Curriculum Guide

I love to write. But I think that I will learn more. I think the way I want to become a better writer is if I focus. On how to edit writings. Not to make it perfect but better. I want to spell correct words, so maybe that can help me, and I want to be an editor. If I would make a book, if I started my own business, I would have a lot of paperwork to do, so that is why it is so important to learn how to write. —Jayla Canada, Age 10

This book project began with three fourth-grade teachers at Carpenter Elementary in Ann Arbor, who believed in their students’ ideas, and wanted to support and encourage their students to develop their ideas in writing. Writing, like all art, often brings us joy as much as it challenges us—and especially so when we are still learning to write and to catch our thoughts in mid-air as they whiz by. With this in mind, we at 826michigan collaborated with these teachers to adapt a pre-existing program available on 826 Digital called “Write Your Way.” The original “Write Your Way” program curriculum was compiled by 826 National to “engage students in the joy and power of writing” when they write with authentic purpose. Our version adapted the principles of 826 Digital’s twenty-session “Write Your Way” curriculum, with its focus on reflection, connection, creation, and making a difference. Over the course of four sessions per class, we leaned into another meaning of “Write Your Way”: using writing to create a path, and find your way, through all the things happening around you, in your head, and in the world you are a part of. You can try out some of our adapted writing activities here, or visit 826digital.com to download the original materials!

Write Your Way . . . On Earth & Beyond Write your own community story for a real or imagined community. As you saw in the student writing in this book, community stories can come in all shapes and sizes, and can be about many different kinds of communities— in the present, past, and future, real and imaginary, nearby and far away, big and small.

But...community can be hard to explain! Everyone thinks about and experiences community in a different way, even if being part of a community does mean you share something in common.

In these exercises, we will try to explain what a community is by writing about the experiences, stories, feelings, and desires that have connected us to other people. We will have to be really detailed, because we’ll be trying to explain to readers who might have totally different experiences than we do. So, are you up for the challenge? All you need is a pen or pencil to write with, and an extra sheet of paper if you want to write on more pages than the ones we give you here! We'll take you through the steps we used to write community manifestos about the communities that mattered to us.

Manifestos

Part 1: Brainstorming As writers, we need to take time to understand our own ideas before we share them with other readers! Brainstorming is a warm-up for us: we can write our observations, feelings, and thoughts about a community...and we can write it messy! We can use bullet points, short phrases, stories, examples, feelings, and/or even drawings. This will help us map our ideas before trying to organize our ideas into sentences and paragraphs and stories. You can use a chart below to get going, or a blank piece of paper. Think of this part of the writing like a journal or diary entry: it helps us know what’s on our minds!

First, make a list of any community you feel you know well, or that you would like to know well. Look back at the writing in this book for examples of some communities.

Next, pick one community from your list that you’d like to spend more time thinking about. Use the brainstorming prompts to list out, draw, remember, or jot with that community in mind. You can use the blank pages in the back of this book or your own paper. Once you have your ideas down on the page, you can use those ideas to inspire your community story!

A Community You Are Part Of: ___________________________________

Example: The fourth grade at Carpenter Elementary

Read the prompts below Jot, draw, or write a list in response to any of the bullet points that interest you!

What is your experience like in your community?

» Things you do as a member of this community, by yourself or with others » Roles or jobs you have » Interests you share with others » How you feel when you spend time with others in this community

Example: helping collect homework = I feel important and helpful, playing at recess = feel fun and creative

What do you know about the experiences of others in your community?

» People you know in this community » Things these people do in your community (with you, by themselves, or with others) » Any roles they have (you might have to guess or be creative!)

Example: My teacher answers my questions, our principal makes jokes when he visits our class

What experiences do you share with others in your community?

» What you share in common with your community » Things you wish you could share in common with your community » Activities that really make you feel like you’re a part of your community » Activities you wish you could do more often or start doing with your community

Example: We’re all students, I wish I knew more artists and that we went to more museums

Part 2: Writing with a Community Audience in Mind If there’s anything that you want for yourself, it’s very likely that there is someone else who wants that, too. It’s even more likely that that person already shares a community with you! You can share appreciation for your community, and give and receive support for creating a world that you all would want to live in. We wrote manifestos with Carpenter Elementary: a manifesto is a way of writing about the things you value most. Manifesto is related to the word “manifest,” which can have two meanings. “A manifest” is kind of like a list, and “to manifest” something means to make it appear (often in a magical way—like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat). When we look at a “manifesto” we can think of both of these meanings: You list your values and beliefs in a manifesto in order to make your dreams about the kind of world you want to live in appear in reality.

Here’s our recipe for manifesto must-haves:

; Who am I? Tell the reader about yourself! ; How do I feel about my community? Share your emotions to help readers understand why you care! ; I want...What do you want to see happen in your community? Include specific details, examples, or feelings ; I do not want...What is not desirable for your community? Include specific details, examples, or feelings ; Who is my audience? Who do you want to read your manifesto?

A Manifesto Map Write down your answers to these questions one by one, in full sentences. Before you know it, a paragraph will manifest on the page before you!

First, tell your reader about yourself. Who are you? Then, describe one community you are a part of.

✏ How big is it? ✏ What are some things you like about being in this community? ✏ How do you feel when you think about your community? You can use I Do/They Do/We Do as a format for this if you would like!

Then, list what you want in detail.

✏ What things do you enjoy? ✏ What things do you think others in your community would enjoy? ✏ How do you want others in your community to feel?

Then, list what you do not want in detail. Lastly, answer: Who do you hope reads your manifesto?

Sentence Starters We’ve included some sentence starters for exactly that: they can help you get started writing sentences! But, this is not the only way a community story can look. As the writer, you might decide you want to start your sentences differently...or that you don’t want to use full sentences at all and write a poem or make a collage instead. Think about your audience and decide what makes the most sense!

I am _______________________________________________________

I care about ________________________________________ community.

In my community, I like ________________________________________

I want ______________________________________________________

I do not want ________________________________________________

Use the following pages to brainstorm, write out your manifesto, or even draw yourself in your community!

Draw your community here!