MayaWest Writing Project

Había una vez, en un lugar no muy lejano, un grupo de maestras y maestros a los que les gustaba aprender.  Durante un verano, cada día del mes de junio, se reunieron para compartir sus experiencias de aprendizaje en tan arduo oficio como el de la enseñanza.  He aquí el recuento de uno de esos días en los que reinó el conocimiento y, por supuesto, la diversión.

                Decía Federico García Lorca en su Romance sonámbulo “Verde que te quiero verde…”  De la voz de Mayra escucho estas palabras y pienso: “¿Por qué me habla Mayra de Lorca? No estoy vestida de verde”  De momento me percato y, cual si estuviera en el apartamento del Dr. Bruce Banner, casi todo lo que teníamos disponible para desayuno estaba pintado de este intenso color.  Pensé: “¿Le tocará presentar a Frances Vanessa?”  No me equivoqué; la talentosa maestra de grados primarios de nuestra maravillosa escuela WALKS estaría encargada de dar la primera presentación del día y, para sorpresa de todos nosotros (o al menos para la mía) había preparado un suculento desayuno inspirado en el cuento de Dr. Seuss “Green Eggs and Ham”.  Que conste, nuestro revoltillo carecía de la proteína proveniente de la extremidad porcina, pero no del cariño y la dedicación de la que íbamos a ser testigos más adelante.

                Me desplazo por el salón y siento el mismo ambiente que ha reinado en las pasadas semanas, en las buenas y en las malas: una camaradería incomparable y un deseo de aprender que no se sacia.  En preparación para la jornada diaria, Alma se relaja viendo un video de un nene karateca, y de pronto nos aprestamos a comenzar.  Abimael y Janice no se encuentran con nosotros pues nuestra querida compañera celebró durante este día el inmenso logro de su graduación de maestría.  Enhorabuena, Janice y espero que sirvas de estímulo para que Abi cumpla su sueño de terminar su grado.  Regresando a los asuntos del día, le toca el turno al tan esperado, imitado pero nunca igualado, Peter el Sarcástico de leer su recuento de lo sucedido el día anterior.  Los sesentosos, setentosos y algunos ochentosos no podían más que “irse en el viaje” pagado por aerolíneas Frau, recordando tiempos que no volverán.  En extremo jocoso, pero sin perder la perspectiva (aunque quizás hubiera querido tener alguna sustancia disponible para ayudarlo a escapar un poco de la realidad) reflexionó sobre la dinámica que llevamos a cabo el día anterior con el Girasol, joyceanne, y del impacto que ésta tuvo en cada uno de nosotros.  Todos estamos de acuerdo en que queremos que regrese y disfrutamos mucho de la actividad del Seminario Socrático.  El denominador común de nuestros rostros era nuestra boca abierta; no podíamos creer que Peter Frau se expresara de esa manera tan irreverente, pero con clase.  For the record, Peter, I disliked your comment about us, the trekkies from WALKS, but I still have you in a high place in the MWWP Hall of Fame…

                En conexión con la actividad del día anterior, Ángela reflexiona sobre la capacidad de los estudiantes para conducir la clase y María Echevarría asegura que es importante darle poder a los estudiantes y que se sientan como dueños de su salón y de su trabajo, de esa manera aprenderán a respetar y apreciar el trabajo de sus maestros, que tanto se esfuerzan por educarlos.  Ellen culmina recordándonos sobre el poder que tiene un “position paper” para lograr los cambios que tanto deseamos.  Igualmente, nos pone en aviso para que vayamos pensando en la organización de la antología del proyecto, en donde se publicarán los valiosos trabajos que han brotado de tan intensa

–e inmensa– experiencia.

               

Haciendo honor al “multitasking”, comienzo a hacer mi conversación literaria o “book talk”, según estipulado en el calendario.  Alma, muy gentilmente, me asiste en las labores de escriba, así que lo que les presento está visto con sus ojos pero escrito con mis manos (en este papel, claro está).  Luego de hacer unas anotaciones relacionadas al nuevo estilo de mi cabello, entra (o entro) en la discusión del texto.  Tópicos importantes y escandalosos como las discrepancias entre currículo, maestros y supervisores salen a la luz y no queda más que lamentarse por las similitudes que encontramos con este retrato del sistema educativo estadounidense y el puertorriqueño que, por razones obvias, está modelado según el primero.  La discusión dio paso al cuestionamiento acerca de cuáles son los criterios que se utilizan para premiar una escuela y de la diferencia entre cambio y mejora, siendo la última la más escasa y casi inexistente en gran parte de las escuelas.

