Mobius Science Center

"Energy creates. Energy propels. Energy transforms. E=MSC."

Mobius Science Center (MSC), where free exploration of all things electronic, scientific, and wondrous is not only allowed, but encouraged. Expected to open for business on August 3, 2012, the official grand opening of this up-and-coming science museum is scheduled to happen sometime in early September. That's when the throngs of brooding high school students, science enthusiasts, and childlike parents will converge on Mobius. Why, you ask?

Uh, because of the Robotic Surgery station, of course. Complete with medical highlights, a one-a-kind interface, and role-play opportunities, this automaton creation will give even R2-D2 a run for his money. Not impressed yet? How about practicin' your jump shot at the Jump Time station. Show off your game, photograph that soon-to-be-famous action pose, and check out the scoreboard.

MSC will be featuring 75 various types of interactive exhibits, and more than 150 activity stations. Visitors of all ages can be sure that something will captivate their minds, exercise problem-solving skills, and create everlasting memories that will keep them coming back for more.

Located at 811 West Main Avenue in Spokane, Washington (right across from the Riverfront Mall), you can call 509.443.5669 for more information on Mobius Science Center, Mobius Kids Children's Museum, or Mobius Spokane in general. Sign up for memberships, summer camps, outreach programs, or learn about the scholarships offered.

Children's Workshop With Claire Rudolf Murphy

Claire Rudolf Murphy will be holding a children's workshop and reading for the Get Lit! Festival at Auntie's Bookstore. 

Claire Rudolf Murphy grew up with a love of books and history. As a writer she carries that enthusiasm to the books as she writes. Most of her thirteen books are about times in history that are overlooked, including her newest work, Marching With Aunt Susan, which examines the woman's movement in the late 1800's and focuses on how women were not allowed to do things, like hiking.  


The workshop is open to all kids ages 8 and up!


What: Kids Workshop and Reading with Claire Rudolf Murphy 
Where: Auntie's Bookstore (402 W. Main Ave., Spokane)
When: Saturday, April 14 2012 11:00 AM
Cost: FREE!
More Information: 
Visit Get Lit!

Join Get Lit! at First Night

Get Lit! Programs is proud to participate in First Night Spokane, the city's family-friendly New Year's Eve extravaganza. You can find us at Auntie's Books at River Park Square (on the 2nd floor), where we'll be featuring two fantastic local authors, as well as providing supplies and direction for you to make your own bookmarks!

Well-known (and adored) authors Kelly Milner Halls and Beth Cooley will both read from their latest work. Kelly Milner Halls writes primarily nonfiction for children, including Saving the Baghdad Zoo and In Search of Sasquatch. Beth Cooley writes fiction for young adults, as well as poetry and literary criticism. Her two novels are Shelter and Ostrich Eye. Each author will read from their work and would be happy to answer questions, sign your copy of their book or chat about writing.

The event will last from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Auntie's at the Square. You will need a First Night button to attend this event, but kids 10 and under gain free admission to all of the First Night events. More information on First Night and how to obtain a button can be found here.

The readings will begin at 7 p.m., but stop in any time to create your own bookmark, write a poem using word magnets or simply browse Auntie's great selection of books.

See you at First Night!

Sometimes the Story Finds You

Each year we ask some of our festival authors to offer up some wisdom on writing. Suzanne Morgan Williams, author of Bull Rider, shares her thoughts on the writing process as well as the importance of people sharing their stories with each other.

Sometimes the story finds you. I’ve been giving revision workshops lately and the first thing I ask writers is “What is your book really about?” The fact is, during that first draft, I never know and I suspect that’s true for others too. So it’s an important question. Until you answer it, your work can’t sing. What starts out as a conflict, say between a cautious mom and her son who wants to be a bull rider, ends up being about loyalty and empowerment and family resiliency. Oh, and about two brothers – one, Cam, who now doesn’t want to be a bull rider and another, Ben, who was a bull rider until he was blown up by an IED in Iraq.

This was not the story I set out to write when I began Bull Rider. I didn’t want to write about war injuries. But my son-in-law was in the service and the war in Iraq was heating up and I just kept thinking about this other brother in the O’Mara family and what he might be doing if he were a Marine. Cam’s story was changing to include Ben and Ben was demanding equal space on the pages. So that’s what Bull Rider was really about: the consequences and sacrifice of war and the strength of one fictitious family. It just took me a while to realize it.

I think the best books come from the writer’s emotional experience and the questions he’s grappling with if not directly from his or her physical experience. That’s what gives a book heart. That’s when you can answer that question, “What’s your book really about?” And those books can open conversations. They allow others who’ve maybe had that physical experience to access their own emotions. Or they let those who haven’t been through the book’s conflict to practice – what would they do? How would they feel? In the case of Bull Rider, it was also my honor to learn from real stories – from the blogs of wounded soldiers to the stories of my father-in-law who landed at Anzio beach and fought through Italy and Germany during World War II. My husband said his father never talked much about the war and when he finally told me this story in 2006, I understood why. So much loss. “Did you like Italy?” I asked him. “There wasn’t much left to see.” That and the numbers from his unit – 90 percent dead, wounded or missing – pretty much summed it up.

