Local Writers Hold Workshops for Katonah Elementary Students

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - The students gathered around David Pogue—tech columnist, bestselling author, five-time TED speaker, host of 20 NOVA science specials, creator/host of a CBS News/Simon & Schuster podcast, and a very funny man—eager to see what was in his suitcase. He told them it was full of products he’d been sent to review over the years. The first thing he pulled out looked like a model of the Guggenheim; it was a collapsable bike helmet. “That doesn’t seem very useful,” said one of the students. “Ah-ha!” said Pogue. “Put that in your review!”

This was the type of engaging writers’ workshop that Katonah Elementary School’s fourth and fifth graders enjoyed in June. The writing enrichment, called Do the Write Thing, has been hosted every other year by the school’s PTO for more than 20 years. This year, it included 11 workshops—on topics ranging from writing product reviews, song lyrics and TV news to sports stories and more, all taught by professional writers from the community.

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As parent Louise Alverson introduced the workshop teachers, the local aspect of the event became apparent. Several of the experts were KES parents; most lived in the community.

Students cheered when Maria Colaco was introduced.

“Ms. Colaco is a digital marketing specialist, not just your Lion King choreographer!” said Alverson.

A dozen sports-loving students learned from sports journalist Richard Finn, who’s written for the New York Times among other newspapers. The room was silent as students filled their notebooks with vivid descriptions. Finn passed a microphone from one student to the next. They weren’t sitting in a classroom; they were broadcasting from the press box.

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“Write to the picture,” TV journalist Pauline Chiou said to her students. She was speaking from experience; the former correspondent/anchor for CNN International and CNBC Asia was now News Director at News 12 Westchester/ Hudson Valley. Chiou had shown them several videos—shot from the inside of a home—of a black bear and her cubs enjoying a backyard pool. “Tell us what’s happening,” she said to the students. “What do you see?”

“How many brothers or sisters do you have,” singer/songwriter Christine Chanel asked one of the students, coaxing out feelings of fun and adventure. “I have a few siblings; I always have something to write about,” she said. By noon, the class was singing a hip-hop song about togetherness; Chanel brought it together with a catchy melody on her guitar.

A university student was the mystery guest for a workshop on feature writing led by Gia Miller and Justin Negard, publishers of Connect to Northern Westchester magazine. The young woman told students a story from her first days at college; their challenge was to determine where her story should start. “You captivate a reader by starting a story somewhere other than the beginning,” said Miller.

By noon, the young writers had drafts to share. The fourth and fifth graders and the guest teachers gathered back in the gym, where several students from each workshop shared their work.

“The shared readings were fabulous," said Alverson. "The laughter, positive applause and the energy across the gym was contagious. The kids had a great time!”

Article courtesy of Katonah-Lewisboro School District.

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