The Writing Center at 826 Valencia
On Wednesday March 6, 2013, third graders from Oakland’s Melrose Leadership Academy traveled to 826 Valencia in San Francisco. MLA students attended 826 Valencia’s interactive Screenplay program, which is similar to the popular Storytelling and Bookmaking program the students attended last year.
On Tuesday, workshop leader Jami Johnson collaborated with Melrose students to create “The Stolen Ice Cream.” Students practice their writing skills developing characters and story concepts. Before the students voted on their title, the students set the story, “Deep in space on planet Banana Split.” With the “Setting” decided, students chose characters.
Characters were identified by protagonist sidekick and antagonist. The students named these characters Agent Cheese, Agent Doggy and The Foot. For the story, the students learned how to add actions to the script. AGENT CHEESE (stamps his foot) …
Kavitha Lotun, who helped as the group’s typist, encouraged the students to expand their story. Kavitha typed the first part of the story and each student completed their own conclusion.
Four possible titles were nominated for the screenplay’s title. Students chose The Stolen Ice Cream overwhelmingly. This is a pretty good title for the age group. Third graders love ice cream; stealing is dramatic. I want to know who stole the ice cream and I do not eat ice cream. (or steal… really, I don’t.)
Each student wrote their own conclusion. Several adults from 826 Valencia helped. (Peter Hockaday, Amanda Meth, Gloria Lenhart, Joey Bien-Kahn, David Becker, Sukhraj Sihota and Artist Sietske Tjallingii helped) Melrose parents also helped students. When the students finished writing their conclusion, the Melrose Leadership group walked to Mission Delores Park for lunch. One adult picked up the finished books on the way back to BART and and Oakland.
See more photos from the Melrose Leadership Academy field trip to 826 Valencia Writers Project at this link.
A flash slideshow is also available here.
MLA is a K-8 OUSD school with a dual immersion program (MLA se a convertido en una escuela K-8 con un programa de inmersión dual.)
Josette Johnson, Lee Keenan, and Tina Proia are MLA parents who attended the field trip. Who am I missing? How did the students choose Planet Banana Split?
Josette Johnson, Lee Keenan, and Tina Proia are MLA parents who attended the field trip. Who am I missing? How did the students choose Planet Banana Split?
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I spent must of the time chatting with Natalia Lopez-Whitaker. Maybe she can recall.
I spent must of the time chatting with Natalia Lopez-Whitaker. Maybe she can recall.
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Emily Boswell Wenzler Did the second graders also visit 826 Valencia ?
Emily Boswell Wenzler Did the second graders also visit 826 Valencia ?
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yes they did bryan. we went last monday.
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I hope the second graders enjoyed themselves as much as my daughter enjoyed herself. It is a great field trip. Thank you for taking our students to 826 Valencia.
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What a cute story! I wish I could have been a student. Too much fun!
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The 2nd graders had a blast! They loved creating the story and interacting with the staff and volunteers at 826 Valencia. I was super impressed!
Emily Boswell Wenzler said:
The 2nd graders had a blast! They loved creating the story and interacting with the staff and volunteers at 826 Valencia. I was super impressed!
at 4:27 pm on March 19, 2013
[Comment imported from Bryan Farley Photography]