My father-in-law was 86 when we talked. He died last week. I treasure the memories he shared and put them into Bull Rider. But how many years did he not say anything? Who could understand losing nine of every ten of your buddies? What price did he pay to not bring that pain home to his family? The story in Bull Rider found me. I’m not a veteran and I’m not from a military family, although we’ve become one since our daughter’s marriage. I am a good listener. I listened to myself. Then I listened to so many stories. It is my honor to share a little bit of what I learned. I hope it opens a conversation.

For a list of books about the military experience and military families that are good reads for kids aged 7 through high school visit her website and open Veterans, then Books.

If you are interested in hearing more, come to see Suzanne's reading during the Get Lit! Festival at Auntie's Bookstore on April 16 from 1-1:45pm. She is also leading a workshop for ages 10 and up from 9:30-11 am on Saturday at the Riverpoint Campus. Both events are free!

Happy Friday

Happy Friday! Check out this great post by Melina over at Bark, on the importance of young adult and children's book writers.

"The whole event made me remember the squirming, secretive feeling of reading as a kid, the way the world of the book continued far out of the bounds of the book itself– I would be writing in the before and after and in-between scenes in my head while I was brushing my teeth in the morning and sitting bored and confused in math class. I would read while walking from my room to the dinner table and while climbing the stairs up to bed. And for some reason it seemed like this book-grip was the usual experience of reading for me, as opposed to now when it’s a rare and beautiful exception.

I’m sure I am not original in what I described above. But I do think in recent years I forgot the specific incomparability of what it felt like to read as a kid. And how much all that early absorption of alternate universes made me want to write. In some ways, I think good Young Adult writers are the most influential artists in our culture."

http://thebarking.com/2010/11/you-might-have-forgotten-from-where-you-remember-that/

A New Auntie's Bookstore Location!

Auntie's Bookstore is expanding to Riverpark Square!

Remember where Children's Corner bookstore used to be? Auntie's has signed a three-year lease for a space on the second floor, just before the skybridge to Macy's.

The new Auntie's location will feature a variety of books and they will also have small gift items like t-shirts available for sale. While still to be determined, the books will most likely include a mixture of fiction, non-fiction, children's literature, magazines and more. And the new store will of course offer the same friendly, knowledgeable staff we've become accustomed to.

Auntie's owner, Chris O'Harra, envisions this location will reach out not only to visitors to Spokane who wouldn't necessarily stumble on the Main location, but also to casual mall shoppers who might otherwise choose a national chain bookstore.

As of now, Auntie's is aiming to be in the space this summer. Wow! Keep an eye out and drop by the new location to say hello!

Want an Author at Your School?

It's that time of year again: time to sign up for a Writer-in-Residence at your school!

Get Lit!'s Writers-in-Residence Program pairs authors with K-12 schools in and around Spokane. The author works with three classrooms for an hour a week each, guiding discussions in literature and generating enthusiasm for writing. Since 2004, over 1,000 young writers have worked with a writer in residence, and each year they produce a Young Writers Anthology. Here is a poem from student Jacob Olsen at Lidgerwood Elementary from the 2009-2010 school year:

I Stopped a Volcano

I lived next to a volcano
and I was cooking
a saber-toothed tiger.
Before I took the first bite
the volcano erupted. All of the dinosaurs
were killed. I tried to stop it
but I fell in the volcano.
The volcano spit me out
and I was OK.
I stopped the volcano.
Then I called Yo-Yo my pet pterodactyl
and Yo-Yo picked me up with his legs
then I climbed on his back.
We flew away and my food
was burned from the volcano.

Here's another, by student Titus May at Lidgerwood Elementary:

Shiny Trumpet

My dad played a shiny new trumpet
in a band
he was really amazing
he played rock tunes
everyone loved him
I wanted to play it
but my grandpa sold it
for money
I miss that trumpet

The program also allows classroom teachers to develop new strategies to teach writing and literature, and the writers in residence leave behind their lesson plans so that other teachers can benefit from them as well.

Students from the WiR class at Barker Alternative School

From Momo Lesky:

Going For Now

walk me to the bus stop
high beams on in the dark cloudy rainy night
four wheeled vehicles race down the black tar river
from green to red, here's our chance to scamper across the road
the back cotton balls of sky let down wet cold tears
bright beamed and moaning like a woman in labor
the bus has come to take me home


There are a number of different options available. Your school can choose to have a Writer in Residence at your school for 26 weeks, 10 weeks, or a special field trip event.