                Según Alma, mis manos simulaban el vaivén de las olas en las que se encontraban ustedes flotando, pero encuentro esta imagen muy sutil.  Me gusta más la idea de haber creado una tormenta con esta discusión, ya que es una situación lamentable que merece la atención y los recursos necesarios para que la educación de los niños de nuestro país sea de calidad y no una cortina de humo.  Igualdad y justicia debe ser el estandarte del sistema de educación de todos los países de este planeta al que llamamos Tierra.

                Luego de un merecido (aunque breve) receso, pasa por cada escritorio el conejito de Alicia y nos da un frasco que tiene la capacidad de regresarnos en el tiempo y regresar nuestra edad.  De pronto, cada uno de nosotros, estaba en kínder y llegó nuestra maestra, Frances Vanessa, a leernos el cuento Cat in the Hat, de Dr. Seuss.  La verdad que el gatito ese no me gustó mucho, pero todos los pequeñines del MWWP nos involucramos en la actividad y pudimos expresarnos francamente acerca de lo que haríamos si el miau-miau nos visitara.  La mayoría, jugaría y se divertiría con él sin importar nada: reflejo de la despreocupación, ingenuidad y libertad de la infancia.  Algunos le diríamos que se portara mejor y Alma lo abrazaría aunque le diera alerjia (nótese el error tipográfico, típico de los pequeñines de nuestra edad).  En fin, este ejercicio fue un despliegue de figuras retóricas y nos recordó la importancia de inculcar en los niños el amor por la literatura, en todos los niveles y todas las edades.  De igual forma, debemos, de acuerdo con el nivel del estudiante, explotar el potencial que el texto ofrece, profundizar en su contenido y ampliar la visión presentada, conectándola con otros textos.  No podemos olvidar lo necesario que es la repetición de los textos para que el estudiante se familiarice con su contenido y pueda hacerlo suyo. 

Boing, boing, boing…  El conejito regresa dando saltos, y nos da otro frasco que nos devuelve a la edad que teníamos al principio del día.  “Debes irte a almorzar y tus energías recargar, para que puedas regresar y tu trabajo realizar.” –“Muchas gracias, conejito, por tu amabilidad.  Ahora te haré caso y me iré a almorzar.”  Y así, por una hora, los participantes del MWWP se tomaron un descanso, alimentaron sus cuerpos y se despejaron, por un instante de tan ardua labor.

               

 

Regresamos a la acción.  Después de seleccionar los cuatro participantes para la entrevista de radio, que serán Alma, Peter, Mayra y esta servidora, nuestro puntual cronómetro, es decir, Héctor, se prepara para comenzar su “Book Talk” sobre el libro The Writers Workout Book del escritor Art Peterson.  Varias peculiaridades surgieron, relacionadas con la discusión y con la manera en la que los estudiantes se desempeñan en el salón de clases.  Éstos siempre preguntan por qué necesitan escribir.  Es nuestra labor como maestros de darle las herramientas necesarias, no sólo para que lleven a cabo sus tareas, sino para que sean seres pensantes, que puedan tomar decisiones por ellos mismos.  La escritura no debe ser castigo y debe ser vista como una de las más provechosas oportunidades de aprendizaje ya que les ofrece ocasiones para que refinen sus mentes, sean buenos observadores y documentadores de información.  El estudiante debe tener en cuenta que la escritura es una herramienta muy poderosa que, si se usa adecuadamente, logra sus objetivos.  Los sentimientos son parte importante del proceso de la escritura y como bien puntualiza Mayra, cada cual los percibe de acuerdo a su experiencia personal.

Giro mi cabeza pues noto una presencia conocida en la puerta: era el conejito este de nuevo, y al lado estaba, presto para entrar en acción “Cat in the Hat.” Pensé –“aquí se fastidió todo; el gatito este va a tumbar las computadoras y va a levantar un polvorín que va a desatar la alerjia de Alma.”  Pero no, Cat se quedó afuera y el conejo procedió a darnos una galletita, que nos llevaría más o menos al cuarto grado.  Allí, maestra Madeline, otra de las fabulosas de WALKS, nos daría su clase para enseñarnos a redactar un “Pourquoi tale.”  Zenaida y Peter, diligentemente, leen ejemplos de pourquoi tales, que sirven para enseñarles a los niños el origen de las cosas o el porqué de éstas (pourquoi significa por qué en francés).  Escucho un mosquito zumbando por ahí; me doy cuenta que Wilfredo está entrando en “character”.  Bzzzzzzzzzz…  No solamente viajamos a nuestro pasado, sino que nos llevamos la música de la época.  “Pónmelo ahí que te lo vo’a partir…” decía la pegajosa canción del conjunto Quisqueya, al son de la cual Mayra y Héctor bailaban contentos, e inspiración de nuestra historieta, en la que un coquí oriundo de las tetas de Cayey perdía su colita natatoria, vestigio de su sucinta época de renacuajo.  Aunque todos pensaban que estábamos pasando el rato, creo que creamos una historia autóctona, jocosa y muy interesante.  Hasta podríamos publicarla en la antología…  Previo a la crónica del coquí, escuchamos la hermosa historieta del otro grupo, “Why the San Pedrito Nests on the Ground.”

