that we have a lot to be grate-ful for and that we are not on this earth alone. We need others and others need us.

I must comment though that I am not very happy with Congress’s decision on the disaster days. The way the policy was written, many school districts, included mine, was not forgiven for many of the days. I believe we only got three out of the nine days we missed. I mean, it was deemed “The BIGGEST natural disaster in the state of Kentucky EVER!” They couldn’t be a little more leni-ent?

When I heard that portfolios were not going to be assessed I had mixed emotions. My first thought, having been a portfolio teacher for 3 years, was Dang! Wish they had done that when I was wag-ging those portfolios home

Whew! What a roller coaster educators of Ken-tucky have experienced this year! The state department has really kept us on the edge of our seats about issues such as CATS testing, portfolios scoring, disaster days, funding, and the list goes on and on. I don’t know about you, but I think this has made for one really looooong year!

A few of us are out by now,

enjoying all that summer vacation has to offer; others of us are holding in there for another few weeks. (2 1/2 more for me to be exact.) But I think all of us can look back at this year and agree that it has been one of the most eventful school years Kentucky has seen in a while.

For me, the main two events has been the ice storm (of course) and the restructuring, if you will, of our CATS assessment. There is not much I can say about the ice storm that has not already been said. While it was difficult, I have to say I learned a lot about my self and my community in how we survived it. I saw so many acts of kindness that I actually have found many blessings from it. Some-times we need reminded

The End to Another School Year

Inside this issue:

Student Writings 2

Icy Tales Anthology 3

PAWP Happenings 3

Faughn’s Poetry 4

Event Flyers 5

Contact Info 8

PAWP

PAWP Newsletter

night after night.” But then, I thought, “Wait a minute, what about all that work?!”

I have long believed that the On Demand portion of the CATS test was a more accurate reflec-tion of a student’s actual writ-ing ability, but I also see the benefits of the portfolio process. Teaching students how to reflect on their writing, how to confer-ence, edit , and think critically about their writing pieces are wonderful skills the portfolio process helps to teach. While I know those skills can still be taught in the classroom without a portfolio, I have to wonder, will it be?

What are your thoughts? We are all PAWPers!

That means we like to write! If you’re a teacher I know you have an opinions on these is-sues. Let me, and the rest of us, know what it is!

May ‘09 Volume 2, Issue 3

PAWPer Is Inducted into Hall of Fame! Dale Faughn , who is in his 59th year of teaching, with four other teachers was inducted into the Louie B. Nunn Ken-tucky Teacher Hall of Fame on February 10 in the state capitol ro-tunda. He was a member of the summer Murray State writing program in 1986. That same year the Kentucky

House of Representa-tives chose him as a Kentucky Poet Laure-ate. Faughn, who teaches biology and forensics at Caldwell County High school, was in-ducted into the Na-tional Teachers Hall of Fame in 1998. This 83 year old teacher says that he plans to con-tinue teaching until he starts to get old.

Earlier this year, Mr. Faughn sent me a book of his poetry. I absolutely loved them! I have included some of my favorites in this issue.

Congratulations Mr. Faughn on ALL of your accomplish-ments!

WRITING FOR KY GREEN & HEALTH Y SCHOOLS PROGRAM

Project leader and former PAW-Per Nakia Brown recently asked the students of Wingo Elementary to write poems about being “green”. Sister and another PAW-Per LeAnna Pritchard had several of her third graders brainstorm ideas for poems in small groups and then create poetry to be pub-lished in their classroom “Green Leaves Newsletter”. Mrs. Pritchard stated that, “Some of them were so excited they created more than one!”

Mrs. Pritchard also had her students create persuasive letters that encourage friends and family to join in on taking better care of our Earth.

Fortunately, Mrs. Pritchard was kind of enough to share with us

some of the finished products. Please read on and enjoy!

Green is good for the earth.

Recycle cans, glass, and newspa-per.

Energy save it.

Electricity powers the house.

Never give upon cleaning. By Caitlin Burgess

Page 2 PAWP Newsletter

“The difference

between the

ordinary and the

extraordinary is

the little extra.”

Green is what represents the earth.

