Make a Connection Thru Art

Overview: The Creative Writing Residency

This phase of the program is where students actually work with a professional writer to create their written pieces. The Creative Writing Residency takes place in ten class periods over ten days.

During the Creative Writing Residency students will:

•	Learn the basic techniques of selected forms of creative writing, such as poetry, essays, and short stories.
•	Experience the work of professional writers and/or storytellers, who will perform their own original stories and poems for the students.
•	Learn to express their personal feelings and experiences in written form.
•	Practice critiquing their own work, as well as discussing the work of their peers.
•	Perform their own work for their peers.

Students will spend the first class session becoming familiar with the selected forms of creative writing. They will work with the resident artist to establish the ground rules for the residency. The students will also visit the website to view and discuss past written works during this session.

During this first session, two students will be chosen as class documentarians to digitally photograph the creative process throughout the course of the 10 days.

Students will spend the remaining classes of the residency developing their written pieces. The resident artist will share his/her own work with the students and then guide them through the creative process of developing their personal stories and ultimately performing their written work. They will work closely with the resident artist, individually and in small groups, to refine their work and evaluate their own progress.

Throughout the residency, students and the resident artists will participate in team-building exercises, listening games, and other activities designed to enhance the development and practice of life skills.

Students will spend the last class session digitally recording their artwork to share with others on the Make a Connection website. The pieces will appear on the website either in written form or as an audio recording in which the students read their own work.

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