Hoy me he percatado de muchas cosas: probablemente tengo algún grado de déficit de atención (don’t we all?) pues se me hizo difícil, muy difícil realizar este recuento.  Probablemente parecía que no estaba escribiendo tanto pero mi mente no es tan mala como parece.  Comenzamos el día con un viaje, y durante el transcurso de éste seguimos viajando a través de diversas historias y diferentes perspectivas.  Viajamos a un lugar importante, a nuestro niño interno y sé que cada uno, a su manera, descubrió muchas cosas.  Si tan solo el conejito regresara y nos devolviera nuestra edad…  ¡Conejo malo!

 

Y colorín colorado, este cuento se ha acabado.

A relation of the events of the MayaWest Writing Institute on June 23^rd

By Peter Frau- official scribe. The designation “Official Scribe” means that whatever I say happened happened. Who writes the history? I write the history.

             The day’s seminar started normally enough.       I entered the computer room and I saw the usual crew, Melissa, Hector, Alma, Ángela and Ellen. But then I saw a new body; a bobbing head of flowing harlot red hair. Somehow, in a foreshadowing moment I thought of Arriana, our mysteriously disappeared hippy-Acomrade in arms.

“Hi. I’m Joyce,” said the round face with pale, arresting, blues eyes. She had been introducing herself to everyone, giving them bear hugs.

“Yeah, Peter, this is Joyce,” I heard Ellen say. Was there warning in her voice? Was Ellen trying to convey to me to be on my guard? I wasn’t sure. But it didn’t matter. It was too late. Within seconds, Joyce enveloped my mind. A searing bright light announced that a fundamental shift in my reality had occurred. The ding dong of the gong of the universe had gone dung.  I wasn’t sure if it was some magic, or some drug, or maybe a flashback, But I wasn’t in

Kansas anymore.

At first I thought it must have been a flash back, a re-occurrence of an often hallucinogenic drug experience, triggered by an event or person somehow associated in the subject’s mind to the drug experience. Oh my God! This is what I get for going to all those Grateful Dead concerts without any intention of making it past the parking lot. All of those joyful mushrooms, those techno-color microdots, kool-aid sugar cubes, and Disney blotter were coming back to pay me another visit. If this was a flashback, well, I’ll just sit back and enjoy it.

Joyce’s face was a round sunflower. She rustled with every movement. The yellow petals surrounding her face moved in unified choreography, reflecting excess energy zipping around and around. The seeds composing her face tightened or opened reflecting her every emotion. I wasn’t sure if it was a flashback or if I have been intentionally drugged.

I felt that she willed me to sit down for the round table chat. Suddenly everyone appeared. Melissa convened us to order as she transformed into one of those Hawaiian hula dance dolls with a spring for legs. Twisting back and forth from the waist up, she remarked about the great number of posts we were writing.   By the time she had covered the topic of the invitations for our directors and facilitators to our open house she was only six inches tall and stuck to a blue magnetic base on top of the table. Small as she was she was cunning when it came to winning over our guests with food, and a little writer’s kit of paper pad and yellow pencils.

I looked to my right expecting to find Ángela with her Cat in the Hat grin, but instead there was Wilfredo.

“How’d you do that Wilfredo?” I asked touching him slightly on the shoulder.

“Do what?” he said. He looked strange. There was a small hissing sound. Slowly he began to bob

“What’s happening to me?”

“I think you’re losing your air.” I looked at where I had touched him. I had made a small hole in his plastic skin. Wilfredo was an inflatable doll that slowly sank flat on top of the table as he lost more and more of his air. I heard him mumble so I grabbed him by an ear and peeled his head up.

“Help me, man. I need some air.”

“Naw,” I said as I placed his face back down on the table. “I saw the movie airplane. I’m sorry.”

Someone shouted wanting to know who the time keeper was.

“Hector!,” everyone pointed to him sitting next to me. I looked to my left and there was Hector made into the Lego version of Indiana Jones complete with hat and whip.

