In the spring of 1998, Oceanside (CA) School Superintendent, Ken Noonan, appointed children's author John H. Ritter to be the Honorary Writer in Residence for the Oceanside Unified School District. John served for two years at Stuart Mesa Elementary School on the Camp Pendleton Marine Base up until June 2000. John thought that a professional writer's presence on campus would be inspirational to the students and a boon to the faculty as well.
"I was a little hesitant at first," said John, "because of the time commitment, but I thought it was worth a try."
So far, John's vision seems to have been realized, as Dr. Brian Kolb, principal of Stuart Mesa, reported a mutual benefit in the program for the students and the staff.
"I know the kids enjoy talking to me," said John, "and asking nuts and bolts questions about their writing. I can see improvement in their work, too. But I get a lot out of it, as well. As a children's book writer, it's important for me to stay in touch with the fast-paced and ever-changing world of kids today, and I really treasure the feedback they give to me on projects I have underway."
Dr. Kolb provided John with office space, complete with computer and Internet hook-up, on the Stuart Mesa campus where he spent each Thursday working on his current book, doing research, and visiting classrooms to give presentations to the students on writing.
As the district Writer in Residence, he also visited other schools in the area to talk with students of all ages about the writing process.
The position was honorary and truly a labor of love, but John said he saw it "as a way to give something back to the community" that had over the years been so supportive of him and his wife, Cheryl, who taught at Stuart Mesa.
In addition to his role as Writer in Residence, Ritter also led a four-week GATE writing program for Dr. Kolb's students each winter, passing along personal, hard-won tips on the writing process.
By Cpl. M. C. Miller
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Apr 29) -- An award-winning author of children's books who visits Camp Pendleton weekly to help children with their writing says it's his civic obligation.
"I feel that people in all professions should pass on what they know to kids," said John H. Ritter, a local children's book author. "I try to do that through my books and coming here to teach."
Ritter, an International Reading Association Children's Book Award winner, helps students improve poetry and writing skills Thursdays in workshops at Stuart Mesa Elementary School.
"He teaches regular students and those in the Gifted and Talented Education program, which offers advanced work for children who naturally excel in school," Principal Brian Kolb said.
Ritter began teaching gifted children in 1994 at San Luis Rey Elementary School in Oceanside. His wife, Cheryl, was a teacher there.
She transferred to Stuart Mesa when the school opened at the beginning of the current school year. Her husband followed her. The school provides an office where he can write books and make lesson plans.
He continues to teach gifted children and in January added the workshops to his Thursday schedule.
"I have seen a dramatic improvement in writing in the classrooms that have used his writing workshops," Kolb said.
"I think the kids are naturally drawn to him. The same talent that allows him to write children's books allows him to speak to and teach them from down at their level. He has a very special, natural gift."
"Since I am a children's book writer, being among all these kids seems like the natural thing for me to do," Ritter said. "Just being in the school makes my writing more realistic to kids. I want to write like they think and act."
Volunteering also offers Ritter a chance to pass on some of his knowledge to the next generation, he said. "I like being here because I feel that I am doing something good for the kids."
"It's pretty cool that he takes the time to talk to us," fourth-grader Brandon Quiroga said. "He explains to us how he gets ideas for his books and how he puts his ideas on paper."
Ritter has passed knowledge to children through books since 1988, when he joined a writing circle, a group of amateur writers who share ideas and critique each others work. He wrote short stories until his first book, Choosing Up Sides, was published last year.
The book features Luke, a 13-year-old boy, who has to decide between obeying his father and playing baseball. His father is a preacher who is convinced the left arm is the devil's arm, but Luke's left-handed pitch is one of the best around.
Although the book is based on sports, Ritter tries to tie it in with life issues every child can relate to, he said.
He is working on a second novel, Over the Wall, which also has a baseball theme. Ritter will be presented the IRACB award May 4 in San Diego.
John H. Ritter, children's book author, teaches second-graders how to write a letter at Stuart Mesa Elementary School. He is scheduled to receive the International Reading Association Children's Book Award May 4 for his first novel Choosing Up Sides.
End--Marines Digest (06/07/1999)
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Read more about and an excerpt from Choosing Up Sides
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Read an excerpt from Under the Baseball Moon
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