Nerves strike me on first days. First day of school. First day out of school. First day to meet new people. We met in May at Plaster Student Union. This was the first day of our second open summer institute. Larry, Dawndy, Kristal, Stacy, Gail, Joe, Carolyn, and I met that evening. I kept making Joe run downstairs to check on the pizza, and I began by explaining a little bit about what the National Writing Project is. I put the books Because Writing Matters and Breakthroughs at everyone's seat, and we went over the syllabus and schedule. Both of these are overwhelming, and I worry about that.
We ended the night with a writing. I handed out photocopied chapters from The Observation Deck. The chapters are short. I spread the chapters out like a hand of cards and each person chose one. The assignment was to read and then write using the prompt at the end. We wrote for ten minutes and then stood up to share. I partnered with Dawndy and Kashia. I couldn't believe what I heard! Dawndy wrote a piece about her tapping fingers, a metaphor for the ending of a relationship. Everyone talked and read. Then we sat down and shared ideas for demonstrations.
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5 July 2006
Meeting Minutes
Commentator: Ladi-es and Gentleman, welcome back to DAY TWO at the greatest oval track in the state. The weather has cooperated for another amazing day of racing and writing. The drivers have already arrived and are conferring with their pit crews and warming up their engines.
Now, if you are just tuning in and missed the time trials yesterday, you’d better back up that Tivo and check out the action.
Two competitors, Kari representing MSU and Laura on the Glendale team, arrived early, getting a jumpstart on the competition and tweaking the workspace. Not only did those gals carry a tractor trailer load of tables and chairs from the first to the third floor, they made the coffee, set up the library, arranged the snacks, and burned enough calories to rival a nutri-system weight loss program.
In no time, competitors were strapped into their five point harnesses, helmets in place, and ready to take the track. Kari, after establishing the rules of the contest, led the field out onto the pavement, but not before each passed Barb Gressel’s inspection checklist. Joe, the only MSU employee, required a little additional scrutiny, but after a few subtle adjustments, Gressel waved him onto the field where other drivers were zigzagging and falling into position.
Most folks just don’t realize the intense preparation that takes place before competing this level. Parking permits, registrations, reading and responding to articles. In fact, one participant, a newcomer in the field, Kristal, sponsored by Fair Grove, even postponed her child’s first birthday to be here yesterday.
It was a mixed crowd out there yesterday as experienced writing project crews and newcomers negotiated the blacktop. In the pace car, Kari shifted gears early, establishing a brisk pace around the track and letting the other drivers know exactly what would be expected of them over the course of the next seven days:
1. Every competitor will post a work on the online NWP “E anthology” before the project’s conclusion.
2. Anthology pieces are due next Wednesday and a volunteer is needed to create the cover.
3. An hour of writing is expected every night and will be shared with the luncheon writing group. A copy will be given to Kari at the conclusion of each day.
4. An invitation to participate in book talks was issued.
5. Author’s chair on Thursday or Friday.
Whew. Fans, these drivers are in for a bruising seven-day race. Already we’ve several cars take the lead position. Gail and Kristal jumped away from the pack early in the race by sharing the contents of their boxes a revealing a few surprises. It’s a wonder that Gail—who directs high school plays, chases after a basketball driven son, and hooks rugs—has time to compete at all. And Kristal’s life, which revolves around horses and emergency Ziploc bags of Cheerios, has not inhibited her efforts toward quality instructional practices.
An expected lead change occurred when Stacy, a returning member of the 2005 writing project, presented her demonstration. But she surrendered the lead again as participants discussed Because Writing Matters and Breakthroughs. Dawndy, the official Grammar Cop, brought the fans to their feet as she described the tickets issued to sixth graders for grammar infractions.
Yes, fans, yesterday was a grueling first day of racing that several sent aching athletes home to prepare for DAY TWO.
And here they are, pulling out on the track behind the pace car, each with a Pilot V5 precise pen in hand, ready to write.
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