An Evening with the Peppers

As I am sure you are all already thinking, tonight was wonderful! All of the pieces the Ink Peppers read were great and their enthusiasm shined throughout the entire night. I think that the most important part of this event was that Ms. Triplett got their families and friends involved in their success. She let the Peppers show everyone how talented they truly are. The support she gives them really helps them to grow as writers because they can open up to her and she provides them with encouragement and confidence that they sometimes lack. Tonight, I was truly wishing that I could have been a part of that group when I was in High School. They are all so close. The memories they make now will last them forever. I am so glad that we were all able to share that with them.

Stacia

Ink Peppers on Thursday–Kudos to YOU!

Even before I read Willis’ post which asked me what I thought about yesterday I was planning this post. Thanks for asking Willis.

I was moved and inspired by all of you yesterday. I saw teachers working with their students. Your work w/these students proves exactly what I was saying in class before the session–you have every reason to be confident about your teaching lives.

I saw you “in relationship,” with these kids, listening, encouraging, laughing (that was the best part!), sharing, demonstrating flexibility, reading, writing and being “present” with the Peppers.

That was wonderful for me to observe.

I felt like an intruder and it was hard for me to walk the fine line between wanting to interject and of course wanting to simply stand aside and observe.

I did think that I began an important conversation–a number of writers quickly opened up about the work they are doing–work that I would like to see you nurture if we were going forward.

The Peppers are playful and serious, vulnerable and cocky, wanting someone to “see” them to quote Amanda’s HUNGER, which I went to see last night.

You shouldn’t miss this production if you can make it on SAT night. Amanda’s play is about an Eng. teacher and her writing group (there’s much more to it) but I know you would all find it compelling given your insider status w/the Peppers.

How did you wrap up on TH? I was so sorry I had to leave for my class.

Did you think the writing from the pictures exercise was valuable?

I would like to read all of your own reflections on your specific experiences with your group on TH…time for reflection. Now! KES

Thursday with the Peppers…

So, I have been thinking about what we should do on Thursday at Cortland HS.  I know that we have been talking a lot about publishing, authentic audiences, and creative writing. However, I think that the most effective thing that we could propose would be a graphic organizer of some sort. The students should respond with enthusiasm at this idea.

Let me know what you guys think.

Krystina

Peppers Car Wash

This afternoon I stopped by AutoZone to show some support for the Peppers as they spent the day washing cars as one of their fundraisers.  I hope I am not stealing Mrs. Triplett’s thunder, but the Peppers made over $300!!  I am so happy for them and I am proud of them.  This group is amazing and I have never seen such dedicated students.

 

I had fun talking to them, washing cars with them, and hanging out with them outside of the meetings.

GREAT JOB PEPPERS!

Kristin

Pepper meeting yesterday

The Peppers meeting yesterday took a different path than usual. I worked with a group of students that I never worked with before, wrote about things that I would generally not write about, and had a taste of reality when a student expressed his most personal thoughts about censorship, religion, homosexuality, and rape. 

I am glad this “taste of reality” occured because I know situations such as this one will occur in my own classrooms one day.  Although I think Krys and I handled it well, I was not prepared for the students comments at all.  I really think I caught myself from sliding off of the chair.

I also really enjoyed meeting in Mrs. Triplett’s classroom after the meeting.  I think we all needed a few minutes just to sit and talk since we have been so overwhlemed lately.

Have a great weekend

Kristin

Words of Hope

Today I spent most of the Pepper meeting interviewing Amanda and some of the Ink Peppers for the iMovie project in ENG 307. Therefore, I didn’t get to see everything that went on. How did it go? I know the writing activity was on something lost, something found, and something saved. Your stories sounded creative! I also wanted to say that our little meeting with Amanda afterward was really helpful. I know that we have all been a bit stressed, but when we talked about it and rememered our main goal of becoming teachers, it helped me to re-focus. Amanda, I appreciate your words of advice and inspiration today.

