Notes from The Max

Marian's Courage

In 2006, Marian was a sixth-grade student at Grover Cleveland Middle School and a Max Warburg Fellow. The views expressed are solely her own. We are honored to share her essay with you. Please do not copy, republish or repost the following content without express written permission from The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

In my own words, courage means being brave and doing the things that can give you a better life. Some of those things are getting a good education, showing respect for others, and trying your hardest. Well, I’ve shown courage in my life many times and I’d like to share with you one of those times.

I was born in Somalia, which is a country in Africa. I lived in Somalia for about seven years and then my family decided to move to Egypt. I lived in Egypt for about one and a half years. After that, we all moved to the United States.

My family came to the United States in April the year that I was eight years old. We settled in Massachusetts. I went to school when I was in Somalia, but I wasn’t able to go to school when I was in Egypt. In Massachusetts, I entered in the third grade, but it was hard for me because I didn’t know how to speak English. The school sent me to ESP classes where they showed me pictures and told me what they were called. They also read little books to me. Gradually, my English got better and better.

By the time I had entered fourth grade, I spoke a little English. I did all the work the teacher gave me to do. I always did what I could and tried my best because that is what my parents and teacher expected of me. My family moved once again, but I didn’t have to change schools. One month later, we moved once again, and this time I had to change schools. I was in the fourth grade at that time and really didn’t want to move or go to another school. I had made a ton of friends and I had wonderful teachers who taught me a lot of information.

I ended up going to a school in Brookline. It was a really good school. I liked it a lot. I made a lot of new friends. I had good teachers and I learned a lot. When I was in the fourth grade, I thought I’d learned as much as I could, but then in fifth grade, I learned even more! I am proud of how much I have accomplished academically. Now I don’t have to go to English class like other students. I have made huge progress.

Going to school every day and working hard is a really tough thing to do, but it is worth it because I know someday, all my efforts will help me.

Showing courage isn’t really easy sometimes, but everyone in the world shows courage in many different ways. I know that I showed courage by never giving up when I found school and learning English such a trying and difficult task.

I am very, very proud of myself for learning to speak English. It meant a lot to me. I learned a lot and I got smarter than I thought I could. I have learned that if you put your mind to it, you will be successful in getting a great education. This will give you a great future, but only if you put in a lot of courage. I’m still going to continue showing courage because that is one of the most important things in my life.

Letters About Literature

For many of us, there are books we never forget, books that made such an impression on us that we'll always remember reading it. Books can stir up powerful and emotional experiences and sometimes, a particular story can affect us profoundly.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target, is giving students across the country a chance to express their feelings for specific books in the Letters About Literature writing contest.

The contest asks students in grades 4-12 to "write to an author whose work (fiction or nonfiction, a short story, a poem, an essay or a speech) has somehow changed the child's view of the world or self." This contest isn't about writing an essay or book report; rather, it's about writing from the heart. Creativity and originality are valued in these personal, reflective letters. Students are asked to converse with the author, explaining how the author's work has affected their lives. 

The writing competition is divided into three levels: Level 1 = grades 4-6; Level 2 = grades 7-8; Level 3 = grades 9-12. Each state will have a panel of judges to select the winners in each of the three levels. Those three students then advance to the national competition judging. For the national contest,judges will select 6 National Winners (2 from each level) and 12 Honorable Mentions (4 from each level). Winners and Honorable Mentions receive Target gift cards and grants for their local or school libraries.

Teachers, librarians and homeschooling parents are all encouraged to consider having their students enter the contest. For the 2009-2010 year, letters must be postmarked by December 12, 2009 and received no later than December 24, 2009. State winners will be announced in March and National winners will be announced in April.

For more information, including official contest rules and instructions on how to submit a letter, please visit the Letters About Literature website.

Malik's Courage

In 2004, Malik was a sixth-grade student at William McKinley Middle School and a Max Warburg Fellow. The views expressed are solely his own. We are honored to share his essay with you. Please do not copy, republish or repost the following content without express written permission from The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

Let me tell you a story about something that I have had to deal with most of my life. My problem really began when I was born, but I didn’t realize it until first grade. I have a problem writing my thoughts on paper. I can’t write letters inside the lines. I have a lot of ideas in my head that I want to say, but I can’t explain them in written form.

I noticed it for years and years but when I became older I figured out that I could work with my teachers to help express my thoughts. It makes me sad at times because I want to tell everyone what my thoughts are but when I go to write them down on paper, it doesn’t look very good to me. Kids have made fun of me when they see my handwriting, too.

