The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities recently released a report entitled “Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America’s Future Through Creative Schools.” It describes an educational system in crisis and suggests that arts-rich schools may be the answer to this country’s dire situation. One of the most potent recommendations is to increase the [...]
When I applied to intern at Writers in the Schools (WITS), I wasn’t exactly sure what I would learn. As an education major, I had no background in creative writing and very limited experience with non-profits. I wondered what sort of insights would I gain from working with WITS. Two short months later, I am leaving [...]
By jrwatson5
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Also posted in art, creativity, education, Houston, teaching, writers in the schools, writing
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Tagged creative writing, Education, Houston Internship, intern, summer internship, teacher, teaching internship, WITS Internship
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I come from a tree that grows forks and knives and spoons. I come from a pink dragon. I come from a moon that is falling from the sky. I come from a cat that has babies. I come from a tornado that is spinning. I come from a boat that is rolling in the [...]
You have to systematically create confusion; it sets creativity free. -Salvador Dali A study published in Psychological Science by Dr. Proulx of the University of California, Santa Barbara and Prof. Heine of the University of British Columbia suggests that exposure to something illogical can prime the brain for finding new patterns. The study has been used [...]
Studies show that children are more likely to be creative in a non-evaluative atmosphere where ideas and exploration are emphasized. Classrooms with a “right answer fixation” significantly deter original responses. As children get older, the pressure to conform, to make the “right” response, increases. The percentage of original responses in ideational fluency (idea generation about [...]
Dr. Seuss used to say, “I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells.” This summer I am challenging myself to make up more of my own “jabberwocky.” I’m taking lessons in this from my own students. Uninhibited writers are experts at experimenting, taking risks, and acting crazy. My 2nd graders are willing to push [...]
One popular WITS writing activity for elementary school students is based on Ruth Gendler’s The Book of Qualities. Gendler got the idea for her book when she was a young girl. She made up a story about a store where they sell qualities such as courage, excitement, and joy instead of products such as milk, [...]
In past posts, WITS introduced Jemma Leech, a student from our Summer Creative Writing Workshops. We’ve been following Jemma’s journey through writing over the last five years and are constantly amazed by her ability to see the extraordinary in everyday things. Her award-winning essays and poems garnered national attention when ABC World News named her [...]
I climb up the mountain all the time. I see all the clouds, and I peek at the rain. Where it snows every day, untamed and unpredicted. I want to jump down this mountain with glee, visit a place I could always be, and maybe glide down a hillside, to where wild things play and [...]
I dream of the beat of a basketball The excitement behind a dunk The pause after the last shot The adrenaline rush after a three-pointer I dream of being on fire when it’s cold And winning the finals And being an all star I dream of basketball by Jacob, 4th grade [...]
As I walked towards the front entrance of E.O. Smith Education Center to observe WITS Writer Deborah Wiggins, I sensed love in the air. On this Valentine’s Day, Wiggins’ writers were preparing to work when I slipped through the classroom door. An international performance poet with a commanding stature, Wiggins is a take charge teacher [...]
By jrwatson5
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Also posted in art, creativity, education, event, inspiration, Lesson plan, national poetry month, poetry, spoken word, story, student, teaching, writer, writers in the schools, writing, writing prompts
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Tagged Annise Parker, deborah wiggins, public poetry, valentine's day prompt
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Dear Alejandra, careful, there will be bullies at school but the cool friends will help you in tough situations. It’s easy to learn the alphabet and your numbers – you’ll get help from me! Teachers should be your best friends. You will have dreams about being the ruler of animals. When you come home, you’d [...]
There is a dream of playing tag on the playground And a horse bunny that hops and gallops in underpants. There is a morning of playing Barbies with her sister. There is a mysterious machine. and a plan to be happy. By Allison, Kindergarten Photo by dfbiz via Flickr
When the moon rises, apples and pears start dancing, and the spaghetti cries because it misses its sauce. When the moon rises, my stuffed bear dances with the puppy. Then they all start dancing. The blinds start moving and singing. When the moon rises, the couches and chairs talk to my mom as she cleans. [...]
Birds are flying in my head. And there is an alarm clock that wakes me up with a sound like a pencil-tapping a table. There is a really thin tree, tall as a skyscraper. There is a book about yellow and orange butterflies – really, really beautiful butterflies. A bird with a body made out [...]
