Teacher-Consultant Helps Young Writers Find Their Voice

Publication: Sacramento Bee
Date: June 26, 2008

Summary: Cheri Olmstead of the Area 3 Writing Project (California) oversaw an eight-month writing project that allowed three girls to write, revise, edit, and eventually publish their own books.

Excerpt from Article

"These girls will be writers for life," said Cheri Olmstead, the girls' teacher in a special eight-month writing project that began at the Arden-Dimick Library on Watt Avenue and culminated recently with each girl having written a book that was published.

Kaitlyn Henning, 14, wrote a science- fiction story about a girl who saves the world from a deadly virus. Amber Rynberk borrowed a bedtime story her mother would tell her little brother. The 15-year-old's illustrated book is about a duck who was different from most. Sixth-grader Elena Fricke, 12, wrote a mystery about a family that goes on vacation in Polynesia. When they arrive at the Pacific Ocean islands, the parents disappear, leaving their two children to discover their whereabouts. Each of the books were published online and edited by Olmstead, a writing specialist who recently received a commendation from state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.

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