譯寫■葉興台 轉自立報
就讀美國威斯康辛州瑞真希公園小學（Regency Park Elementary School）的五年級生可兒‧魯薩克喜歡閱讀充滿劇情的故事，當她有機會寫自己的書和出版時，她加入了很多劇情。
今年11歲的可兒說：「能夠出書聽起來有點酷，我們一開始是在便條紙上寫，然後用電腦打字。」
根據基督教科學箴言報、美聯社等媒體報導，瑞真希公園小學的學生，參與總部位於堪薩斯州的全國學習公司（Nationwide Learning）旗下子公司學生寶（Studentreasures）的寫作計畫。全國學習公司專門出版學生的作品，根據該公司的網站，去年美國有7千多所學校參與這項寫作計畫。
瑞真希公園小學五年級老師柯琳‧史皮爾斯（Colleen Spears）表示，一到四年級學生合寫班級書，每個五年級學生則與一個同學合寫一本書。除了上課時間，學生利用課堂休息時間寫書，甚至在放學後主動留在學校寫書。這些手稿加上已畫好圖的封面，在感恩節當天被送到出版公司，瑞真希公園小學日前收到新書，每個學生也拿到一本贈書，學生的家人可以付費買書。
史皮爾斯表示：「這項出版計畫有多重好處，學生在故事中用了直喻和暗喻，程度直逼全州水準，他們也學會團隊合作和遵守截稿時間，這些書很棒，我非常驕傲，他們就像我的孩子。」
可兒的書《我的人生轉黑白那天》（The Day My Life Turned Upside Down），內容描述一名皇后習慣身邊的所有事情都有人打點好，有一天卻發現自己置身在荒島上，孤立無助的感覺，彷彿天就要塌下來。她與同學瑪麗亞‧洛赫恩合寫這本書。
10歲的艾琳‧辛古和馬迪‧羅亞波則合寫《三隻愚蠢的猴子》（The Three Nerdy Monkeys），內容描述3隻猴子的妹妹遭人綁架。艾琳說：「我對我的書非常驕傲。」
可兒的母親亞莉克希絲‧魯薩克認為，這項出版計畫可幫助兒童發揮想像力，她說：「這是他們創作故事和看著書從無到有過程的絕佳機會，看到他們團隊合作也令人開心。」
可兒多買了兩本《我的人生轉黑白那天》，希望與祖父母共讀。
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Students have stories published
by Karen Zapf
Staff Writer
December 24, 2009 
Like many young girls, Chloe Rusak enjoys reading stories that are chock full of drama.
So when the Regency Park Elementary School fifth-grader got the chance to write her own book and get it published, she incorporated drama.
"It was kind of cool," said Chloe, 11, of Plum. "We started writing it on scratch paper and then typed it on a computer."
Regency Park Elementary students became authors by participating in Studentreasures, a division of Nationwide Learning of Topeka, Kan., a company that publishes students' books. According to the company's Web site, more than 7,000 schools throughout the U.S. last year participated in the publishing project.
Fifth-grade teacher Colleen Spears said students in first through fourth grades wrote class books. Each fifth-grader teamed up with a partner to write a book. Spears said Kevin Shaffer's fifth-grade class also wrote books.
In addition to class time, the students worked through recess on the projects and even stayed after school. The manuscripts, complete with illustrated covers, were sent to the publishing company at Thanksgiving, and Regency Park received the completed books last week. Each student received a book for free.
Families could pay for additional copies.
Spears said the projects had multiple benefits. She said the children used similes and metaphors in the stories " items that are part of the state standards.
They also learned about teamwork and meeting deadlines.
"(The books) are phenomenal," Spears said. "I am so proud. They are like my own children."
Rusak's story, "The Day My Life Turned Upside Down," is about a queen who is accustomed to having everything done for her and finds herself on a deserted island. She worked with fellow student, Maria Lawhorne, 11.
Erin Simqu, and Madi LoAlbo, both 10, wrote, "The Three Nerdy Monkeys." The story is about three monkeys who have a new sister who is kidnapped.
"I was really proud of it," Erin said.
Alexis Rusak, Chloe's mother, saw the project as a way for the children to use their imaginations.
"It was a great opportunity for them to create a story and see the process of making a book from start to finish," said Alexis Rusak, 40, of Plum. "And it's nice to see teamwork."
In addition to the family's complimentary copy, the Rusaks bought two additional books.
"Chloe read it to us and her grandparents," Alexis Rusak said.
Spears said she and Shaffer are planning an author's table in January. The children will have an opportunity to display their books and answer questions from friends and family.
"It will teach them public speaking," Spears said.