Recycling helps the earth get clean.

Earth looks good.

Earth is clean.

Never stop cleaning. by Drew Stone

Go green for life

Recycle and clean

Eat off glass plates

Everyone should recycle

No one should litter

By Ashley Copeland

Go plant a tree

Reduce, reuse, and recycle

Everyone can help by turning off the light

Everyone can help by recycling too

Now go out there and be green

By Dylan Jones

There was a teacher at Wingo.

She had a dog named Bingo.

She loved the water cycle.

It was time to recycle.

She could teach you a thing-o!

By Sidney Bushart

There was a boy who was lucky

He lived in Kentucky

He knew the world needed to be green

He made it very clean

So he picked up trash in his trucky

By Brenden Young

We

Need to

Turn off lights

When not being needed

Save energy, only use it

When you need to

Turn off lights

Save energy

Now

By Jennifer Yopp Great thing leads to a good environment

Recycling is good

Everybody should recycle

Everybody does not recycle

Never polite

I’m a recycler

So recycle

Green is a good color

On the top of recycling

Obey rules

Do you recycle? By Courtney Williams

Green is the best thing

The green team is the best

Green is good

Green is great

Green is what we appreciate

You need to pickup the grass

Mow the land

Turn the world in to the best gift

Cleaning a yard

Pick vegetables

Get water

Pick up litter

Plant a garden

Now we have a good world

By Taylor Dodge

Roses are red

Violets are blue

If you don’t recycle

I’ll be disappointed in you!

By Courtney Williams

Students of 18 PAWPers submit-ted over 200 submissions to the recent Icy Tales Anthology pro-ject. Teachers Todd Ross, Karen Smith, Miranda Wilson, Carol Withrow, and Karen Smith wrote about their own ice storm experi-ences , so Icy Tales will feature both student and teacher poems, narratives, letters and feature articles. The completed book is expected to contain over 200 pages!

Advisory board members Jen Wetzel, Karen Smith, and Katye Guess read the entries and se-lected 41 “commended” writings. These will be identified as such in the anthology, and the authors

will be invited to accompany their PAWP teacher to our fall confer-ence September 24, 2009, to read aloud their “commended” pieces. They will also receive a tour of the campus and a complimentary lunch for both the students and teach-ers. Another surprise presentation to con-clude the day is also in the works.

Debbie Bell’s stu-dents in MSU’s NCTE affiliate organization provided valuable assistance in designing the layout and collating the writings. Josh

Woehlke devoted many hours to putting the submissions into cam-era– ready format, and President

Evelyn Garner is assisting with conference plans for the commended students.

PAWPers who partici-pated in the anthology project included: Debbie Bushart, Todd Ross, April Willett, Miranda Wilson, Kecia Blake, Christina Ethridge, June Ann Toombs, Nadia Brown, Craig Carter, Kathy

Colvett, Kay Frances, Susie Gooch, Debbie Smith, Tammy Wilson, Carol Withrow, Karen Smith, Margaret Richter, and Sandra Morgan.

Congratulations to Hope!

Monica Lewis, Carol Withrow, assistant director, and Doris Cella, outreach director, attended the National Writing Project’s Urban Sites conference in Louis-ville, KY, April 24-25. Carol led a session, and Doris participated in a roundtable discussion of NWP’s early years.

Toni Spence, Jen Wetzel, and Karen Smith will represent our Project at the Kentucky Writing

Hope Foster, a PAWPer at Murray Middle, won the adult division of a local writing con-test that honors the memory of Steve McReynolds, a be-loved young Murrayan tragi-cally killed in an auto acci-dent.

Each year, the contest fea-tures a different character trait. She wrote about the character trait, responsibility.

One of her students won the middle school division, too!

Project’s Advanced Institute, June 16-18, 2009, at Lake Cum-berland State Park.

Pam Dossett at Holiday Ele-mentary in Christian Co. recently conducted a workshop at Crofton Elementary on writing reflective letters.

Jennifer Gobin wrote an article about her school’s success (Sebree Elementary) for the local newspaper.

