Happy Publication Day!
The highlight of my summer is publishing an anthology of seventh-grade memoirs
Each spring, I lead a series of hands-on, engaging writing workshops with the seventh-grade students and ELA teachers at Madison Junior School as part of their personal narrative writing unit. Then I spend the summer editing and formatting the students’ stories into an anthology available for their families to purchase.
One of the incredible MJS teachers, who herself is a masterclass in connecting with young writers (and patience!), described what makes the unit unique:
The entire unit is an immersive, transformative experience. It allows all of our young writers to shine, even the self-described reluctant ones, and Ms. Fitz’s coaching makes all the difference. This journey requires students to approach their stories — and those of their peers — with honesty, respect, and thoughtful introspection. It takes courage to put aside one’s outward concerns and show such honesty and vulnerability, especially in the adolescent years.
Ms. Fitz connects with the students in a way that is fun and engaging, while honoring the integrity and value of each student’s story. We are so thankful to Kelly Jean for her continued partnership in this project!
I am thankful to have my summers filled with the unchecked emotions of these young writers who are capturing their first experiences with love and loss and learning how easily their bodies and spirits can break. I have felt the most profound sadness and guilt over both the death of a hamster who overheated after accidentally being left in a hot room and a grandfather who hid his illness, so the shock of his death was accompanied by the regret of shrugging off a goodbye hug on their final visit.
The joy of scoring a goal, making a new friend, or finding a lost pet reminds my middle-aged heart to not only beat but leap. The terror of fire drills, lockdown drills, and one student learning that it wasn’t a drill … and later, the number of students killed by an active shooter in the neighboring high school fills me with shame and rage for how we have failed our children.
In between fixing formatting issues, weeding out typos, and looking up how to correctly spell and capitalize pop culture references, such as a Shiny Goomy, I am constantly struck by these incredible moments of youthful courage:
Imagining a bee going against its instinct to “fly into the darkness” and escape a manufactured trap as a metaphor for overcoming crippling OCD.
Completing the summer’s absolute hardest swimming challenge: The Gold Dolphin.
Sharing how losing a loved one during COVID meant being robbed of a support system right when it was most needed.
Shrieking with the certainty that the sleek and spiraling arc of the Tron tracks at Disney signaled death.
Holding a lost kitty until their two hearts beat in rhythm, knowing that “we found each other.”
Congratulations to the students at Madison Junior School on this year’s anthology: 2024 MJS Seventh Grade: Memories that Make Time Stand Still. The students take great pride in being published authors, and it’s a beautiful way to read and experience their classmates’ stories.
I am grateful to have spent the spring helping them generate story ideas, craft opening hooks, and create closing scenes, and the summer reading how far their final stories have come from those early drafts. My summer’s highlight is hitting the “PUBLISH” button to transform their collective life experiences into a printed anthology that students and their loved ones can hold in their hands.
I wish you all the best as you enter eighth grade!
Along with editing the anthology, I’ve had an exciting time working with rising seniors from Talent Unlimited High School on their college essays through House of SpeakEasy’s SpeakTogether summer program at NYU in partnership with Union Settlement’s College Readiness Program.
Check back next week and this fall for lots more College Essay KJ as we head into the new school year. Please share with the students, guardians, and educators in your life!