Our Stories, Our Working Lives

Marsha Gildin and Robin Bady Writers-in-Residence, Spring 2019 Introduction Teaching artists Marsha Gildin and Robin Bady led a workshop at the Selfhelp Innovative Senior Center in Flushing, New York. The workshop focused on the theme “our working lives.” Participants learned storytelling techniques as they shared their stories with each other and at a culminating celebration….

In Your Own Words

Alicia Anabel Santos & Jonathan Hernandez Writer-in-Residence, Spring 2019 Introduction When considering a name for our program and the anthology, we thought about something catchy – something that might stick and, hopefully, be embraced by the students. As we brainstormed, we went through a list of phrases and terms. “In your own words” is a…

Finding Freedom: An Everyday Mood

Amina HenryWriter-in-Residence, Spring 2019 Introduction  It’s been a pleasure to work with students at John Jay High School of Law. For this residency we had a thematic focus on oppression and liberation, exploring the voices of those who have been oppressed while also exploring spaces of liberation. We read and discussed the exhilarating and thought-provoking…

SURGE: The Zone’s Teen Art & Literary Magazine!

In the Spring of 2019, Teachers & Writers Collaborative partnered with the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital to offer a creative writing program to in-patients at the hospital.  This issue of SURGE magazine represents work created with the T&W writer-in-residence Sarah Dohrmann during spring 2019, guest edited…

A Hand Full of Poets – Student Writing from P.S. 457

Alba Delia HernandezWriter in Residence, Spring 2019 Introduction A Hand Full of Poets is an anthology by the second grade students at PS 457X, Sheridan Academy of Young Leaders.The title is a quote from Jemima’s poem, “I Celebrate Myself.” For twenty days, students discussed the poetry of famous writers like Kwame Dawes, Sandra Cisneros, Langston…

Ricordiamo David Martinez

Ricordiamo – We Remember

Using Creative Writing to Inspire Choreography By Matthew Burgess The following was originally published in the Teachers & Writers Magazine, Summer 2010 issue. This piece is dedicated to the memory of David Martinez. David had been hired to teach Martha Graham technique at summer dance festivals in Italy, so the obvious question was, Can I…

Here to Shine! Student Writing from P.S. 51

Matthew BurgessWriter-in-Residence, May 2019 Introduction  The title of this year’s poetry anthology comes from Rae-shon Sanchez’s amazing poem, “I Am.” First, we read “The Delight Song” by N. Scott Momaday as a class, and then we did a brief meditation: what are some things we might compare ourselves to? Once our ideas began percolating, I…

Gone Awry

By Katherine Watkins For Back to School Night, my principal requested an extra police officer on campus and asked all administrators to take 15-minute shifts in my classroom to ensure I was never left alone with the parents. The tension was incredible. Threats of violence and death pervaded my thoughts instead of my anticipated “Welcome…

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