Kids as writers + submission deadline!

Hello folks. Tonight we are traveling to the YIC for the Kids as Writers program. We will make modpodged journals and participate in a creative writing activity. The residents will learn about publishing, hear a Teen Ink read aloud, and submit writings for the next issue of What's Up? magazine!

And that's right, today is the deadline for submissions! We can't wait to put Issue 2 together. It will be released on May 6, 2009 both in print and here on the blog. Be sure to check back.

Origami

Hello again!

We're bringing back an older program that we used when we first started visiting the YIC! It's a fun program filled with hands-on activities. At the start of this program, the teens will need to learn to work together in order to complete a group juggling ice breaker.

Some read alouds like One Red Dot by David A. Carter will show the residents the many amazing objects and designs, even 3-D ones, that can be made with paper! This book is too cool, see what's inside here.


After the read alouds, we're passing out origami "how to" books, pulling up chairs, and helping each other figure out how to make animals, water balloons, hearts, and many other fascinating objects from a single square sheet of paper! Residents will learn a bit about this Japenese art form and will listen to authentic Japanese music while folding.

Folktales & Cultures

Hello!

We are ready this week to introduce an improved version of an old program, Folktales & Cultures. On Wednesday, we will be visiting the Youth Intervention Center (YIC) to read Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, an African tale by John Steptoe, and The Red-Ribbon Leprechaun, an Irish folktale. The residents will create and play Mancala, a traditional game that originated in ancient Ethiopia, with simple materials like egg cartons and stones. They will play an Irish memory game as a group that utilizes several Irish and Celtic symbols and their meanings. After learning a little about Saint Patrick and enjoying a treat, the group will look through some selected library books about cultures and their folktales.

I have already received a message from Bryan, the program coordinator at the YIC. Resident's have been submitting their writings for the upcoming issue of What's Up? magazine already! We look forward to reading them this week.

We want to encourage anyone interested to post their writings or upload their artwork onto the blog! Thank you!

Valentines from the teens at the YIC

Hello everyone! We hope you enjoyed reading our first issue of What's Up? Magazine. It was a pleasure to piece together for the teens.

Below are some additional writings by teens at the Youth Intervention Center. They were provided by Scott Feifer, a teacher that conducts two programs at the center, "The Writing Circle" and "People and Stories." These writings were from a Valentines program with "The Writing Circle." Thank you, Scott, for sharing them with us! We hope the readers enjoy them.

Comments and additional Valentines are welcome!

It’s Valentine’s and I feel so empty and weak in my heart. I look at the blocks in my cell, and everything goes dark. Then I think of y’all on my last Valentine’s Day. Then reality hits, and everything else fades away. You guys are the only thing keeping me together, because I know my memories of y’all will last forever. I hope y’all can feel the love I express through this pen and know that you’re just not my family but my best friends. I’m trying not to cry as I write this poem, but this is the only way my love is showing. -James

To A Special Someone!

The moment I saw you and felt that Crazy sensation, I couldn’t help it but tell you that I Love You! -Rodolfo

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Every night I may dream of you

I may love you I don’t know

But you are my mother that I do know

Happy Valentine’s Day

-Paige

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I miss the kids at Garden Spot

I miss the music I listen to.

I miss the concerts

I mostly miss my family and my friends

Mom, I’m sorry. Let me come home.

PLEASE.

-Brad, 15

I thank you for being on my side and not giving up on me and teaching me to be more respectful. I couldn’t do it without you and Maria being on my side. You’ve been like a father to me. In the short time we had, I realized it’s good to take the first step, and I will always remember you and Maria in my stories I tell to my kids. And when you go and get that surgery, I hope you stay strong. -Rachon

This message is for Maria:

Thank you for all you’ve done for me. It means a lot to me because some people never fought for me to be better, and when I do bad you always give me advice to be better and try to do my best. You share a lot of your caring and for me usually I’m sometimes shy around new caseworkers. I think God gave you a gift to work with me, and out of all the caseworkers I’ve had you were simply the best one I ever had. -Rachon

Charles,

I love you more than oreos love cream, more than 7^th graders love to daydream, more than peanut butter loves jelly. You’re best friend and brother, the one who makes my heart laugh when it wants to cry. Happy Valentine’s Day. I’m sending hugs and kisses your way.

Love, Diana

Dear Dad,

I know that sometimes it hurts to love me,

And I’m sorry that I’ve bruised your heart

and made it bleed

I make my amends to you once again.

I miss you, I love you, and I appreciate all that you’ve done.

Thanks for being here and loving me unconditionally.

Happy Valentine’s Day

from your Nana Banana

the passion of love

bursting into flame

is more powerful than death

stronger than the grave

Love cannot be drowned

by oceans or floods

it cannot be bought

no matter what is offered

I love you Kourtney

-Mark

Like the stars in the sky

I am calling to you

from the heavens above

I am looking for you

In the depths of my soul

I will live and breathe for you

sadness dwells inside you

you have nothing to fear

for I will protect you

I can feel your sadness

Let me be sad for you

So you will feel love once again

worry not about life

let me worry for you

you should always love life

for it is a part of you

I’ll be there when you fall

to catch you and say I Love You!

Happy Valentine’s Day Kourtney

-Mark

First Issue Available Online!

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a lovely week. It is certainly springy here in Lancaster! I wanted to let you all know that the first issue of What's Up? Magazine is now available in pdf on this blog. How exciting! Look for present and new issues on the right side where it says "What's Up? Magazines." Take a look and be sure to check back here to write us some comments on what you thought. We would love your feedback! Let's make the next issue a hit!

Whats Up? Magazine - Issue 1

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