#MdlPwriters

Yes, we were LUCKY.

Matt de la Peña—Newbery-award winning, NYT Bestselling author, all-around great guy—worked with our students for a week...

...but we want we to focus on how to replicate the amazing results + how we maximized Matt's time.

Enrichment Opportunity

• High academic performance / high reading level were NOT prerequisites.
• Interest was #1 indicator.

Reading level is not correlated--should NEVER be correlated--with a capacity to think or discuss ideas.

Collaborations!

Whole School Prep

• Elective for workshop students
• Every student exposed to writing
• Every student participated in art enrichment
• Building a community of readers

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Collaborating with UNC showed our students their own value.

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Collaborating with Matt exposed our students in a meaningful way to an author of color.

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Creative writing needs to be implemented at every level.

Benefits of Creative Writing

• Expression.
• Empowerment.
• Literacy improvement.
• Creativity.
• "Writing is freedom."

Creative writing benefits in action:

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