And We're Off! @Cwpfairfield! Sports Writing & Little Lab For Big Imaginations

The kids finished school last Friday and this Monday, we're back with our first two Young Adult Literacy Labs - 30 young people coming to Fairfield University to think like sportscasters, biographers, sports journalists, interviewers, as well as poets, storytellers, and comic illustrators. Last week, the books arrived, the writers' notebooks were set in place, and the room was organized.

Last night, Ali and Abu arrived (Alli ali alli Allah, Alli Al Abu), Mr. King and Justin came over, and we planned for the week ahead with athletics, ideas, team building and sports trivia. I am already realizing that feeding so many this summer is going to require me to remortgage my house.

Meanwhile, Mindy, Jessica and Stefania have created a phenomenal week for our littlest writers - the first week of three this summer as the numbers keep increasing.

Always thankful to my buddy and inspiration, Kwame Alexander, for providing the backdrop for some of the work this summer. No one crafts a poetic story like him, especially that appeals to all the readers and writers we work with. Rebound  has quickly become a crowd favorite and The Playbook is a great way to get kids listing and thinking (we're going to create our own Playbooks for Sports Writing this week).

Holding my breath.

Here we go!