Read Amani's essay, "A Deafening Silence," about how we can't stand quietly while others scream in pain, that we must speak for those who have been silenced by social injustice.
YES! National Student Writing Competition
An opportunity for students to write for an audience beyond the classroom, and personally reflect on topics that can be transformational, even life-changing.
Read Elizabeth's essay, "Compassionate Communities" about the importance of regaining the depth in our feelings so that we may live with awareness and connect with the rest of the world.
Read Naomi's essay, "Black Girl, White Space" about the prejudice she faces in her AP Class and the experiment she is doing to expose it.
Read Karen's essay, "Love: Free of Fear and Judgment," about how feeling better in her own skin has helped her see the potential in our society.
We received many powerful essays for the Spring 2015 Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we'd like to share some excerpts that caught our eye.
Gerald Mitchell responds to the winners of the Fall 2015 "Justice for All" writing competition.
Want a motivator to take your students’ writing to a higher level? Here’s an opportunity for them to write for a real audience, and the chance to get published by an award-winning magazine.
Read Nancy's essay, "Someone Like Me," about how a classroom visitor helped her share a secret with her classmates.
Read Jennifer's essay, "If You Give a Student a Voice," about two teachers who taught her to love learning.
Read Chiwon's essay, "How to Make a Superhero," about how her "Making It Real" class made her feel like a superhero in training.
Read Salma's essay, "Teaching Students to Shine," about her experience as a Mexican American in an American English class, and how she gained the confidence to let her light shine.
Read Annabel's essay, "What We Learn Tells Us Who We Are," about why stories about transgender people should be included in the curriculum.
Read Noah's essay, "To Learn is to Live," about how self-directed learning inspires him to make the world a better place.
We received many powerful essays for the Spring 2015 Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we'd like to share some excerpts that caught our eye.
Curtis Acosta responds to the winners of the Spring 2015 "Learning That Matters" essay competition.