Parents, teachers, students-have your school participate! For more information, look here for Options & Fees.

InRoads Release Party!

EWU's Writers in the Community program will present its annual collection of creative writing from students across the city, InRoads. The release party will be held at the Empyrean Coffeehouse on June 3rd from 6-8 p.m. This is a free event and open to the public.

The students who contributed to the collection range from age 8 to 18, and this year's collection includes poetry and stories from Crosswalk Teen Center, Airway Heights, Havermale HS, LC, Wilson Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Mead, North Central, Central Valley, ESD's NET Program, and many others.

In addition to the InRoads release, the event will also feature student films from the subVERSive Poetry Project. The subVERSive Poetry Project is a partnership with nonprofit Tincan and made possible by an EWU Student Diversity Grant. The films---from Garry Middle School, Medicine Wheel, Crosswalk, the SAC School, and Barker High School (ONE OF OUR WRITERS-IN-RESIDENCE SCHOOLS)---combine poetry, video production and social consciousness. Students are responsible for all the writing and filming, guided along the way by poetry and film experts.

Copies of InRoads will be available for $7 each (free to teachers and published contributors). T-shirts will be available for $6 each.

Have questions? Contact: Brandon Getz, Director of WITC, witc@eagles.ewu.edu

Youth Summer Reading and Writing Camps!

Now that the weather seems to be finally warming up, we're breaking out our flip-flops and starting to think about what to do this summer! Of course, there are a ton of options, but we'd like to spotlight some youth camps related to reading, writing, and storytelling. So when your child says in the third week of summer, "I'm tired of going to the pool," you can pull one of these out of your pocket:

The Corbin Art Center hosts a variety of classes, workshops, and camps for all ages:

Fun From A-Z - (registration number 11920)
Ages: 3 Yrs. to 5
Dates: July 5-July 9
Time: 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Fee: $27.00
For a week, let's create from the alphabet! Each day you will select several letters from the alphabet to include in fun art projects.

Creative Theater & Storytelling Camp (registration number 11982)
Ages: 6 Yrs. to 11 Yrs.
Dates: June 28-July 2
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fees: $104.00
Description: This is a one week camp with an innovative mix of interactive storytelling and role playing activities, games and prop, costume and mask making, is lots of fun and focuses on teaching skills in communication and concentration. Students assume the roles of characters and collaborate to tell stories in fantasy literature.

Character and Plot Development - (registration number 13737)
Ages: 14 Yrs. and over
Date: July 1
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Fee: $15.00
Description: This one day workshop is lead by Stephanie Splater. Strong fiction is driven by dynamic characters and enticing plots. Sharpen your skills in these key aspects of fiction writing with activities and discussions geared toward writing fiction that will sell. Bring your current work in progress (or writing samples will be provided) and something to write with.

Writing Fiction - (registration number 13735)
Ages: 14 Yrs. and over
Dates: Tuesdays July 6-July 27
Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Fee: $49.00
Description: Teens and adults are welcome to work with Neal Peters for a whole month of creative writing. Love to write, but feel intimidated to write a full-length novel? Feel the impulse, but never finish writing a story? Here's help to become your own editor and explore ways to finish projects. Topics include writing beginnings, middles, and ends, character construction and plotting. Bring a composition book and pen or pencil.

Pre-registration is required! For a list of the different classes, workshops and summer camps, go here. For general information on the Corbin Art Center, go here or visit spokaneparks.org.

Coeur d’Alene Arts Commission also offers multiple summer classes, but this one is particularly interesting to us:

Book Arts

Ages: grade levels 4-7
Dates: July 13, 14, 15
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Fee: $30
At: Harding Family Center, 411 N. 15th., Coeur d’Alene
Description: Share Sharalee Howard's love of books and art. For the last nine years she has been learning about, creating, teaching, and selling hand bound books. This class will explore a variety of bookbinding techniques.

For more information and to register, visit cdaid.org or call (208) 676-9132.

Saint George’s School offers Summer Camp classes to kids in the community:

Writing Workshop

Ages: grades K-2
Dates: August 16 to 20
Time: TBA
Fee: $125-$150
Complete course description is yet to be announced, but the class follows the primary writing program—words.


Stories Alive - Reader's Theater
Ages: grades 3-6 (and possibly younger)
Dates: June 21 to 25
Time: 9:00 am to Noon
Fee: $150
Words will come alive as you learn to create scripts from stories, poems and your own original work. You will learn about acting, directing and taking a character from the page to the stage. The week will culminate in a performance for friends and family showcasing your work as a writer and actor!

