Welcome to When I Was Alive, an anthology of student writing from the North Bronx School of Empowerment. This anthology is the result of a special ten-week program, the Anti-Gun Violence Initiative: Art A Catalyst for Change, sponsored by New York City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo. For this special program, Teachers & Writers Collaborative…
I was honored to be invited to P.S. 90K to teach a revolutionary idea to third grade students—combining nonfiction writing with research skills! I immediately decided to make Researching Your Way Into Creative Writing the program’s theme. During the 22 workshops in this program, I wanted to show students the limitless places where research material…
by Bushra Rehman “Peer closer: a soul and a soul. He folds over her like a rosebud in sleep.” — Ishle Yi Park How to bring a love of sonnets to my high school students? Easy. I was a student, once upon a time in the old hip-hop life of Queens, and I am armed…
Urban Writers is a collection of personal narrative essays written by the 7th grade students of MS340 in Brooklyn, New York. The title is devised by the students of 730, reflective of the place they found themselves when tasked to navigate their sense of self in relationship to their environment. Working in conjunction with College…
Love Feels Like Freedom is an anthology of poetry by the third grade students of 457X, Sheridan Academy for Young Leaders. During the twenty days we had together, students discussed the writing of Sandra Cisneros, Walt Whitman, Aracelis Girmay, Franz Kafka, Christina Rossetti and others. Students engaged in an extensive study of the great Harlem…
Dedication We dedicate A Fire Breathing Fantasy to our inspiring teachers and nurturing parents. Through them, we have gained the skills to write these poems, stories, and essays, which express our creative spirit through the magic of words. The students of 3-238, 3-239, 4-206, and 4-207 In Appreciation I would like to thank Principal Meghan…
By Matthew Burgess Hafiz Ahmed is at the top of Ms. Ramelize’s roster. On the first day of my residency at PS 64 in Queens, I announce the coincidence to the class: “Hafiz is also the name of a great poet!” His namesake beams back at me and Lukis asks if I’ll bring Hafiz poems…