by Alice Pencavel Objectives for Students: To connect observations of their external world with the nuances of their inner world. To garner a deepened understanding of how the senses inform good writing. To generate material students can use for college application essays. Guiding Questions: Who are you in relation to your environment? What is “self”?…
Bats in the Belfry by Jayden (7th grade) I have always wondered what it feels like when you die. What channels it? I have been thinking about this ever since my mother died on April 3, 2013. Yet, I have faced worse challenges than this. Welcome, take a seat while I talk to you about…
I Am Someone is an anthology of personal narrative essays and two collaborative poems by the seventh-grade students of West Bronx Academy for the Future. The title comes from a warm-up activity wherein all students participated in completing the prompts, “I am…,” “I was…,” “I’m afraid…,” and “I hope…” thus illustrating their hopes and fears…
As If We Were Gods is an anthology of writing by the seventh-grade students of IS 187-Hudson Cliffs School in Manhattan. It was completed during a ten-week residency from December of 2017 through March of 2018 for Teachers & Writers Collaborative. The goal of this residency was to deepen students’ understanding of the Spanish conquest of the Native…
I Am Here To Win is an anthology of writing by the sixth-grade students of IS 187-Hudson Cliffs School in Manhattan. The goal of this residency was to deepen students’ understanding of the people of ancient Mesopotamia by bringing creative writing strategies into the social studies classroom. One of the best ways to understand any civilization is through their…
We dedicate Danger: Monkeys On The Bus 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…
by Tricia Ebarvia This article was originally published at movingwriters.org. “What do you think about when you hear the word essay?” A moment of silence. Some confused looks. Others, blank stares. A few, smirks. It’s late afternoon, September, last period. My AP Lang class and I are in the midst of finishing up our discussion…
This residency was made possible by the New York City College Access for All Middle School Initiative. Artist Letter to Students, Passion is something that we all must hold onto. Some of us know exactly what we want to do from when we are young and for others, it takes time. However, the best part…
By Erika Luckert This lesson from T&W teaching artist Erika Luckert helps students understand the importance of acknowledging and citing sources, and gives them an opportunity to practice revising to avoid plagiarism. Grade(s): 9–12 Genre: Nonfiction, Essay Download: Avoiding Plagiarism: The Melania Trump Speech Common Core Standards (Refer to ELA Standards > Writing > Grade…
In this lesson, T&W teaching artist Ibi Zoboi introduces herself and the topic of her residency in one fell swoop. Using name riddles, she encourages students to have fun with their names and introductions while practicing their reasoning skills. Students then build from their solved riddles, moving into a brief exercise of argumentative writing that…