Registration Deadline is May 28. For more information, click here or call 466-1636 ext. 400


Central Valley School District offers the following to enhance reading and writing development:

Ages: elementary students, grades 1-2 or 3-5
Dates: Monday – Thursday June 23 – July 22 (No classes July 5)
Time: session from 8am – noon
At: Broadway Elementary
Fee: $150 per student (scholarships available)
Description: Elementary students in need of additional skill and strategy development in reading and math will benefit from Summer School 2010. Students will work in small groups.

Early Reading and Literacy for grades 1 and 2
A balanced approach to literacy and math is provided to help students become successful learners. Students will work on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development and reading comprehension.

Intermediate Literacy for grades 3, 4 and 5
A balanced literacy framework forms the basis for this class. This includes fluency (recognizing new words and reading with ease) and comprehension (making connections between what a student hears and reads and then using thinking strategies effectively). Students will also gain experience writing for different purposes and audiences.

Ages: middle school students, grades 6-8
Dates: Monday – Thursday June 23 – July 22 (No classes July 5)
Time: session from 7:45 – 9:45 a.m. or session 2 from 10 a.m. – noon
At: Central Valley High School
Fee: $75 per session (scholarships available)
Description: Middle school students in need of additional skill and strategy development in reading and writing will benefit from Summer School 2010. Each session is designed to meet the needs of struggling students who would benefit from additional academic support. Teachers will develop a Student Learning Plan that addresses specific learning targets for each student. Each class will provide whole group, small group and individual instruction with a maximum class size of 15 students. Reading/Writing: Students in this class will work on strategies to build reading fluency, comprehension and writing skills using both fiction and nonfiction texts.

These classes are open to all students. For more information on these and high school related summer classes related to language arts click here, visit cvsd.org, or call 228-5400

Upcoming Readings for Kids

Here is a sampling of children's book readings happening in May and June!




Superhero Storytime: Reading from Superhero School by Aaron Reynolds & Andy Rash. Comic book lovers should stop by before Spokane Comicon to get inspired to draw some comics of their own! Saturday May 22, 11 a.m., Auntie's Bookstore

Colors of the Rainbow: Hear colorful stories read and make a cool mosaic light catcher.
Saturday May 29, 11 a.m., Auntie's Bookstore

Father's Day event, Storytime, crafts and treats revolving around good ol' Dad!
Saturday June 19, 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble, Eastside Location

Weekly Children's storytime, includes a reading and treats. 11 a.m. June 5, 19 and 26 (all Saturdays) Barnes & Noble, Eastside Location.
Clifford the Big Red Dog will be visiting! At the B&N children's stage and available for photos.
Saturday June 26, 11 a.m. Barnes & Noble, Eastside Location

Also, it seems like most bookstores in town will be having an event on June 12 to celebrate the release of Toy Story 3. For younger children, the corresponding book is already available at Auntie's Bookstore.

Last but definitely not least, all of the Spokane Public Library locations have preschool and toddler storytimes on a weekly basis. They recommend toddler storytime for 18-36 months and preschool storytime for ages 3-5. Check here for your local branch's schedule.


For More Information:

Auntie's Bookstore Events
Barnes & Noble Event Calendar
Borders Events

Page Ahead: View From the Judge's Table by Guest Blogger Cecelia Goodnow

Get Lit! Programs is once again working with Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program at our annual festival. This year we are hosting a book drive to gather new books for children up to age 12. You can drop off books at any Numerica Credit Union branch, at the INB Performing Arts Center, or any festival event during the month of April.

Get Lit! was also asked to participate in judging for the first Page Ahead Book Award. The categories were picture books in nonfiction, read-aloud, and multicultural. I learned about snowflakes and the boy who actually invented television and discovered many great titles to add to my collection. Each one had something to offer, so it was hard to choose the winners. Below is an insider's look at our book discussion by guest blogger Cecilia Goodnow.

"Does anyone have any thoughts about the next category?"

Susan Waller, development coordinator for the Page Ahead, scanned the faces of the judges ranged around the conference table high above downtown Seattle. We were there to select the winners of Page Ahead's Best Books for Kids, the literacy group's inaugural children's book contest.

I bit. With the confidence of conviction, I pulled my favorite multicultural book from the stack of nominees and argued its merits.

"Clearly," I concluded, "this is the standout title in the category."

A head nodded, and I prepared to take a victory lap. But then another judge spoke up:

"I hated that book."

"I did, too," said another.

Huh?

It was a graphic demonstration of what we all know in the abstract -- that reading tastes are highly personal and individualistic. They also can be quite passionate, as we learned from fellow judge Cecilia McGowen, head children's librarian of the King County Library System. McGowen, who has served on other awards committees, said tears and angry words can spill out in the heat of rhetorical battle. She even heard of one disagreement that was punctuated by a slap.

Fortunately, we were a congenial and collegial group, and we had a lot of fun this afternoon discussing the pros and cons of the titles under consideration. It went kind of like this:

Judge A: "I'm sorry none of your favorites was chosen. I don't want you to feel your opinion isn't being heard."

