Overview

ggevalt's picture
Submitted by ggevalt on Fri, 08/25/2006 - 7:34pm

The Young Writers Project -- Overview

 

VISION | To build a generation of better writers in Vermont and New Hampshire.

MISSION | To engage students to write, help them improve their writing and publish their best work. To devote the most energy and focus to the students who need our help the most -- students from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or students who think writing is pointless and not important and/or who think they are no good at it.

NEED | Seventy five percent of the nation's high school graduates cannot write proficiently, yet the ability to write is key to success in business, community affairs and life. • Schools do not spend enough time with writing. • Students learn to dislike writing.

CORE BELIEFS | Students can learn to write well • The Web is a safe place for students to write if in respectful, civil spaces • The prospect of being published and having peers as audience motivates students to try harder, learn more and write better • Receiving objective, positive feedback helps young writers gain confidence and grow; giving feedback improves critical thinking • Students at risk need special attention • Young people want voice.

SERVICES | YWP offers:

  • This interactive Web site, www.youngwritersproject.org, where registered students post writing, respond to prompts, receive and give respectful feedback, read tips on writing, post audio stories, engage in online workshops and discuss books, news and life;
  • YWP Schools Project, a comprehensive service for teachers that includes digital classrooms; extensive, ongoing training for teachers; and a growing library of effective lessons and best practices;  click here for more;
  • Trained college students who serve as mentors by providing feedback to students;
  • Online workshops that focus learning by students of varying skills and demographic backgrounds;
  • In-class workshops that generate enthusiasm for writing and its importance; and
  • Publication of selected student work in 13 newspapers and on vpr.net each week, as well as presentation on other Web sites and on stage through other YWP partners.

 

WHERE PUBLISHED | Students submit work to our Newspaper Series to be considered for outside publication; student judges, with professional guidance, help choose which work gets published

  • Rutland Herald (Monday); Times Argus  and The Valley News (Tuesday); St. Albans Messenger (Wednesday); Addison Independent, Colchester Sun, Essex Reporter, Stowe Reporter and Waterbury Record (Thursday); Brattleboro Reformer and the Hometown section of the Burlington Free Press (Saturday); Rural Route Today (every other Wednesday) and the Charlotte News (every other Thursday).
  • Student work is also published on Thursdays in the Addison Independent, Colchester Sun and Essex Reporter.
  • on this Web site;
  • on Vermont Public Radio (and vpr.net (Monday); and
  • in the venues of these partners:  Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Youth Orchestra, Vermont Stage Company, The Young Tradition Concert, First Night/Burlington and the Vermont Songwriters Association.

    BENEFITS | YWP student participants:

    • develop and hone writing skills;
    • connect with their peers;
    • succeed;
    • develop creative and critical thinking skills;
    • learn writing through emerging digital technologies; and
    • learn how their ideas and experiences relate to the world around them.

     

    FEEDBACK | YWP teacher participants say YWP Schools Project helps them teach by providing ideas for students to write to, incentive for the students to write and great writing resources. Students say the project helps them write. CLICK HERE to read a sampling of participants' reactions.

    SOME NUMBERS | Since October 2006, YWP has received more than 30,000 submissions from 320 schools in Vermont and New Hampshire. The Web site averages more than 750 visitors a day and 3,500 active registered users who spend an average of 7 minutes on the site per visit.

    TO REGISTER & SUBMIT | Students and teachers can register now if you are from Vermont or the Lebanon, N.H., area. It is requested that student submissions be made by logging into this site and creating an "entry." For more, click here.

    However, if you do not have access to a computer, or if you are a teacher with a large number of entries, you can email them to Geoffrey Gevalt at his email address of ggevalt_at_youngwritersproject.org. Keep in mind that YWP is a small organization and we will have to type in all of your entries.

    STAFF | The Project's editor is Geoffrey Gevalt, an award-winning writer and editor with 33 years experience in newspapers and magazines. He was, for two years, a juror for the Pulitzer Prize in Beat Reporting. He formerly was managing editor of The Burlington Free Press.

    The Project's Content Coordinator is Susan Reid,  a writer and editor.

    To contact Geoff, click here.
    To contact Susan, click here

    To reach us:

     

    BOARDS | YWP has a strong governing board of directors that includes educational leaders, philanthropists, business leaders, writers and teachers. YWP also has an active advisory board of teachers and students; if you would like to join, contact Geoff Gevalt.

    DONATIONS | YWP depends on your donations. YWP is a federal 501(c)3 nonprofit and thus all donations are tax deductible. If you like our work, donate or get a parent to donate. For more, click here.

    SPONSORS | The Vermont Business Roundtable and its business and higher education members began a two-year grant to the YWP in August, 2006. For more about the VBR, click here.
    For more about other Friends and Partners, click here.