Dream Keepers Blog

So far, the only contest entries we've had are from our in-person group. But, they've written some might spooky entries for the six-word scary story contest. Here they are. Enjoy! I died while drinking zombie wine. —Elly  Full moon brings scary grim reaper. —Terrance Dark alley. Frightened boy sees face. —Armon Mall open tonight; buffet for zombies! —Zaivonn I creep at night, wake flesh. —Trone Me alone. Dark desert. Large dinosaur. —Anthony Beautiful zombies. Looks really do kill. —Elisha  Everyone dies when the devil strikes. —Elly 

Last year we were asked to write a scary story with only six words. I know the first thing that comes to mind when I say that. It's an impossible task! But it is not. In fact, we came up with many wonderful stories about many scary things. Some stories were about entire towns vanishing mysteriously. Others were about slimy creepy crawlies coming to get you. If you just use your imagination, what seems impossible can become fun or, in this case, really scary! —Dream Keeper Intern, Elisha Branch Check out the contests page to see how you can enter your six-word scary story!

We haven't had many entries in our Urban Haiku contest. But several of our Dream Keepers have been writing Haiku over the past few weeks on Wednesday nights. One of the Dream Keepers wrote poems suitable for publication. Enjoy! Wanted: Tom Jackson Wanted since June, 2000 Worried about pollution? —Elisha Branch Bethel Baptist Church Rummage Sale is this Friday How much for Jesus? —Elisha Branch No child left behind Have faith in education I'm ten; I can't read. —Elisha Branch

Dream Keepers is Back! Dream Keepers has been on hiatus for the past six weeks. In that time, I've been doing a lot of reading and thinking about what I want Dream Keepers to look like this year and in our future. I've become enchanted by the Young Writer's Project in Vermont and New Hampshire. Founder Geoff Gevalt started the project in his free time while working as a managing editor for T he Burlington Free Press . In the beginning and still today, students from all over the two states write and submit in response to scheduled writing prompts. The submissions are then judged and the best are submitted to local newspapers for publication.  For a long time, I have wanted my work with Dream Keepers to connect with the work teachers are doing in the classroom, students are doing online, and writers-in-residence are doing in schools. To that end, we're going to try adding writing contests this year. WInners will be published at the Dream Keepers blog.  I'll ...

This summer many children are becoming Dream Keepers at the Urban Roots Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools (r) Program.  I've been teaching every Tuesday afternoon. We've made personal metaphors, written Haiku poems about gardens and animals, and tried our hand at writing about our neighborhood. Two weeks ago, the students read an inspiring story about Tasana Hardy titled, Teen's Award-Winning Poem Helps Rewrite Her Life.  Hardy's poem, Where I'm From , was chosen for a class film project that has since won awards. The poem and the awards have changed the direction of Hardy's life. I invited the students to write their own, Where I'm From poems. Here are a few of them. When you're done reading, write your own! Where I'm From by Luis Where I'm from ...      Moms keep house      Dads tow cars. Where I'm from     Sisters work in stores     Cats vomit and sneeze     and I play on the compu...

Last night, the Dream Keepers wrote about icky stuff. The assignment came from Dawn DiPrince's wonderful book, Unjournaling: Daily Writing Exercises that are NOT Personal, NOT Introspective, NOT Boring.  Here are a few examples I came up with: Icky is sharing deodorant with your six brothers. Ickier is sharing a toothbrush. Icky is cleaning out the couch, pocketing the change, and eating the dust-covered candy. I challenged the Dream Keepers to come up with icky stuff that would make me cringe with disgust. They did. Here's a sample of their work: Icky is picking up gum from the ground and eating it. Icky is when someone pops out their leg bone. Icky is chewing on your toenails. —Tramonta Garner, age 10 Icky is frying chalk, dirt and rubber and eating it as steak. Icky is eating fire extinguisher foam. —Brandon, age 11 Icky is a dead bird in the house, surrounded by flies. —Brianna Icky is playing with your hair while you are in line...

Tonight the Dream Keepers tried to write short poems with long titles, an assignment from Dawn DiPrince's wonderful book Yoga For the Brain . Here's the example I wrote: What Happened when John decided to Do His Laundry the Old-Fashioned Way: with a Bar of Soap, a Rock, and a River. Threadbare Underwear. The assignment is harder than it sounds, and the Dream Keepers had a tough time with it. But they still came up with some good samples. Read their work, and then try writing your own! By Elly: What Elly Was Left with After She Ate A big Juicy Hamburger in Two Bites. Yummy Tummy. By Leroi: What the Owner Said When He Took His Pet to Meet the New Vet, who Already Had Met a Dog, a Frog, and a Bunch of Cats. Oh No. By Daquan: What Happened When I Took A Bone from a Dog Who Had Had It a Long Time. Fight. Bite. By Tierra: The clock stopped at 11 O'Clock. Tick Tock?

You know what an urban legend is, right? You've probably even fallen for a few. Here are some I found while visiting Snopes , the go-to site for discovering if that warning email you got from your Auntie is true or a hoax. Here are some interesting legends I pulled off the site: *Disposable chopsticks are loaded with carcinogens. *Canola oil is toxic. *Coca-cola was originally green. Tonight's Dream Keepers had the opportunity to write their own urban legends—or at least the teasers to go with them. Here's what they came up with. When you're done reading, I hope you will be inspired to create your own! Beware of crooks using video games to steal your pants. (I want your pants.com) --Terrance Beware of crooks using the tooth fairy to steal teeth. --Terrance Don't leave your house! Killer squirrels on the loose! --Elly Beware of crooks taking coats. They're cold, and they're coming. --Shay Beware of sticky fingered crooks. They're stealing honey! --Shay

At this week's writing group, I sent the young people to different corners of our writing space to think up sill warnings. You know the kind. When you see them, you want to shout, "Duh!" My new hair straightener came with the warning: Do not use while sleeping. Most peanut butter jars now have the warning: Contains nuts. I challenged the Dream Keepers to come up with their own warnings. Here are the best ones: On a bathroom door: Warning: may contain smells. On the library: Warning: contains books. On jelly: Warning: M ay jiggle. On book: Warning: May contain challenging words. On boys: Warning: May giggle like a girl. On bicycle: Warning: Do not sleep while riding. Now it is your turn. Can you add some silly warnings to our list?