Judge B: (chuckling) "That's okay. It's not about me."

In addition to McGowen and yours truly, the "deciders" included Rene Kirkpatrick, former buyer at All for Kids and now a buyer at Third Place Books; Stephanie Dunnewind, who reviews kids' books for The Seattle Times, and (via speakerphone from Spokane) Dani Ringwald of Get Lit! Programs, which sponsors an annual literary festival. Waller and Jacki Crowther, Page Ahead's book program manager, rounded out the selection committee.

The scene was a 48th-floor conference room inside the Washington Mutual Tower, in the sprawling offices of Perkins Coie, the Northwest's oldest and largest law firm. We had a great view of the misty city and kept ourselves stoked with a tempting array of snacks from Trader Joe's, so it was well nigh impossible to be cranky about anything. And it was all for a good cause.

Page Ahead launched the contest, which is planned as an annual event, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its literacy outreach. Since 1990 the organization has donated some 2 million new books to more than 600,000 low-income and at-risk children. Through its Family Involvement Program, it works to encourage parents to read aloud to their children. In fact, Read-Aloud was one of the categories in this year's contest, along with Nonfiction and Multicultural titles.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in late April, so I can't divulge the outcome of our vote, but I can share the list of nominees. Feel free to jump in with your opinions, pro or con, on the titles we considered.

Nonfiction

Butterflies and Moths, by Nic Bishop

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11, by Brian Floca

The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth, by Kathleen Krull

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder, by Mark Cassino

Boy, Were We Wrong About the Solar System! by Kathleen V. Kudlinski

Read Aloud

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Maybe a Bear Ate It! by Robie Harris

Thunder-Boomer! by Shutta Crum

A Book, by Mordicai Gerstein

The Three Little Tamales, by Eric A. Kimmel

Multicultural

One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference, by Katie Smith Milway

14 Cows for America, by Carmen Agra Deedy

The Beckoning Cat, by Koko Nishizuka

Our Children Can Soar, by Michelle Cook

Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora

Cecelia Goodnow has been writing about children's books for two decades, initially as a reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Her newspaper career has led her to many topics, including education, politics, lifestyle trends, health and pop culture, but some of her most rewarding stories have been about the world of children's books, whose talented creators too often go unsung. Read more about news, reviews, and dialog about books for children and teens from the Cover to Cover blog here.

Poetry Live! Finalists

We are pleased to announce the finalists for Poetry Live!, a special event sponsored by Spokane Civic Theatre and Get Lit!

The finalists’ poems will be read and performed by actors on Saturday, April 17, on the Civic Theatre’s main stage, 1020 N. Howard, at 2 p.m. The cost is a $5 donation, and proceeds will benefit the Spokane Civic Theatre Academy. The winner of the free Academy class will be announced at the event.

The judges read 65 poems by students in grades 2 through 12. The names weren’t on the poems, so they were judged blindly. Sandra Hoskins, coordinator for Poetry Live! said of the submissions, "We’re sorry we can’t include them all in our performance. Thank you for participating in our contest and supporting the arts. Keep writing!"


The Finalists

Aidan Jacobs, Halloween Masks

Ben Read, When I Go To Bed & Opaque as Glass

Brittany Fillmore, Leaves

Christina Fruci, Max (My Step Brother)

Connor Skidmore, Dark Night

Daniel Swartz, Gojira

Hannah Hiscox, Where I'm From

Jadyn Malone, Haiku

Joey Nye, Autumn

Josh Foster, the overgrown trail & through eyes of children

Kaeli Glissmeyer, The Age of Elegance/The Modern Age & My Other Home

Katie Armstrong, Autumn

Mary Anne Gebhart, The room was bleak; Her eyes spoke the truth & The day we bought cinnamon raisin bread

Rashell Coon, Happy is bright yellow

Taylor Ward, The King's Cape

Tyler Skidmore, The Mice in the Wall

Willow Skidmore, Christmas Fairies

Attention Teachers! Clock Hours Available at Festival Events

Get Lit! Programs is showing our love for teachers by offering multiple events during the festival that count for up to six continuing education credit hours. K-12 teachers, librarians and parents can participate in one or all of these events, which range from just 1-2 hours each. Not only do these sessions provide an enjoyable way to get those pesky clock hours taken care of, but also give teachers concrete tools to get their students energized about reading and writing. In our world of Facebook, texting and email, we can't just tell students that reading novels and poetry is fun, we have to prove it, and these events can help you do so.