Stacia

Ink Pepper Movie

Hey Everyone! For those of you who are not taking ENG 307 this semester, I just wanted to let you know about our iMovie project. In groups, we all selected a topic to make an iMovie about. Kaitlyn, Jackie and I decided to do “liberation in the classroom” and we are going to involve Amanda and the Peppers tomorrow by interviewing them about their freedom to read and write without being censored. I just wanted everyone to know so that you wouldn’t be surprised when we bring a camera to the meeting tomorrow!

Stacia

Peppers Today

Hey everyone,
     So, today was another wonderful meeting with the advanced Ink Peppers. Today, Ms. Triplett had us read “Her Voice,” which is a poem by Oscar Wilde. The reason why she had everyone write on it was because she could not find anything written about it: a critique, an analysis, or so forth. So, she had the Ink Peppers write a monologue based on the speaker of the poem.

     The cool thing was that Ms. Triplett also incorporated vocabulary into this assignment. The Peppers had to pick three words which they did not know from the poem, look up their meanings in the dictionary, and then use those words in their monolgues.

     The Ink Peppers got really creative with this assignment. I think quite a few of the Peppers, especially in the advanced group, take part in the drama club up at school. A few of them got onto the “stage,” if you will, of the Blue Frog and actually acted out their monologues. So, not only is their writing outstanding, but there acting skills are as well!

     Just a heads up for upcoming Ink Pepper events:
I’m sure everyone is aware of the formal event at the Youth Bureau on the 8th. This Saturday– unforunately I will be out of town, yet hope to send my car to be washed– is the car wash at the Auto Zone. The Auto Zone is across from the Chevy Dealer/Tops. The car wash will go from 12-4 p.m. The Peppers are also having a picnic on May 4th in the Ithaca Commons. They are dressing up in “weird” outfits. Sounds like a great time, and the Commons are a great place to be especially in such nice, spring weather!

       I think that’s it…If I’m missing anything please fill in. Oh wait, one more thing. Thursday, May 1st guys is alllllll ours! Ms. Triplett’s parents will be in town, so she will be unable to attend the meeting that day. I was thinking next week we could collaboratively come up with a cool idea in class: either in our small groups or as one whole group. Stearns, I know Ms. Triplett would love for you to be there if possible. Ok, so now I think that’s it. See you guys tomorrow.

                                                                        -Willis

Family Vacation!

I know that some people have already posted about the activity we did with the Peppers this week, but I just wanted to write about how I think that the family vacation activity could be incorporated into the classroom. When I am a teacher, I could do this fun activity along with a lesson about story telling. I could show them how stories progress with a beginning, middle, and end. I could also show them the triangle diagram that we have all seen with the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The students could still work in groups and plan out their story using the triangle diagram. Then, they could work together to write their story and even share them with the class. The class could try to find the climax and resolution in the other groups’ stories. I think that this activity would be a great way to introduce the elements of a story and also use creative writing skills!

Stacia

Ink Peppers

Our group meeting with the Peppers on Thursday was definitly an interesting one.

I cannot even begin to express just how creative Amanda is. Although we all know this quality about her, I can’t help but ask myself “where does she get these ideas from?” everytime we leave there.

 

Krystina and I worked with Andrew, Tori, and Denmarie.  Deciding to sit outside since the weather was beautiful out, we all took a spot on the curb and tossed ideas around left and right.  Even though Krys and I both had alot of input to the “vacation” we were creating, we both somehow knew when to let the students be vocal and allow them to include pretty much all of their ideas.   The best part about this activity, is that the peppers in our group seemed to have a lot of fun with it.  Each of their ideas were creative, adventurous, and simply funny. The second one of us stopped talking, someone else jumped right in with an idea to follow up whatever idea was just said.

Thursdays meeting was definitly a fun and successful one.  Who knows what Amanda will come up next!

Kristin