“I guess I am,” he said passing his hand over the plastic stubble of his Lego face. “Who’s next?” he asked cracking his whip.

 “That’s me,” said Maria del Carmen Del Valle de Nadie

del National Writing Project. Maria’s face was proud and strong, looking over us from a long wooden neck. She was the biggest, ripest cello I have ever seen. Stradivarius would have a heart attack if he saw her. Pablo Casals would rise from his tomb to play her. All other stringed instruments would sag, turn, and hang their heads at the sight of her. Her arms were two bows and they would move and produce her voice. Her voice was a song for all of those unsung. She sang in Linda Christensen’s voice of a way that the buried voices could speak. It was one of the two most important discussions I heard at the seminar; we must help our students uncover their selves or they will never be able to feel empathy at its most precious. They need to have an “I” before they can have an “I feel for you”.

I still wasn’t sure if I was suffering from a normal benign flashback or if indeed I had been intentionally drugged, until I saw the scribe’s presentation performed by the Walks gang. And I thought I was tripping. These kids were stuck in a Star Trek episode. How geekish can you get. Thinking about it now, I’m not so sure that these kids were under the influence of some hallucinogen or if being delusional are their natural state. While most of us were seriously exploring the previous day’s events, they were role playing to some sound effects tapes.

The effects of the flashback, if that is what it was that I was suffering, could not stop me from perceiving the fact that the Walks gang in their desperation to entertain had no sense of proportion. Politely, in spite of the monstrous boredom we all felt at their performance, we pretended to pay attention to them.  Without warning, the entire Walks gang, as if of a single small mind began to chant repeatedly “Picture- Message. Picture- Message”. This was their summary of Abi’s brilliant book talk of graphic novels? Poor Abi was despondent. The Walks gang continued their “Picture- Message” mantra waving their arms above their heads from side to side. Faster and faster they went until they achieved lift-off. The entire table and fleet of chairs levitated and soared through the air, shrinking as it flew through one of the windows with a small clatter of broken glass. 

“Class. Class,” Janice said, and we all realigned ourselves in front of our computers. As Janice gave her demonstration on a poetry portfolio it occurred to me how very much like a witch she would look if she were dressed in a long black gown like Morticia wore from the

Adams family; and with a wide brimmed pointy hat. Just as I was about to ask her if she was a good witch or a bad witch she gave me a stare that sent me flying into the plastic tube of my Bic pen. Shrunk and flattened into nano thickness I slowly sank to the bottom of the pen as it slowly gyrated on its tip.

“Let’s begin!” she said. And the pen’s ball point began to roll on the paper. With a blip I was extruded from the pen onto the coarse white sheet. The ball point pressed me into the page. I formed the letters “I am a poem”.  There I remained, helpless and immobile, but content that at least I was a poem, until Tito scraped me off the page with a razor blade.  He had Zenaida snort me through a little straw. There I remained inside her nose until she began to twitch, and itch and she sneezed me out, standing straight up, right in front of the microwave. The timing for lunch couldn’t have been better.

I stared at the veins and sinews in my hands for the entire lunch hour. It’s important to be easily entertained.

Joyce Wlodarczyk, still resembling a sunflower, convened the afternoon session. She produced a magical file cover from which she produced sheet after sheet of paper in order to teach us how to formulate essential questions. And she also showed us how to hold a Socratic seminar. This must have been one of the most impressive demonstrations of the summer. But the effect of the flashback or magic mushroom or whatever it was, was wearing off. I was beginning to come down.  One of the last things she expressed was how difficult it can be for a teacher to keep quiet and let the students make sense for themselves. But the last thing she did say was that she would return on Thursday. Would that be too soon to drop again?

Today I arrived early with Hector Matias around 7:45am.  We were surprised to see that the classroom was closed and no one was around.  Then we saw Alma, Janice and Abimael and we talked about the experimental piece that was due for Thursday.  Dr. Caty Mazack saw us waiting on the hallway and finally opened the door, we saw Dr. Ellen Pratts coming in also.  We set up everything on the desk and then someone said breakfast is served.  Some of us ran to get some food.  That’s when I heard laughter coming from the computer room and I heard Peter talking about Mayra’s little friend.  Then Ellen called our attention for eating on the computers.  After that reminder we just ran to the tables to finish breakfast. 