The sessions appeal to a wide range, so whether you are a kindergarten teacher or your spouse teaches 11th grade AP English, you'll find a discussion worth your while. There will be sign-in sheets at each event and there's no need to pre-register. The cost for obtaining the clock hours from ESD 101 is just $10 for 3-5 hours and $12 for 6 hours. So essentially for $12, you can knock out six continuing education credit hours and attend a few awesome sessions on getting your students excited about reading and writing. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

Here's the breakdown of the different sessions:

Author Janet Wong will lead a workshop open to any K-12 teacher, focusing on the importance of reading aloud in the classroom. She'll discuss how reading aloud can encourage a child's success in literacy and she will also offer suggestions on how to incorporate poetry into the classroom on a daily basis. Friday, April 16, 4:30-6 p.m., EWU Riverpoint, Phase 1 Building, Room 115.


Since 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain's death, one session will focus on celebrating Twain's writing and his influence on American literature. Whether for teachers who have previously taught Twain's works or those who see it looming in the curriculum, this could be a great way to discover a new approach to a novel like Huckleberry Finn. The discussion could spark your own interest in Twain's life or works, give you insight into how your students might relate to the book or perhaps a fellow educator will share how they've successfully engaged their students in Twain's works. Saturday, April 17, 12 p.m.-1pm, Hotel Lusso

For parents and teachers exhausted by trying to keep track of which books should be must-reads for their kids' age, Marilyn Carpenter, a professor of education at EWU, has you covered. She'll be offering a list of the "100+ Best Kids and Young Adult Books," helping teachers, librarians and parents get an idea of which books will engage and excite their students. Saturday, April 17, 12 p.m.-1:00 p.m., Hotel Lusso

In the Classroom Publishing Workshop, teachers can learn how to inspire their students to write, and also how to encourage students to publish their work, whether through a blog, wiki or actual book. Ooligan Press, out of Portland State University, has an upcoming book on classroom publishing, and they'll discuss their philosophy that students who participate in all aspects of the writing and publishing process become more engaged with their own writing. Saturday, April 17, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Hotel Lusso

Last but definitely not least, there will be a Performance Poetry workshop. Geared toward demystifying poetry and getting students energized about poetry, language and writing, the workshop invites both students and teachers to participate. Teachers who'd like their classrooms to join the workshop can even do so via live video-feed rather than transport their students by bus. If you'd like your classroom to participate, just email dringwald@ewu.edu to RSVP, and ESD 101 will help you set up the technical equipment.

For more information on the sessions that qualify for continuing education clock hours, click here.

UPDATE:

Another opportunity for K-12 teachers is coming up March 10 & 11 at Spokane Community College. The Northwest Inland Writing Project is hosting their spring conference, "'Spring Planting: Growing Student Writers." The keynote speaker will be Barry Lane, author of ten books on writing and currently a professor at the University of New Hampshire. He'll be giving a keynote address on the morning of March 10 and March 11, followed by sessions on literacy topics like "Writing in the Digital Age" and "Publishing with Purpose." Lane's address will focus on practical suggestions for teaching writing to students of all ages. For more information, visit: http://www.niwp.org/

Getting Ready for Janet Wong at Get Lit!

Janet Wong loves interacting with her young audience and she provides many opportunities to do just that.

First, she has an excellent blog, where she interacts directly with students. Janet will post one of her poems and invites students from kindergartens to 8th grade to comment and ask questions. Then comes the exciting part: Janet responds! She gives great insight into her writing style, culture, and writing process. Teachers whose students have participated on the blog report that their students discovered a purpose for their writing through their interactions with the poet who responded to their comments, became engaged in the revising and editing process through sharing their poetry and comments, increased their enthusiasm for writing, and engaged in dialogs with students in other schools by posting their writing and discussing each others’ work.

The other way you can prepare for Janet Wong's appearance at the Get Lit! Festival is by downloading a free advanced copy of her book Me and Rolly Maloo by going to the Charlesbridge website and using the username: Charlesbridge, password: ARC. Here you can download not only the book, but discussion and activity guides, as well as enter to win a free classroom visit with Janet Wong via Skype.

If you know any kids who love writing, get them excited about Janet Wong coming to the Get Lit! Festival through her blog and her latest book. These two activities will get them prepared for the Kids Poetry Workshop with Janet on Saturday, April 17 at 9:30am, and Janet Wong's Essence of Childhood reading at 10:45am, both at the Kress Gallery during the Get Lit! Festival. Janet will also be teaching a free workshop for educators about incorporating social-responsibility into reading and writing lesson plans (Friday, April 16 at 4:30pm, EWU Riverpoint Campus). Advanced hardcopies of Me and Rolly Maloo will be available for purchase at the Festival as well.

November 2009 Newsletter

Are you a Lit! Lover?

