Knitters, spinners and weavers,

Young Writers Project extends a thanks to all of you for your financial support of our project. In the last year, we have received at least 85 contributions totalling $1,502 from the little Chip In widget on the right. We have received an additional $2,052 from our direct PayPal account and we know that some of that total is from you. THANKS!

We have started a new campaign to support the YWP Schools Project, a comprehensive program that includes digital writing classrooms for teachers to use as extension of their curriculum. In these sites, kids post their homework and other writing for all their classmates to see and provide feedback. It's amazing to see what happens -- kids try harder, they revise like crazy and they learn from each other. They also write more!

NEWS: In addition, preliminary results of our assessments of 500+ kids this year shows that BOYS show significant improvement in their writing skills as a result of this program.

FYI, in addition to the sites, we provide extensive ongoing mentoring for teachers, course exercises to use, workshops in class and other services.

For those of you not acquainted with YWP, we work with thousands of students and teachers in Vermont and part of NH. In the coming year, we are piloting a Schools Project site in San Antonio, Texas, to learn what it will take to create a national model for what we are doing. Here are some numbers since we began as a tiny nonprofit (we're still a tiny nonprofit, by the way) in Fall 2006; we have:

• received over 21,000 submissions and published work of over 3,000 kids in our Newspaper Series, now carried in nine newspapers each week in VT & NH (we published 1,000 students this year!);
• Developed The Schools Project -- a comprehensive digital classroom and training project now used by 165 teachers and 6,500 students (many schools are renewing but are asking us to broaden our program to include all subjects or additional schools in the respective district);
• created a Multi-Media lab at our Champlain Mill headquarters where we train teachers, hold student workshops and stage reading/writing events (we've had over 300 kids in this year); and
• developed youngwritersproject.org where 3,500 active VT students share work, give and receive feedback and engage in all sorts of amazing creative activity. Additionally, 50-75 trained college students provide feedback each semester to these young writers who are creating 30,000+ piece a year.

This has all been possible because of the generosity of businesses, foundations and individuals like you.
THANKS, thanks, thanks.
Our work is not done, so please continue to support us by contributing. And know that the backbone and lifeblood of this -- Kathleen Bruce -- generously donates her time and energy in hopes you will give to us. Because she knows how important good writing skills are to help students gain confidence, learn and succeed.
cheers
Geoffrey Gevalt
YWP Director

My contact info::

Geoffrey Gevalt
Young Writers Project
Champlain Mill
20 Winooski Falls Way, Suite #4
Winooski, VT 05404
802-324-9537
ggevalt@youngwritersproject.org