One of the paradoxes of the teaching life is how much students can teach the teacher! Not long ago, a creative writing student introduced me to the work of writer Dave Eggers and his involvement in the formation of 826 Valencia — a writing centre for kids in the Mission district of San Francisco. Colleague Aline has written about this centre in a previous post well worth checking out.
I had the distinct pleasure of visiting 826 Valencia while in San Francisco a few weeks ago. While browsing in the brilliantly conceived and designed Pirate Store, I also got a chance to pick up a packet of student publications produced by the centre’s students. Available to educators at a ten percent discount (another enlightened perk), the packet contained a newsletter called Straight-Up News by the kids of Everett Middle School, a Dictionary of New Words called FrisCoSWim, PizZinNeR, SKamissSioN, GirAfFEGheTti, SEeksIstEr and Other Words We Need to Write About Our Summer, a multi-authored booklet called 2 Seconds Plus: A Mixture of Thoughts and Images, a recipe booklet called The Kid’s Table, Issue No. 4 of Parasol and Paroxysm: The Journal of the Writing and Publishing Apprentices and Vol. 4 of Look Closer, a book of short student writings in Spanish and English.
As these titles indicate, the assembled array of print writings in forms of booklets, magazines, newspapers and dictionaries cover the gamut in the way kids can express themselves in words. Did you know that a chinburrito, for example, is ‘Chinese food in a burrito’? (dictionary) Or that ‘femcee’ is the term used to describe female voices in the art of spoken poetry? (Straight-Up News) Or that Sienna Park is looking for her housecat sister Heather, who can talk in three languages — Catish, Korean and English? (2 Seconds Plus) And that Margot learned to like the ‘brown thingy-ma-bobs’ on her pizza that turned out to be mushrooms? (The Kids Table)
I enjoyed reading the writing of the students of 826 Valencia. Their energy and creativity are inspiring to me as a writing teacher. Do you get inspiration from your students? What interesting things have they written about? If you can share, please do!
If you’re looking for some bone soup, scurvy prevention supplies and leeches for various ailments, look no further than 826 Valencia, an independent pirate supply store located in San Francisco’s lively Mission district. But don’t be misled by the store’s appearance or its workers’ pirattitude: far from inspiring mortal fear, their jolly roger promises learning and fun.
Founded by writer Dave Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genious), since 2002 the 826 Valencia ship has been sailing on the forefront of literacy efforts as a reading and writing lab/tutoring program “in disguise.” The lure of its brand of piracy is undeniable. Students ages 6-18 get free tutoring from some of the most creative and qualified people in town, and anyone visiting the “store” can barter for a cup of lard, be mopped (!), buy pirate trinkets (a clam opener, anyone? how about a magenta eye patch?) and discover a world of treasures hidden in countless drawers that beg to be opened. Behind all the whimsy, though (literally, at the back of the store, behind a curtain), there are young minds at work, learning new writing skills, getting ready for SAT exams, experiencing mind growth through creativity and fun.
826 Valencia is just around the corner from my house—lucky me!—and I often visit with my daughter, who, in spite of being too young for the workshops, is clearly lured. Upon entering the store for the first time a couple of years ago, she exclaimed, half scared, half thrilled, “I didn’t know there were pirates in our neighborhood!” The neighborhood hasn’t been the same since.
If you missed International “Talk Like a Pirate” Day, a fun-filled occasion dedicated to pirates and their vernacular and celebrated worldwide on Sep 19, check out 826 Valencia for your fix: there are always fun things happening. Today, for instance, there’s a locksmith workshop that will teach kids “how to not pick locks, how to make keys, find keys, lose keys, and more.” Land lubbers of all ages will feel compelled to join in on some of these piracy ventures.
For accounts of actual events that occur in the shop, check the store log. And here and here for a couple of good reads for little ones contemplating buccannering as a career.