Icy Tales Anthology

And Here’s What Other PAWPers Are Up To…...

provide funds to sponsor a maximum of five school teams (up to four individuals each) to attend one of these acad-emies. If your school is inter-ested, please contact doris.cella@murraystate.edu

or

Debie.bell@murraystate.edu

immediately.

PAWP is also available to facilitate Professional Devel-opment sessions at individual school sites during the sum-mer or early fall. For details, contact Doris at the above address. See page 6

PAWP Events for Schools Planned

The 2009 summer acad-emies sponsored by KWP will focus on literacy issues at sites throughout the state in June. Our own Carol Withrow will lead the academy nearest to us in Madisonville. For complete details, check the KWP web-site or contact Debbie Bell or Doris. Our Project site will

Page 3 Volume 2, Issue 3

Come to the edge.

We might fall.

Come the edge.

It’s too high!

COME TO THE

EDGE!

And they came

And he pushed

And they flew…

Christopher Logue

The two works on this page come from Caldwell County‘s biology teacher, PAWP mem-ber from the very first sum-mer institute in 1986, Ken-tucky Poet Laureate, and Kentucky Teacher Hall of Famer: Dale Faughn.

The poems are from his book, Observations & Exhor-tations that he published with the help of artist Ricky Phelps. The poetry is uplift-ing, spiritual, and “real”. I only have room to share a few, so I picked out my two favorites.

If you ever have the chance to get your hands on a copy I am sure you will feel as blessed as I did when he mailed it to me.

I’m sure all teachers can relate to this one...

They Helped to Put Him There

They catered to his every want;

They humored him each day;

They never seemed to realize

The price they’d have to pay.

When he would whimper in the least,

They’d rush there to console;

It did not take him long to learn

That he was in control.

When they would take him to the church,

And he would fret and cry,

They’d snatch him up and drive back home;

They’d always pacify.

When he would fail to het his way,

He’d scream till he turned blue;

He knew that they would soon give in,

And pleasures would ensue.

When he got older and got out,

And troubles did be tide,

They never looked to find the cause;

They always took his side.

If trouble in the class arose,

They always had the rule:

“It’s not out little son at all;

The fault lies in the school.”

When he would disobey the law,

And be locked up in jail;

They’d rush right sown without delay,

And write a check for bail.

And on that soul-despairing night,

When he died in the chair;

They finally realized that they

Had helped to put him there.

Poems by Poet Laureate and PAWPer Dale Faughn

The first four stanzas remind me so much of my little brother, but he is very giving when it comes to the Lord.

Who Will Spend It Then?

You’d drive a mile to save a dime,

And smug indeed you’d feel;

You’d pat yourself upon your back

Because you found that deal.

I’ve seen you wear those worn-out clothes;

They’re patched from head to toe;

Your savings though are getting big;

Both night and day they grow.

Vacation trips I’ve seen you shun;

Not even one you’ve made;

When business took you out of town,

It was at dumps you stayed.

At church when offering time rolls ‘round,

The plate you always shun;

The only way you’d five at all:

If ushers had a gun.

When special needs were brought about—

Like when a house burned down,

You offered not a helping hand;

It looked more like a frown.

I wonder if you’ve thought about;

When life for you will end;

Just who will have the money then

That you’ve refused to spend?

Now while it is within your power,

Spend wisely as you can;

To lift the name of Jesus up,

And serve your fellowman.

Page 4 Volume 2, Issue 3

Save the Date!!!

2010 Murray Shakespeare Festival

Romeo and Juliet

February 22nd 7:00 PM

February 23rd 10:00 AM

February 24th 10:00 AM

Knight of the Burning Pestle

February 24th 7:00 PM

Attention All Principals and Teachers:

Due to the popularity of the Shakespeare performances this past year, we are de-lighted to announce that the Murray State Shakespeare Festival will be hosting Ro-meo and Juliet and Knight of the Burning Pestle in February of 2010. Dr. Barbara Cobb and Dr. Rusty Jones are busy preparing teaching resources for teachers of mid-dle and high school students and are willing to assist introducing Shakespeare to your students. This is an exciting opportunity for all students in the Western Kentucky area so put the dates on your calendar now. You’ll receive additional information af-ter the beginning of school in August.