Get Lit! Programs is proud to bring quality literary programs like Poetry Out Loud, Authors Tour, Writers in Residence, and of course, the Get Lit! Festival to the Inland Northwest. In order to continue this twelve-year-long tradition, we need your help. Become a Lit! Lover and join Eastern Washington University as we engage the Inland Northwest community in a celebration of the written word. To become a Lit! Lover, we are asking for a pledge between $50 and $100, plus a commitment that you will tell two friends who might match your donation to Get Lit! Programs. EWU’s College of Arts and Letters hopes for many more years of community arts engagement through programs like Get Lit! Thank you so much for considering a pledge. Any amount,large or small, is a great help.

2010 Festival Authors
Get Lit! Programs is thrilled to announce some of our headliners for the 2010 Get Lit! Festival, including Richard Russo, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Empire Falls, and fiction writer Janet Fitch, most famously known as the author of Oprah's book club novel White Oleander. Dr. Reza Aslan, internationally acclaimed scholar of religions, will be here to discuss religion’s role in contemporary global conflict. Award-winning performance poet, Patricia Smith will join local jazz musicians for an evening of jazz poetry. For our younger readers, children’s author Janet Wong will read her poetry-laced stories and Victor Lodato, acclaimed playwright and Guggenheim Fellow, will read from his first novel Mathilda Savitch for young adults. The Festival will also feature thirty other local and regional authors, panel discussion, contests and workshops for al ages and genres. Mark your calendar for April 14-21, 2010 and don’t miss out!

Bring Authors Tour to Your School

Since 2003, Get Lit! Programs has brought published authors into K-12 schools in the Inland Northwest. Carefully chosen for their quality publications, genuine passion for writing, and energetic approach to working with youth, participating authors bring engaging programs into schools where many students have never met a “real author.” During their daylong visits, authors strive to give students and teachers a concrete, joyous, oh-my-gosh experience with literature. Check our authors available this year and bring an author to your school!

October Newsletter

Online Literary Events Calendar!
Ever heard about a local reading a day too late? Did you miss out on David Sedaris at Auntie’s or Robert Hass at Gonzaga? Want to find something educational and FUN to take the kids to? Get Lit! Programs is here to help. In addition to information about our own events and programs, the Get Lit! website features the literary events calendar with events and programs in our region. We post book signing, poetry slams, lectures, story times, and more. Most of it is FREE. So go ahead and bookmark our calendar. We update it all the time! And if you organize events in the area and would like us to include them, email information to us at getlit@ewu.edu.

Poetry Out Loud!
Get Lit! Programs is the regional coordinator of Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation contest for high school students. Students memorize and perform classic and contemporary poems, bringing the written word to life. After classroom and school competitions, contestants can move on to the regional, state, and national competitions. With cash prizes and book stipends for schools, Poetry Out Loud is an exciting way to introduce students to poetry. Schools can register for free online until November 18th. If you have any questions, email Daniel Harrington at poetryoutloud509@gmail.com.

Calling All Book Clubs!
The 2010 Get Lit! Festival will be coming around before we know it (April 14th-21st) and we want to give book clubbers an inside peak at our author lineup. Remember, Auntie’s Bookstore will give your club a 15% discount if your club is registered with them. So send us an email at getlit@ewu.edu telling us who you are and what your focus is and we’ll let you know what authors you can expect to see in April so you can read ahead.


Watch for 2010 updates on our website: www.ewu.edu/getlit


Sneak Peak for Next Month:
• Bring Authors Tour to Your School!
• Some of the 2010 Get Lit! Festival Authors Announced!
• Are you a Lit! Lover?

Brain Food

Get Lit! Programs supports literacy and the arts year-round through educational outreach. This week one of our partners, Page Ahead, has a tasty, easy way for you to get involved!


On September 24th, Page Ahead will host Spokane's third annual “Dish Up Literacy” event. That Thursday, restaurants across Spokane will support local kids by donating a portion of the day's proceeds to Page Ahead. Dish Up Literacy is a delicious community event that brings families and friends together to celebrate and boost children's literacy.

By enjoying a meal at one of the following restaurants tomororrow, you can help Page Ahead continue to support literacy in our community:

Azteca - Northpointe
9738 N Newport Hwy, 99218
509.465.9101
(all day)

Azteca- Spokane Valley
14700 E. Indiana, 99206
509.228.9661
(all day)

Hills' Restaurant & Lounge
401 W. Main Ave, 99201
509.747.3946
(lunch)

Laguna Cafe
4302 S. Regal St., 99223
509.448.0887
(all day)

Perry Street Cafe
1002 S Perry, 99202
509.535.4949

Since 1990, Page Ahead has been providing new books to at-risk children, encouraging parents to read with their children, and promoting community involvement in literacy. With the help of the community and community partnerships such as Dish Up Literacy, Page Ahead has placed more than 1.7 million new books into the hands of children in need throughout Washington State.

Stay tuned for more info about Get Lit!'s upcoming book drive with Page Ahead and where you can donate!