I have had to show courage throughout my entire life because of this problem. Just writing this courage essay shows that I have some good thoughts, but it took me a lot of time writing it out on paper and it still didn’t look very good.

Courage is having the ability to face your fears and not give up. If you try and believe in yourself, then you can finally overcome your problem. I hope that someday I will be able to write well enough for everyone to understand my thoughts. Until that time, I will have to be brave and courageous and believe I can do it.

Scary Good Books for Halloween

I love themed reading lists and holidays provide the perfect excuse to come up with some great holiday-related books to enjoy. So in between all of the costume parties, pumpkin carving and candy eating, consider taking the time to read one of these Halloween-inspired stories.

(The Max's Courage Curriculum participants are approximately aged 11-16. Therefore, these book recommendations would be appropriate for students in middle and high school.)

• Avi, Something Upstairs - there's a ghost in Kenny's new house and it's up to him to help solve the mystery of the ghost's death.
• Roald Dahl, The Witches - during a seemingly normal vacation, an English boy comes face to face with powerful organization of witches, determined to rid the world of children.
• Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book - after his parents' death, Nobody Owens is raised by the occupants of an old graveyard, in this best-selling and award-winning (Hugo, Newberry) novel.
• Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hallow - Irving's classic short story tells the tale of Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher who runs afoul of the fearsome Headless Horseman.
• Edgard Allen Poe, The Raven - a lyrical narrative poem with a haunting refrain, a raven taunts a distraught man with the simple - and grating - "nevermore."
• J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter (series) - The story starts, aptly enough, on Halloween night and, over the course of seven books, takes us on a wild ride that includes classic Halloween-ish characters including witches, wizards, vampires, werewolves, giant spiders, nearly headless ghosts, dragons and a snake or two.
• R.L. Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde -a London detective tries to unravel the mysterious connection between the affable Dr. Jekyll and the misanthropic Mr. Hyde, in a case of split personality gone awry.

Happy Halloween!

Fabiola's Courage

In 2007, Fabiola was a sixth-grade student at Mary Lyon K-8 School and a Max Warburg Fellow. The views expressed are solely her own. We are honored to share her essay with you. Please do not copy, republish or repost the following content without express written permission from The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

I was really confident in myself until I got to fifth grade. I never doubted what people thought about me and I always kept my head up high, but I always felt left out. So I decided to try to fit in. I asked one of my friends to try to make me “cool.” That was the worst mistake of my life, which lead to a courageous moment in my life.

Before, I used to be kind of a geek, always the person who was the teacher’s pet. But everything changed as soon as I became cool. As soon as my friend made me “cool,” everyone wanted to be my friend. Now I had a bit of the spotlight. It kind of felt good for once, but then I realized that I was unhappy. I could not like the things of my own, like reading or school. I had to like other things like makeup and fashion. I thought to myself, “Fab’s, this isn’t you. Try to be yourself,” but I didn’t. I hated that!

Then one day at school, a group of girls asked me to skip school with them. A bunch of things went through my head the moment they asked me that. I thought to myself, “If I say no, I will have the reputation of a wimp and everyone will start to laugh at me and call me names. I’ll be the class joke!!” I stood frozen for a little while and then I told them that I would think about it, but I knew I was going to say no because I didn’t want to get in trouble.

In conclusion, I learned that I couldn’t pretend to be someone I am not, and thankfully I said “no.” I still can remember the faces they gave me, but even though I lost all my (fake) friends, I know I did the right thing, and that is what matters.

I think some people say that they are afraid to be themselves, so they pretend to be somebody they are not and agree to do stupid things instead of defending what is right. I would tell them not to be afraid of greatness and to just be themselves.

National Family Literacy Day

On Sunday November 1st, and throughout the month of November, the National Center for Family Literacy, in partnership with literacy organizations across the country, will celebrate National Family Literacy Day.

Literacy is a keyword often associated with schools and students, particular younger students. But adult literacy is just as important. Family literacy works to ensure that every member of a family is able to work towards improved literacy skills. According to the NCFL website, it is "based upon the simple, but powerful premise that parents and children learn best when learning together."

The NCFL will partner with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History for a special event on November 2nd. The museum will feature storytelling programs and theater performances highlighting milestones from American history. If you can't make it to Washington, DC, the education-based website Read White Think (in conjunction with the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English) has a list of suggested activities for the home and classroom.

For activities and events in your area, please check with your local library or local literacy organization. You may also want to see if local schools and school departments are planning any festivities.

