Write Now!
A STARS Residency Program
A fully-funded school residency with Tom McCabe focused on writing
fully underwritten by the
Massachusetts Cultural Council
Write Now! is a three-week fully-funded residency focused on basic writing. The grant can be done any time during the school year. The grant is through Massachusetts Cultural Council's STARS Program.The initial step is to meet with representatives from the school, usually the principal and teachers, to discuss the grant. The applications are simple and are not due until October. The basic application is all written out and ready for submission.
A key consideration is that the residency requires no extra work for the teachers or staff.
In the last several years Tom McCabe has offered dozens of Write Now! residencies in schools throughout the region and around the country. His background as an educator includes teaching graduate-level courses on "Writing Across the Curriculum" at Brooklyn College, touring nationally for The Bureau of Education and Research presenting teacher-training seminars on "Using Literature as a Teaching Tool" and offering key-note and lectures at numerous conferences and colleges.
"Write Now!" is a perfect way to help all students develop and work on basic writing skills as they prepare for writing samples and the MCAS. The program is a minimum of three weeks in length and can be scheduled at anytime during the school year.
A key consideration is that the residency requires no extra work for the teachers or staff.
In the last several years Tom McCabe has offered dozens of Write Now! residencies in schools throughout the region and around the country. His background as an educator includes teaching graduate-level courses on "Writing Across the Curriculum" at Brooklyn College, touring nationally for The Bureau of Education and Research presenting teacher-training seminars on "Using Literature as a Teaching Tool" and offering key-note and lectures at numerous conferences and colleges.
"Write Now!" is a perfect way to help all students develop and work on basic writing skills as they prepare for writing samples and the MCAS. The program is a minimum of three weeks in length and can be scheduled at anytime during the school year.
A Reference:
"Tom's energy and excitement for working with all learners puts the students in awe and eager to write. The strategies he uses are easy to apply and long lasting for teachers and students alike. A unique partnership which engages students, teachers, and families."
Michael Atkins, Asst. Principal, West Springfield - [email protected]
Mr. Atkins has volunteered to speak to you about the impact
"Write Now!" had on both their students and teachers.
Click to a link for additional testimonials from teachers and administrators.
"Tom's energy and excitement for working with all learners puts the students in awe and eager to write. The strategies he uses are easy to apply and long lasting for teachers and students alike. A unique partnership which engages students, teachers, and families."
Michael Atkins, Asst. Principal, West Springfield - [email protected]
Mr. Atkins has volunteered to speak to you about the impact
"Write Now!" had on both their students and teachers.
Click to a link for additional testimonials from teachers and administrators.
I have been visiting schools for many years. Your staff may know me from visits in the past. I’m the storyteller with the amazing shoes.
Every Student Benefits:
Each class attends an assembly program and every classroom receives a minimum of 3, (one per week), 45 minute to one hour classroom-writing workshops. The workshops are grade appropriate and tailored to the teacher's needs. I even have activities for the pre-school pupils. We can focus on narrative, informative, personal or persuasive writing.
We learn and test simple effective strategies. Here are a few examples: first words in a topic sentence - never start with One, Once, There or Hi. For older students, I also challenge them not to begin with a pronoun. Every student creates a first sentence. We get out favorite books and read first sentences. Then create our own.
In later workshops we edit our work. Every sentence should begin with a different word. Can you edit your 'rewriting so that every sentence has a different number of words in it?
Each class attends an assembly program and every classroom receives a minimum of 3, (one per week), 45 minute to one hour classroom-writing workshops. The workshops are grade appropriate and tailored to the teacher's needs. I even have activities for the pre-school pupils. We can focus on narrative, informative, personal or persuasive writing.
We learn and test simple effective strategies. Here are a few examples: first words in a topic sentence - never start with One, Once, There or Hi. For older students, I also challenge them not to begin with a pronoun. Every student creates a first sentence. We get out favorite books and read first sentences. Then create our own.
In later workshops we edit our work. Every sentence should begin with a different word. Can you edit your 'rewriting so that every sentence has a different number of words in it?
Teachers Benefit:
Teachers are free to attend an after-school in-service training, which is scheduled at your convenience.
Link: classroom activities for helping students with their writing.
Teachers Benefit:
Teachers are free to attend an after-school in-service training, which is scheduled at your convenience.
Link: classroom activities for helping students with their writing.
Families Benefit:
The residency ends with a Literacy Night for the whole family.
Application Process:
The application is due at the beginning of October and is quite simple - most of the grant information is already written out. I will help you with it. I would be glad to meet at the school with staff at their convenience.
I can send you a more detailed email about the program and my experience. You may also check the web sites noted below.
If you have a school to recommend, let me know as well and I will send along additional information. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tom McCabe
TomMcCabe.com
Mass Cultural Council Profile