Are you ready for Get Lit! 2010?

Have you picked up the latest Annual Manual from The Inlander? It is full of reminders about what makes Spokane an interesting place. Pick one up from the typical Inlander stands all over town to find out about food, shopping secrets, weekend ideas, and ARTS, ARTS, ARTS. Here are two articles on Get Lit! (pg 148 and 196) that I wanted to share with you:

Begotten by Lit

by Michael Bowen

"Spokane's literary festival got started in 1998 with a marathon, day-long reading that was attended by about three people huddling in the rain.

Get Lit! has expanded since then - so much so that we've all gotten a little spoiled. In the peak years of 2004-5, a long line of literary big dogs - Garrison Keillor, Kurt Vonnegut, Sarah Vowell, Dave Barry, Lynda Barry, Rita Dove, David Sedaris, Robert Bly, Salmon Rushdie - delivered readings here. It seemed that we'd be able to attract the big names for quite some time.

Yet while budgets have slenderized in recent years, Get Lit! forges on with new ideas. In 2009, for example, EWU creative writing professor Sam Ligon gave novelist Charles Baxter the full James Lipton/Actors Studio treatment, complete with note cards; there was a lively discussion at Auntie's Bookstore about the role in a digital environment of newspapers and other media; and wonder of wonders, a late-night crowd jam-packed a side room at Europa to hear ... five poets reading and discussion their poetry.

And people say nobody cares about reading anymore. Especially poetry.

On the contrary, there's a hunger for it.

For April 2010, for example, another one of those household names (like one of those big names from five years ago) seems likely to make an appearance. But whoever's here, Get Lit! will still present multiple opportunities to see the woman behind the poem, the man behind the novel: the literary word, humanized. Writing and reading, such solitary exercises, feel even more energized than almost any other art form by the presence, voice, mannerisms, quirks of the author, seen in person.

Cities that care about books don't simply have bookstores. They encourage - and attend - literary events. So let the Lit Get you: It's one week out of the year when reading isn't solitary but social."

Get Lit! Reaches out to Kids

by Michael Bowen

Get Lit! doesn't just run for a week. It runs all year long.

You've heard about the big name authors dropping in for readings during April, sure. But Get Lit! also organizes educational outreach projects for students (K-12) throughout the year. Since 2004, in fact, Get Lit! has reached more than 25,000 students in our area.

And how does it "reach" them? Through author tours, for one thing.

Imagine being a fifth-grader on the rez or a middle-schooler at a remote rural school. Your teacher's making you read some dumb book by some guy who's probably ... and then the guy himself actually shows up at your school. You get to hear the author read his words in his own voice. He discusses his writing habits, how he works, how he got his book published. He helps you create your own stories.

When students get a chance to meet a published author, books come alive and imagination blooms.

Another way that Get Lit! reaches out to students is the Writers-in-Residence program. A professional writer with a master's degree commits to a particular school for a semester or even an entire school year. Working with three classrooms, she leads literary discussions and writing workshops. The kids get to write their own poems, stories, essays, and songs - and even go on creative-writing field trips. Then, at the end of the residency, the students hold a community reading and collect their work in an anthology for all to see.

Get Lit! also hosts the regional competition for Poetry Out Loud, the national recitation contest - supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation - which encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization and performance.

And that's one of several ways that Get Lit! helps make writing come alive for young authors - not just in April, but all year long."

**Save these dates for the 2010 festival: April 14-21

Remembering Youth Poetry Slam!

Here are some pictures to help you remember how much fun we had during the 2009 Festival Youth Poetry Slam. Hope you stay cool this summer and perfect your prose for next year.

Our MC Daniel:

A Series of Poets in action:

Poets Gone Wild!

Experience Japan at Franklin Elementary

Writer in Residence (WiR) Susan Virnig in action

Our Writers in Residence program sends various professional writers into local classrooms. Part of the success of this program is that each writer builds their own curriculum based on their experience and classroom needs. This means that each school gets a unique program and each student that participates gets to experience something new surrounding creative writing. Many schools will participate in a Poetry on the Go field trip to the Jundt Art Museum where students explore visual art and then translate their understanding into literary art, but the fifth and sixth graders of Wendy Williamson, Niki Gadau, Tama Jordan, and Char Ferrante classes at Franklin Elementary also participated in a cultural enrichment this year thanks to writer Susan Virnig. Students learned a lot more about Japan as Susan taught them what she knows about the culture, language, and art from living in Japan.

Bowing Japanese style

Writing Japanese characters

Mastering chopsticks

The elementary students were exposed to traditional Japanese language, dress, food, games, and much more. This was the springboard event for writing Japanese poetry infused with the learned about a new culture. The results were fabulous! And there was many a poem about eating dried squid. (You've got to try it; it's quite delicious!)