Around 8:50am Abimael and Dr. Pratt began a talk show that seemed like Noti-Uno morning news.  They talked about the things that happened on Wednesday in a very refreshing manner.  After they finished Matias said that it was great, and Peter said that it was a good way to raise the barn.  Dr. Pratt told that she had no preparation for the show, that Abimael gave her that paper a couple of minutes before they began the show.  Abimael was worried because he had lost his inner voice and that he was worried because he does not have a master’s degree.  Angela told him that is good to learn from others and that a master degree does not mean that your better or worse if you don’t have one.  Then Ellen said that she felled in love with our group.  Angela then jumped and said that we reflect what we are for that reason our students love teachers like us.  Aida “todo se vale y se aplica”.  Matias also said that English teachers are a crazy bunch that loves their students.  Ariana then said that Abimael is Ego-based and that he is original that he is not copying from anyone.  Abimael said that he thought about many ways to present his scribe part but then he decided about the radio show. 

Maria Echevarria said that she felt she was exhausted because she had so many things.  Frances said that she froze during the teleconference because it was so much and she went blank for a while.  Angela talked about him, she suffers from ADD from trying to do the fruit.  Roselin said that she thought she was a lemon and that she woke up at 5:00am to finish her piece.  Then Dr. Pratt reminded us this is part of the learning process, we process the information in different ways but we are halfway thru.  Abimael works best under pressure.  Ariana then said something about input, input and then the inner voice comes out.  A week is not enough for writing a piece, we need to go through prewriting, 4 drafts and the final piece.  This is not a one shot deal.  Maria del Valle said that it would be a good idea to send the teacher’s demos by e-mail.

Then Ellen described how she had to sell her soul to begin the MWWP and told us about her disappointment with the administrators.  Especially with a lady named Mayra Borrero, she doubts that the teachers are going to continue in the project if they get paid a lump sum.  Then Dr. Pratt said that she was not going to talk anymore about this and she continued talking about the book talk presentation by Frances Vanessa.  Jennifer then said that she had a present for the fathers in our class.  Angela reminded that it was just a little gift.  She began with Peter, Abimael, Cedrick and Hector.  Let me say thanks again it was great and a wonderful detail from you.  Ariana said also that Abimael is the Puertorican Howard Stern.  Then Tito was sent to get 3 veggie pizzas, 2 cheeses and one pepperoni. 

Meanwhile Frances Vanessa began her book talk Writing Workshops with our youngest writers by Katie Wood Ray and Lisa B. Cleveland.  She explains that anyone can become a writer if we learn the craft of writing.  Young children just need encouragement to express themselves.  Writing is an amazing challenge for younger children and is a huge intellectual work.  Read to them and they will become better writers.  They can make booklets about what they want and after that they will continue improving their work.  Hector told us about a writers group that he had that became storyteller then Janice said that had seventh graders reading to elementary students.  Maria Echevarria replied with the idea that students change from k to 1^st grade because we expect them to be polished writers instead of giving them the time to grow as children.  Frances said, “children’s work is important and they are little authors”.  Angela explains that we can provide sentence starters to draw a story that we need to provide time for them to produce and that reading aloud is necessary for students to listen.  Janice immersion writing emerges from creativity and if the teachers gave students orders that kills creativity.  Maria prewriting for kids in a school is a 50 minute block where they should have a portfolio to show their work.  Alma students write with the heart. 

Then Peter’s demo begins - Using videos to respond to writing.  He explains that he teaches in Maricao and that his students expect to be on welfare when they finish school.  After that he presents a video segment of Sierra Pelada in Brasil where we saw people coming out of a mine taking huge “sacos” of wet dirt.  Zenaida said there should be a better way to ganarse la vida.  Ariana people take chances and work for their dreams.  On the author chair Peter ask us to give him some input about the activity that he presented.  Jennifer “avarice is a sin as the Bible says”, Hector “the Spaniard came to kill the tainos and to take their gold”, Zenaida, “ la isla es el ombligo del mundo”, Wilfredo, “gold reminds him of Mr. T and that in gold we trust because that’s the pinnacle of materialism”.  (Tito said this) Aida continues “no podemos vivir sin el oro, que pena que lleve a la ruina a todo aquel que lo busca”, Mayra, “la avaricia muestra el lado oscuro del ser humano”. Frances, “Sweat, gold teeth, slavery, gold rush, Richie Rich, the Wizard of Oz and the rings when got married a necessary evil.”  Ariana, “gold is survival; gold is destruction is alluring and attractive that’s why she is a silver person”.  Alma, “el oro es esperanza, abundancia, paz y armonia.

