A New Wrinkle to Teaching I
n a new children’s book writen by Marquin Parks (MA09), the main character Wrinkles Wallace, 28, along with a zany
group of fellow adult classmates have to repeat the 5th grade. With classmates such as Lenny, the vicious, verbal vulture and Snooze, the sultan of sleeping in class, Parks knows how to capture his young readers’ atention. Te book, geared for ages 8-12, is full of humor and
silliness, but Parks has methodically placed serious real life issues into the storyline that deal with responsibility, treating others with respect, self-improvement and utilizing teamwork to overcome obstacles. In 2011, Parks participated in the Eastern Michigan
Writing Project, an intensive four-week session designed for teachers and administrators concerned with the teaching of writing in any subject area and who are interested in professional growth opportunities. “Eastern’s Writing Project influenced me to go above and
beyond and to believe in myself and my abilities as a writer,” says Parks. “It allowed me to formulate and establish my philosophy on writing in a manner that challenged me as an author and educator. Te discussions, presentations, group work, research and sharing of writing, fueled my fire to do something bigger with the giſts I possess. Once I accepted myself as a writer, things really began to take off for me.” Parks, a native of Ann Arbor, is
currently teaching 5th grade in the Farmington Public School District and says inspiration to write Wrinkles Wallace: Knights of Night School was born out of trying to motivate his elementary students to read in class. “I would rely on my creative writing
skills when I needed to entertain my students in the classroom and I started writing my first book during their silent reading period. Ten, I would read excerpts to my students and get their feedback,” he says.
Photograph by Randall Mascharka
by Debra Johnson Elementary school teacher Marquin Parks uses original writing to reach students “I’ve always wanted to write a children’s book that takes
kids through situations that can influence their lives in a positive and meaningful manner,” Parks says. “It can be hard to teach these situations in a classroom—but through writing, I can share the information in ways they can understand and enjoy, while expanding my audience in order to help more students and teachers.” Parks has continued his involvement with Eastern’s Writing
Project and frequently visits EMU undergraduate classrooms, offering examples of his writing and personal experiences to encourage students to “follow their dreams.” He also spoke at the summer writing camp “Inkstains” and has shared his love of writing and teaching during numerous Author Talks to youth in the area. “Marquin won our admiration for sharing the work of a
novel in progress, not Wrinkles Wallace, but a succeeding work,” says Bill Tucker, director of the Writing Program at Eastern. “We knew him as a teacher who loved children, especially the challenging ones. His teaching demonstration showed how he engaged those students with reading and writing.” 3
Marquin Parks
Eastern | SPRING 2013 33
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