Writing Group

What are we doing in Writing Group?
Drama, Writing, Shakespeare? 
It's all here!

Writing Group is a chance for students to explore creative writing and drama. Creative writing offerings can be as few as two words and as long as a page. You choose! (For those who are comfortable sharing at our first meeting, please bring an original piece of writing to the first meeting on Sept. 8. You can write about whatever you chose, poetry or prose.)  

Here's what to expect:

1.  We will gather together in a seated circle, and check-in saying our name and a little something, anything, even if it is about the weather.

2.  We will play an improvisational game.  For our first meeting:  "What are you doing?"  (We may do a little Shakespeare during this part.)

3.  Then, a student facilitator will share a Literature selection, and the group will respond to it. 

4.  Following this will be a Sharing/Responding time, with the student facilitator reading their piece first. 

5.  Finally, we will have a checking-out process, which is the same as checking-in, except this is the best opportunity to make suggestions for improving our group process. 

We will have Writing Group in the above format on the first and third weeks of each month. On the opposite weeks we will have time for free writing, play some drama games, and read Shakespeare.

IMPORTANT! Writing Group is a time for being creative and sharing with the group in a setting that is nurturing and supportive. There is no "grading" (ie, no checking for penmanship, grammar, punctuation, spelling), only verbal feedback from others in the group. 


Virginia, our facilitator, will explain this aspect further, but the person presenting their writing lets the group know what kind of feedback they want or, if they want no feedback at all. The type of feedback asked for can be as simple and direct as "What color do you think of when you hear my writing?" This is meant to be a supportive environment. So, positive feedback is encouraged. Again, this process will be explained in our writing time, so that students are comfortable with the variety of feedback choices they can ask for from the group.


And, writings do not have to be complex! (Even a haiku is just fine!) Hopefully, the more we share, the more others will be inspired to write and share. It's a time to get used to the idea of sharing, speaking in a small group, etc.  This is the chance to just be free to express thoughts!

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