Angela and Abimael talked about the way that Spanish sounds and the way that English is understood by us.  Abimael describes that avarice is not good.  Rosemary ¿para que sirve el oro?  El oro no es malo es el hombre el que cambia y se apodera la maldad.  Maria Echevarria, “it is a symbol of a material world, gold by itself is not bad and also not necessary for living”.  Zenaida asks Peter about Mr. Bean and how it works.  Then Peter explains that Mr. Bean helps students to grasp the idea because he is so dumb that students learn from that.  Ellen what is the benefit of having a video without words?  Si fuera una película con palabras estas cambiaran la idea y el significado de lo que se quiere presentar.   Students learn that there are different cultures besides Puerto Rican culture.  Maria Echevarria then compares this type of life with how Puerto Rico was a few generations ago and how it is nowadays.  Then we took a break for lunch, is hard to be hungry and be a scribe. 

After lunch break we moved to room 122.  Everyone was excited it was like being part of the last Indiana Jones movie.  As we got into the dark room we sat and wait until Dr. Rodriguez began talking about what she was going to do.  Her performance P. Americana was breathtaking and I lack words to describe it.  She pour some salt over her face she added olive oil and some vinegar.  The smell was so hard that it invited us to have a salad.  The music beats provided a sense of savage movement.  Then the music pauses and she stabs a watermelon that was between her legs with a knife.  Everything turned dark and then all of us stand and applauded her performance.  Cuando se encendieron las luces todo el mundo estaba  como en shock.  Entonces ella se dirigió al público y explico el significado de todo lo que había hecho.  Fue después de este momento que comenzó el verdadero show.  Ariana presented a sexy banana while Angela performed a papaya.  Frances and the green eyed girl from WALKS presented the tam, tam, tamarindo which was very refreshing and moving.  After that followed Mayra, Maria del Valle, Zenaida, Alma, Jennifer and Rosemary or Roselyn.  Then Hector and Peter with his LEGO shirt.  Abimael stunned us with Isolation. . . Isolation . . . Desolation that’s how you feel when you are abandoned and don’t know where to run.  Wilfredo finishes it up with a piece of a woman revealing how the feminine figure is seen through the eyes of a writer.  We got back to our classroom and talked about the things that we are going to have on Monday and finish by wishing happy father’s day to our classmates and reminding us about breakfast, lunch, etc.  I had to say bye to everyone but I hope you the best of luck and I hope to see you the last day of MWWP.

Take care!           

Narrator: We are aboard the NWPRP Space Voyager. Captain Frances Vanessa is responsible for the W.A.L.K.S. Crew as they navigate their way through what seems to be an ordinary space mission; observe and record segments of oral history of life forms found near and around their own universe.

 

Captain: Good morning ladies.

 

Everyone: Good morning Captain Frances! What’s our mission today?

 

Cap: We are to observe the alien life forms and ez drop onto their daily conversations, take notes on the most important events and report back to the mother ship.

 

Maddy: What’s the purpose of this mission? And, who on the mother ship are we reporting to?

 

C: A purpose? A purpose, you ask? Just because you’re my big sister doesn’t give you the right to question my authority.

 

Maddy: I’m sorry Captain but I learned about PAW and we must always have a purpose and an audience and I was just wondering who we were reporting to Captain.

 

C: Since you put it that way I guess I could disclose this information with my trusted W.A.L.K.S. team. Well, our objective is to report to our superiors Master Commander Ellen and Sergeant Melissa and their close nit crew of the all smiling one Irmaris and of course Lord Tito.

 

E: TITO! TITO! TITO!

 

E: All hale our founding Mothers and Father, who guide us on our writing adventures.

 

C: Ladies, we are coming close to a small planet. Let’s see what we can pick up.

 

Aida: Captain, I hear lots of commotion but I can distinctly hear two male life forms discussing beautiful poetry that they found on the nwp website.

   

C: That’s great Cadet Aida! Is there anything else you can hear?

 

Aida: Well Captain they are also speaking about their frustrations; one of them seems unhappy because he is unable to express his feelings musically through the guitar, but feels content listening to others, he really enjoys listening to “rock melodico”. The other one is suffering from something, Gods only knows but he likes to question authority, this one is a bit rebellious. I hear he wears his earings to work.

 

C: I see what you mean; we should steer away from that one.

 

Aida: Captain you better than anyone should know not to judge a book by its cover. For example this same male life form is deeply in love with his female companion and speaks highly of her and their offspring.

C: Let’s just keeping moving this is far too complicated and we have time issues. I hear Private Hector constantly in my ear piece saying time, time, time…

Alright ladies, anything else from this planet? How about Cadet Maria? Got anything?

 

Maria: Yes, Captain I do hear something about a time keeper but its coming from the planet, apparently they to have a time keeper. He also goes by the name of Hector but this one seems to be A-Wall. He has gone out to speak to his son and the people are desperately awaiting his arrival.

 

C: Why would they be waiting for a time keeper?