William's Courage

In 1999, William was a sixth-grade student at the Patrick F. Gavin School and a Max Warburg Fellow. The views expressed are solely his own. We are honored to share his essay with you. Please do not copy, republish or repost the following content without express written permission from The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

It takes a lot of courage to be a big brother and a father to my younger siblings. Why? Because my father doesn’t live with us. Sometimes I get discouraged being a big brother. But, hey, that’s life!

My mother is always telling me life isn’t easy. I don’t expect it to be. That’s why I have to be strong for my oldest sister. That’s why being there for them is very important. I look forward to being there for them all the time – rain, sleet, snow, morning, noon, and night! I want them to know that I will always be there for them. One day my youngest sister and brother could be writing about courage in their lives. Maybe they will look back at me and smile.

I look at my mother and see myself because growing up as a woman in the ‘90s with four children takes a lot of courage. Also, I know what she goes through to make sure we are fed and clothed. As a young man seeing how men can just walk out the door, leaving a woman with four children, I realize I don’t ever want to be like that. I want to be myself, William, a strong, black young man growing up in a five-bedroom apartment with sisters and all my courage. That’s why I give women the most respect, knowing that sometimes men put them through a great time. For that, I live to see daylight and sunshine every day – with the courage and dignity that I have.

Rebecca's Courage

In 1999, Rebecca was a sixth-grade student at the Boston Renaissance Charter School and a Max Warburg Fellow. The views expressed are solely her own. We are honored to share her essay with you. Please do not copy, republish or repost the following content without express written permission from The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

Courage to me is saying and doing things that will help give you strength, even if it scares you. That’s what I felt like in my story.

My sister is a great girl. She and I do everything together. She was nineteen and I was nine when all this happened. We were at a convenience store, and my sister told me to go get some milk. That’s when the trouble started.

It was my first time in the store, so I didn’t know where the milk aisle was. I turned to my sister and asked, “Where is the milk ai-.” I was shocked by what I saw. My sister was stuffing three candy bars and a juice into her coat. She had a big coat with big pockets, so it was easy for her. She jumped around and said, “Oh, I’m getting a few things that we don’t have enough money for.” But I knew those things weren’t on the grocery list.

In a whispering voice, I told her to put them back. I told her it was wrong and she might get caught because they had cameras, and I cared if she got caught because I loved her. She did put all the stuff back, finally.

I felt that stopping my sister was courageous because it took courage to go up to her and say, “Put it back.” She was the older one, so she could have yelled at me or something else. It took courage because the older sibling was supposed to set an example for me, but I still knew what to do.

By the way, my sister is now in jail for stealing bigger things. But I’m glad I helped a little bit by telling her to put back some things that she took.

Meet Us in Copley Square!

Last week, we told you about the upcoming Boston Book Festival, which will take place this Saturday in Copley Square from 10am to 6pm.

In addition to hosting several authors and writers, you’ll also be able to connect with your favorite language arts and character development curriculum! The Max will have a booth at the Boston Book Fest, so if you’re in the area, be sure to seek us out.

We’ll have copies of The Courage of Boston’s Children, Vol. 18 to give out, along with a chance to become a courage hero by having your picture taken with our newest friend, the Courage in Action Hero (see some pictures from a previous event on our website). We’ll be answering questions about our programs and hopefully making some new friends as well.

So tell all your friends and family and we’ll see you at the Book Festival!

Larry's Courage

In 2001, Larry was a sixth-grade student at Solomon Lewenberg Middle School and a Max Warburg Fellow. The views expressed are solely his own. We are honored to share his essay with you. Please do not copy, republish or repost the following content without express written permission from The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

I showed courage in my life last year. I was in the fifth grade and I had this problem at school. I was doing great in all of my classes. Then one day, as I was walking to lunch, I bumped into this boy named Clinton. His lunch went all over his face. Everybody in the cafeteria started to laugh. I knew he felt embarrassed.

At school the next day, he was mad at me. Anytime I looked at him, he would hold up his fist. I wasn’t scared because I didn’t think he was for real. That afternoon, as I was taking my lock off of my locker, he came over and put my lock back on.

He said, “Tomorrow after school, you and me.”

Everybody heard, so I couldn’t back down on this. I started to think about what I should do.

Then I thought I should just tell him that I was sorry. I was excited. I thought that he wouldn’t believe me, but I was still going to tell him. The next day was Thursday, the day he wanted to fight. I was scared, but I was still a man. He was standing there. He was waiting for me.

I went up to him and said, “Sorry for what I did."

He looked in my eyes and told me I was a courageous boy for saying that. We didn’t fight and now we are friends.