The Fred Meijer Center for Writing and Michigan Authors at Grand Valley State University hosted a record number of students from Black River Public Schools on Jan. 23 to help with their writing projects.

During the event’s third year, 105 fourth and fifth graders attended the workshop in the Kirkhof Center. Students had the opportunity to gain individual advice, test out new writing strategies and tour Kirkhof and the Mary Idema Pew Library to see where college students spend their time.

Writing Center Director Patrick Johnson encouraged the students to bring their writing notebooks on the library tour in case they were inspired by artwork or anything else they saw. The workshop allowed the Black River classes to read their work out loud in small groups and approach their stories through drawing and outlining.

Jim Levering, a teacher at Black River Public schools, has brought his class to the event the past two years, but this year, other classes participated as well.

“I couldn’t be selfish,” Levering said.

He added that the students are working on plotting their realistic fiction stories, as well as developing characters. The event offers students the opportunity to read their stories and get a fresh perspective, Levering said.

Writing Center Coordinator Melanie Rabine said the young writers display inventiveness and free thinking.

“Kids are really honest about what they daydream about,” Rabine said. “And for realistic stories, they’re really honest about the truth.”

Black River students also had the opportunity to ask a panel of Writing Center staff about the college experience. Some of the questions included, “Can you have pets?” and “Where do you go for recess?”

Michelle Kuznicki, a GVSU student who led a group of six students on a library tour, said working with kids helps her as a writer too.

“It was a good experience,” Kuznicki said. “I’m not super familiar working with young writers, but it’s good for me to remember how creative people are.”

One fourth grader, Mitchell, was eager to share his story.

“They’re going tubing,” he said. “They fall off and Dad doesn’t see it, so they swim to an island…but it’s the wrong island.”

Rabine said the 10 and 11 year-old writers are often concerned with handwriting and spelling.

“They know adults are going to read (their stories), so they want to make sure they can communicate with them.”

At the end of the event, Rabine announced that the Writing Center staff and the Black River students would become pen pals in the future to continue to open up communication.

“The Writing Center wants to make relationships with writing communities outside of Grand Valley,” Rabine said.

For more information, visit
www.gvsu.edu/wc/