 

Maria: The Muse on their planet has a narrative on past events she wishes to read to her people but the people do not want to begin until his arrival. They seem to value his sense of time and authority.

 

C: Well is he back yet? Are they going to start or what?

 

Maria: Oh yes Captain he’s back and the Muse has taken her place. Time has started and she begins to give her very eloquent and unique piece that has everyone deeply engaged.

 

Maddy: CAPTAIN! CAPTAIN! Our vessel is moving away from the planet. It seems some kind of force is pulling us! I believe it’s a BLACKHOLE!

 

C: Alright ladies buckle-up this is going to be a bumpy ride.

 

Maddy: CAPTAIN WHAT DO WE DO?

 

C: The same thing we always do stick our head between our legs and pray.

 

Narrator: As the NWPRP Voyager whirls and twirls its way out through the other side of the blackhole they are met with clear blue skies and they are able to continue on their journey.

 

C: Is everyone ok?

 

E: Yes Captain; but could we break for a cigarette?

 

C: There’s no time for that! We have work to do! Let’s get back to our jobs ladies. Cadet Alma what do you have to report?

 

 

 

 

Alma: We have a very highly energetic being that goes by the name of Angela. This one seems very motivated about writing and continuously snaps her fingers and emphasizes on the importance of Standards and Curriculum. She guides her people into writing in Spanish and English using illustrations to get their thoughts flowing. This Angela person is overly caffeinated and stresses that the writers use nouns, verbs, and adjectives. She’s also very proud to lead those in her community. Angela feels a sense of responsibility to the offspring of her neighbors, friends, and colleagues. It’s very admirable!

 

C: I agree, and it would be nice to come back and visit this one; if we could take her off the coffee!

Ladies, this has been a long morning, why don’t we break for lunch.

 

Narrator: The NWPRP Voyager and its crew break for some spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, salad, roasted chicken, and cheesecake. After lunch they continue onward and come across planet A2Z. The inhabitants of this planet seem very suspicious; let’s see what the crew members have to say.

 

C: Ladies it appears that the beings on planet A2Z our watching us and giving us the evil eye.

 

Maddy: DO WE GET TO FIGHT CAPTAIN?

 

C: No! No! There’s no need for fighting. Jealousy I see in their eyes plus we are ladies and we never fight that’s what are pen and paper is for. This is how we vent our frustrations. We record it for those that follow.

Cadet Maria, what do you got?

 

Maria: It appears to be a book talk about graphic novels.

 

C: Graphic? Ohhhhhh Graphic!

 

Maria: Not that kind of Graphic, sucia!

 

C: Right, you mean illustrated, why didn’t you say so.

 

Maria: Well Captain this very intense male species is quizzing his followers.

            WHAT ARE GRAPHIC NOVELS?

            WHAT’S VISUAL LITERACY?

            WHAT’S CRITICAL THINKING?

YOU! YOU! FINISH, CONTINUE! He says as he points to his followers, apparently they are willing to participate. I guess it’s a cool thing amongst their youngsters to read these novels. We must take note of this and look into later.

 

E: Captain we can hear him to!

 

C: Well what is he saying?

 

E: PICTURES MESSAGE – PICTURES MESSAGE

 

C: What are graphic novels crew?

 

E: PICTURES MESSAGE – PICTURES MESSAGE

 

Maria: Captain, he’s finished with his book talk and ends by asking;

QUESTIONS! – DOUBTS! – COMMENTS! This was followed by applause!

 

C: What a day! Ladies I believe it’s time to head back to the mother ship.

 

Narrator: As the NWPRP enters the Mother Ship’s Port they are met by Sergeant Melissa who reminds them to split into smaller groups to discuss a draft for the infamous Position Paper. A daunting task to some but once doubts have been cleared over and over again it seems very doable as they begin to brainstorm or brainbloom on their ideas.

 

The day ended peacefully and all were filled with joy and excitement for the desperately needed long weekend. We hope you enjoyed our travel through the Universe, until next time I bid you a fare well, and be careful you never know whose watching or listening.   

