Creative Development History and Team

The Young Writers' Club was developed by Marian R. Carlson.
Marian is a certified Massachusetts teacher and has taught at public schools in Lexington and Newton, Massachusetts, and at private schools across the U.S. Some of her experience includes founding a preschool, organizing a neighborhood educational cooperative with extensive field trips, teaching gifted and talented students, workshops for teachers, writing classes for adults, and volunteer tutoring in prisons. Helping students of all ages along the important road to literacy is her special focus. As a syndicated newspaper columnist for The Christian Science Monitor and a freelance writer, she has had over 100 articles published. Marian served as a Master Teacher for the National Teaching Training Institute for PBS in 2001. In June 2003 Marian received a two year grant from the Maine Humanities Council to research and develop educational programs about Henry Longfellow.

photo credit Julie Carlson

Currently, she travels to continue her research on writers and to teach The Young Writers' Club to middle grade students as an after school program at the Munroe Center for the Arts in Lexington, MA (www.munroecenter.org), which also offers additional workshops. Since the start of the club in 1991, over 45 of her students have been published in national children's magazines. Many students hold writing awards from contests, and the club received special recognition from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The club brings together her love of literature and children. Marian constantly works to improve The Young Writers' Club with her development team, Marjie Thompson-Longshore, Jocelyn Hayes and Libby Hughes. Current students, concerned parents, fellow teachers, and historic house curators provide valuable input.

Marjie Thompson-Longshore mother and teacher Cambridge, MA	Libby Hughes author, editor, and playwright Cambridge, MA	Jocelyn Hayes master teacher Lexington, MA

Great Writers Travel, Research, and Selection Process

The most difficult decision was choosing which authors were best suited for middle grade readers. After traveling across the US and England to author's homes, researching, listening, and reading, the list was narrowed down to twelve authors who are considered the building blocks of our literature today. Each author in the Writers' Club was the first to do something that made a significant contribution to literature. Also, their writing is still challenging and exciting today, and available in introductory, beautifully illustrated editions. While most of these authors were white males, some women broke the restrictions of the 19th century, and became published authors. These writers paved the way to modern literature. Today, kids can read authors of great diversity from Scott O'Dell to Maya Angelou, but the classic authors laid the foundation. The Young Writers' Club provides the stepping stone, from the wealth of contemporary picture books and early chapter books, to the next level of literature.

The Writer's Club Authors

British: William Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Beatrix Potter. American: Phillis Wheatley, Washington Irving, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Emily Dickinson, Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, and Nellie Bly. Authors from other countries will soon be added to our list.

Nellie Bly's News Club I - My Own Newspaper©
Background

     In February 2000, The Young Writers' Club started a new adventure. I was looking for additional strategies to promote literature and writing since many of the students had completed In Search of the Great Writers. The notion of 4th-8th graders writing their own newspapers struck me. It seemed as fresh as the new millennium while rooted in the freedoms of our First Amendment. Investigative reporting became our focus for eight weeks. The results speak for themselves. I spent six years as a syndicated newspaper columnist and was available for advice, but the topics all came from the students' own interests. Also, I found fascinating role models from the newspaper business. Charles Schulz's life was an inspiration to our cartoon strip. After reading Bly's amazing life story, we named the club in her honor. Bly, a champion of children would be happy these students are finding their "voice" while discovering the power of words.

     The club recreates a fast paced news room while focusing on the writing process. Students learn to brainstorm ideas, interview, research, polish revision skills, increase vocabulary, enjoy the visual arts, and more. All ability levels participate through the use of videos, role playing, and high interest activities. This club format is a gateway to important writing skills as defined in the Massachusetts Language Arts Frameworks. The final products, student newspapers, are displayed and celebrated at a Family Tea. Nellie Bly's Newspaper Club was developed in Lexington, MA and honored at Harvard University with a display and reception.

Nellie Bly's News Club II - Publishing Today©
Background

The Nellie Bly Newspaper Club II, Publishing Today, introduces students to the world of magazines and newspapers from an author's viewpoint. What do editors need from young writers? How do you write an article for a certain audience? How do you submit a manuscript? Students learn to keep a log of their creative work and enjoy the process of writing for publication. Dozens of publications accept stories, poems, and letters to the editors. Forty-five students from The Writers' Club have been published in national magazines to date. Students host a Family Tea with a special invited guest from the publishing field.

Click here for the deluxe News Club curriculum, Nellie Bly's PRESS KIT