For more information you may email Dr. Cobb at

Barbara.cobb@murraystate.edu or Dr. Jones at rusty.jones@murraystate.edu

Rivertown Reading Series

DENISE DUHAMEL Saturday

July 25th at 8 P.M.

The Yeiser Art Center

200 Broadway

Paducah, KY

Denise Duhamel's most recent poetry titles are Ka-Ching! (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2009); Two and Two (Pittsburgh, 2005); Mille et un Sen-timents (Firewheel, 2005); Queen for a Day: Selected and New Poems (Pittsburgh, 2001); and The Star-Spangled Banner (Southern Illinois Uni-versity Press, 1999). She edited, with Maureen Seaton and David Trini-dad, Saints of Hysteria: A Half-Century of Collaborative American Poetry (Soft Skull, 2007). A bilingual edition of her poems, Afortunada de mí (Lucky Me), translated into Spanish by Dagmar Buchholz and David Gon-zalez, was released with Bartleby Editores (Madrid) in 2008.

A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, she is an as-sociate professor at Florida International University in Miami.

“Well, duh…”, but I bet many others are learning this for the first time. Honestly, I did not know about it until I began writing this newsletter, and even until just recently I did not realize what a great re-source it was.

On the website, you get all the contact information and de-tails about PAWP, but you can use it for a great many other things. As I said earlier, the website offers a host of links that will take you to websites designed to help you plan won-derful reading and writing activities for your classroom. There is also a link to all the past newsletters and up to date news on upcoming PAWP events and announcements.

Did you know that the Murray State PAWP website has the latest news and announcements on upcoming events that may be of in-terest to the PAW-Pers?

Did you know that it also has a list of resources on Unit Planning, Les-son Planning, Li-braries & Muse-ums, and Agencies & Organizations?

Did you know there WAS a Murray State PAWP web-site?

Some of you may be saying

Next time you are on the web, take a minute and check it out. This website is a good resource in keeping the PAWP community together, and “in the know”, no matter how long ago you attended the summer institute.

Did You Know?

Doris Cella shared with me this “golden moment” experienced by PAWPer Jennifer Lacey. I thought it was great and knew many of you could relate to that “end of the year slump”.

“Just had that golden moment in teaching! Parent teacher conferences were tonight and my student's mom only wanted to talk to me. Scary at first, but she just wanted to thank me for encouraging him this year in his writing. His short story started 48 pages...narrowed down and edited to 26, by the way! And she said because I didn't set a limit and I read his story and responded to it (1 ½ hours later! :-)), he has since started the sequel! Isn't that great! She made my year when I was just starting to get in that end of the year

slump!” - Jennifer Lacey

“Judge each day, not by the harvest, but by the seeds you plant.”- Unknown

We’re on the web!

www.campus.murraystate.edu/pawp

PAWP People

**Debbie Bell

Co-Director

dbell@murray.kyschools.us

**Ted Brown

Director

Telephone: 270.809.6937

Facsimile: 270.809.3424

ted.brown@murraystate.edu

**Doris Cella

Co-Director

doris.cella@murraystate.edu

Just a reminder that online teacher resources for

Five Kentucky Poets Laureate: An Anthology are available on the Kentucky Arts Council website at http://artscouncil.ky.gov/PoetAnthology/PoetAnthology.htm. Online resources include lesson plans, downloadable handouts and video clips of the poets reading from their original writings. Using the navigation bar on the left side of the page, teachers may go from the anthology video clips to the Kentucky Writers’ Day page, where you will find even more video clips recorded on Writers’ Day 2009, including the induction of Kentucky Poet Laureate 2009-2010 Gurney Norman, and recitations by Kentucky’s state Poetry Out Loud winners Torie DiMar-tile and Barbara Gooding, who placed second in the Na-tional Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest. Finally, there is also a link called Opportunities for High School Classes, which invites teachers to request printed copies of poems and prose by the Kentucky Poets Laureate to be delivered in time for Kentucky Writers’ Day 2010.

Tamara Coffey, Individual Artist Program Director

BY THE WAY…...