South Texas Writing Project

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Author Christine Granados, visits Laredo

Author Christine Granados visited Laredo on April 20 and 21 to read excerpts from her new book entitled fight Like a Man and other Stories we tell our children. Mrs. Granados spent time on Thursday, April 20, in the Watson Gallery reading excerpts to students and faculty from her new book. In addition, the South Texas Writing Project Writing Project and the Write for TX Grant hosted a dinner and discussion with the author after the book readings. On Friday, April 21, the STWP collaborated with Laredo ISD and hosted Mrs. Granados at Cigarroa Middle School and at Memorial Middle School for excerpt readings of her book. The Write for TX Grant donated sets of Mrs. Granados books for each campus. The middle school adolescents actively engaged and enjoyed Mrs. Granados readings and her visits to their campuses.

Christine Granados was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. She has been a journalist with the El Paso Times and the Austin American-Statesman. She is a reporter at the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post. She has published two books of fiction, Brides and Sinners in El Chuco, University of Arizona Press, 2006 and Fight Like a Man and Other Stories We Tell Our Children, University of New Mexico Press, 2017, and four biographies of famous Latinos for children with Mitchell Lane Publishers.

2016 Advance Summer Institute on Teaching of Writing

Members of the Advance Summer Institute showed their appreciation to Ms. Erika Medrano and Ms. Daniela Rodriguez for all their assistance during their workshops.

July 18-22, 2016 Advance Summer Institute Workshop:

This workshop lessons focused on specific skills that helps students evaluate information, determine claim, organized and builds proficiency in argumentative writing.

July 18-20, 2016 Advance Summer Institute Workshop:

This workshop assist teachers to create their own mentor texts to teach introductions, body paragraphs, conclusions and more.

June 17, 2016 Promoting Writing Through Journaling

This workshop focused on journaling in content areas to foster critical thinking and develop writing skills in the classroom.

2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Call for Readers

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers invited National Writing Project sites to participate in judging for the 2016 Scholastic Awards during January 11-24, 2016. By having the South Texas Writing Project site participate in the judging process, our site helped the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers recognize the most talented young writers from across the nation.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the largest, longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teenagers. For more than 90 years, The Awards have provided educators with a unique opportunity to motivate and challenge students to become better writers. Some of our nation's most celebrated writers were first discovered by The Awards as teenagers, including Sylvia Plath, Joyce Carol Oates, and Truman Capote. Students in grades 7–12 submit their works of visual art and creative writing to be reviewed by professionals to receive recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships.

The Writing Awards categories included the following: Critical Essay, Dramatic Script, Flash Fiction, Humor, Journalism, Personal Essay / Memoir, Persuasive Writing, Poetry, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Short Story, and Writing Portfolios.

Ten of our STWP fellows and colleagues helped in this endeavor; it was a success that allowed STWP to collaborate with the promotion of writing on a national level. We thank the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers for this opportunity and we look forward to future collaborations.