking home from a

nasty duck pond that smelled like garbage and you could hear bubbles going glub glub. At the pond there were some nasty, sticky ducks.

All of a sudden, as the draligator was walking home, there

1

was a bear! The draligator got scared and started to run.

At first it seemed that the bear was running away from the draligator, but then it started to chase her. The bear gets really close to the draligator and starts chomping

at her tail. The draligator starts to run even faster and they both fall into a pit. The draligator starts chomping at the bear and the bear starts fighting back.

Then the bear has an idea! The bear starts to play dead and the draligator tries to

2

climb out of the pit.

The draligator makes it out of the pit and she goes home safely.

When she gets home, she hears a knock on her door. It’s the bear! The bear has a gift for her—it’s some cupcake fish.

They decide to stop fighting and hug. The

draligator learns that she can use her scary image to protect herself, but she should also be careful not to scare other people.

The End.

3

inspires school-aged students to volunteers in their communities.

Our writing and tutoring programs uphold a culture of cre strong habits of mind. Through publication and communit enthusiastic audience for their writing.

Our programs provide an energizing creative outlet for stud members.

ONLINE LEARNING LAB

For the 2020–21 school year, our programs will 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.

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 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.

write with skill and confidence in collaboration with adult

eativity and imagination and support students in establishing ty engagement, we provide students with an authentic and

dents and meaningful volunteer opportunities for community 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. Please visit us online at onwardrobots.com.

All proceeds from our stores directly fund our free student programming. Onward robots!

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

ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg i ggggggggggg Copyright © 2020

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.

Library of Congress Catalog Information has been applied for. A Dewey Decimal has not.

— FIRST US EDITION —

WRITTEN, DESIGNED, AND DIGITIZED IN MICHIGAN, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BLOTCH BOOKS 826MICHIGAN.ORG