Nestled between three mountains and straddling a sometimes raging creek, Hiram Falls is a place where everyone thinks they know everyone else. But there are secrets; some are found out and some shouldn't be.
@callmarti ... as far as I know I am not. But I'm honored by the question. I found his stories appealing back in the day. I'm also a big fan of Mark Helprin and Ken Haruf. ... Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
awesome. sorry to hear you are stepping away but I’m sure you have your reasons and just in the 12 years I did it I could see a change for the worse in the classroom.
If you would ever like to try to start something, I’d be happy to talk about what worked and what didn’t for our organization.
But I am going to have a look at it because that In something I would love to do. I’m resigning from my teaching job in May but still want to be involved with kids.
I learned more from that job than any job I ever had. Working with kids to help them write (and to help teachers teach writing better) was illuminating and fun and funny and inspiring. Every day. One year I provided support to a group of four slam poets who called themselves Muslim Girls Making Change and was their chauffeur, coach, encourager as I took them around the state to shake people up. I was gobsmacked by having 2,500 entries for our 6-word contest in which I corralled a group of kids (had to ply them with pizza) to choose six, which we then gave to a kid composer who, under the tutelage of a man who now heads Julliard, composed six one-minute orchestral pieces that were performed by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in shows over two years — kid reads the six-word story, orchestra plays the musical interpretation of that story.
None of which could have been done in a school.
I was blessed. With lonely, creative kids just itching to be heard.
It can be started or done by anyone who is willing to give kids respect and help them find their voice. Please do it.
Wow! Sounds like amazing and fulfilling adventures all around. I agree, the best I’ve done at school is talk to kids and organize lit mags. I would love to pick your brain about it sometime.
Are you Garrison Kyler in disguise?
@callmarti ... as far as I know I am not. But I'm honored by the question. I found his stories appealing back in the day. I'm also a big fan of Mark Helprin and Ken Haruf. ... Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
Because of your post on Medium, I've followed you here. Hope you have lots of success. Very glad to see you, sorry you had to leave M.
thanks Maryan. I knew that and appreciated it.
and thanks!!
Very impressive what you have going on here. Good luck, will definitely support the effort.
Thanks so much, James. I really really appreciate that.
You had me at the Young Writers Project...
wait. were you one of the writers at YWP?
No, I’m an English teacher and love/support all things that nurture young voices.
awesome. sorry to hear you are stepping away but I’m sure you have your reasons and just in the 12 years I did it I could see a change for the worse in the classroom.
If you would ever like to try to start something, I’d be happy to talk about what worked and what didn’t for our organization.
But I am going to have a look at it because that In something I would love to do. I’m resigning from my teaching job in May but still want to be involved with kids.
I learned more from that job than any job I ever had. Working with kids to help them write (and to help teachers teach writing better) was illuminating and fun and funny and inspiring. Every day. One year I provided support to a group of four slam poets who called themselves Muslim Girls Making Change and was their chauffeur, coach, encourager as I took them around the state to shake people up. I was gobsmacked by having 2,500 entries for our 6-word contest in which I corralled a group of kids (had to ply them with pizza) to choose six, which we then gave to a kid composer who, under the tutelage of a man who now heads Julliard, composed six one-minute orchestral pieces that were performed by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra in shows over two years — kid reads the six-word story, orchestra plays the musical interpretation of that story.
None of which could have been done in a school.
I was blessed. With lonely, creative kids just itching to be heard.
It can be started or done by anyone who is willing to give kids respect and help them find their voice. Please do it.
Wow! Sounds like amazing and fulfilling adventures all around. I agree, the best I’ve done at school is talk to kids and organize lit mags. I would love to pick your brain about it sometime.
reach out when you are ready. start small. have a plan. have fun. that was my mantra.
Hi Geoffrey, I will take you up on that! I would love to hear your thoughts on my memoir. I just posted the first installment.