Dear teachers:

It was almost time. I was patiently waiting for all of you to come. Although everybody wanted me, it seemed like this crew of writers tend to forget how to seduce me. A warning sign at the door transformed every face that read it: Writing time, be silent, think about the power of teaching… Somebody is coming to my rescue so early in the morning? This act of love made me feel really special. I have to understand humans are “easily entertained” when it comes to food as Madeline stated two days ago. Héctor, one of my servants, also known as the “Timekeeper”, is the first one to arrive at the round table with his plate of scrambled eggs. People of little faith, nobody believed a simple and humble man like Abi could’ve done such a delicious breakfast.  I know his heart, he uses me a lot, he’s also one of my servants.
Some of you resisted me, but the Timekeeper was assigned to gather all of you around me. María del Carmen was the scribe of the day. She did a great job at the task, in fact she even got too excited, and included sexual references about some ‘boobs’; but that is another genre that will not be discussed here.
Then, something fantastic happened; this was what I have been waiting for, a “rebellion”. Those who attempt to murder me will be severely punished! All of you came to my rescue as one of my children tried to betray me. The beauty of my manifestation cannot be disgraced by time constraints. Let the artist embellish his piece! All my servants defended me fiercely against Ellen’s suggestions.
Melissa, one of the chosen ones, was so amazed about the posted work on the NWP site, she stayed up until one in the morning. There is no doubt I captivated her. Those of you who have danced with me are celebrating the glory of publishing for the first time.
It was time for the book talk. Peter, one of my precious sons, held my hand as he tried to enlighten you with his wisdom. Some of you did not see the purpose of his movie list. It took you some time to see that all he wanted to do is suggest you to use movies in order to promote writing. Ellen, the other chosen one, worries me.  She couldn’t see this. Have I lost her in her effort to run this Institute according to planned? Themes and plots from movies can model new work from the students, widen their horizons; stimulate their imagination and help proficient students cope with their difficulties in comprehension. Zenaida expressed gratitude for the knowledge that she received. After a while, all my children were suggesting movies to each other. This was so beautiful… it almost made me cry.
Schedule lead you to Mayra, the one who thinks of herself as a plain artist, a plain person. She is so wrong. Her honesty and eloquence, her charming personality and her particular way of changing from formal Spanish to street “Boricua” Spanish is a testimony of her talent and creativity. Alma, my messenger, read the words that I softly whispered to her always attentive ear. Maria and Peter were in the tropical music mode with bombas and congas. Zenaida, the grateful one, again thanked Mayra for the writing activity she offered. Comic Strips are an opportunity to write about anything at any stage of the writing process. They are also fun and entertaining for students. I saw all your work on the comic strips and I felt proud. You, my children, are valuing this moments with me, by my side, taking all that you can from me.
There was a change in the schedule because Alma made a smart proposal. The response groups will be meeting after lunch for the “shitty first drafts”? This is outrageous! Ellen, my chosen one, my loved one, she has betrayed me for the third time today!  How can she refer to our foreplay as “shitty”? She needs to overcome this desert, this time of silence. She needs to get in contact with me again. Rush!
At lunch, some of you recycled breakfast and made it into a lunch. Others decided to go on a field trip at Santillana’s demonstration to “cachetiar” potato salad, “flan” and cornbread.  The Timekeeper took more time to come back, I guess he didn’t want to share. Ellen spotted Abi’s potato salad and hoped that he would share. My beloved child, that potato salad came to you as a gesture of my gratitude for your efforts. Maybe, I thought, all you needed was some comfort food to come back to me.
The afternoon activities began with the response groups. You were fabulous! You let me dance and explore the depths of your mind. You flourished into intellectual minds driven by passion as each one discussed the ideas for the position paper, no longer called “shitty”. Finally, Ellen was alive! She started dancing and singing “I got the power!” originally sang by Snap. This is a weird way to manifest her rebirth; but what the hell! I have her back. I think it was the potato salad I gave her. My prodigious daughter was back in the paths of enlightment.
At the end of the afternoon, Maria del Carmen also presented the Collection Portfolios for Authentic Assessment. Portfolios are one of my favorite playgrounds in the classroom.  They give me the opportunity to present myself and start flirting with the future servants. I strongly recommend that all of you copy this very convincing line she gave you: “The word can’t is not in the dictionary”. This word is venom for me, so try to avoid it at all times. María invited you to write an essay called “What I Do”. The work that Abi, Janice, Melissa, Frances and the successful Mayra interpreted was a glorious way to say goodbye to me yesterday.

Always yours,

The Muse of MWRP at the Author’s Chair
P.S. Jennifer, Alma and Zenaida are secretly planning on getting some “cold ones”. I hope they take me with them!
Scribe: Prof. Janice M. Irizarry Torres
June 18, 2008

To whom it may concern:

It is relevant to everyone involved that for today, I have formally become scribe of this intensive summer institute.  Trying to take the lead I have arrived at 8:28 a.m. to secure the possibility that I can view and try to account every single detail that takes place.  Realizing as I entered the Lab room, I was totaling wrong.  For a change there was a multitude surrounding the new facilities of our improvised “Foodmart,” you name it w