Teen Writers Circle Class Summary 1/6/14

with Michelle Cameron

Finalizing the Online Journal

Today we worked to finalize the Mosaic Freeschool Online Journal. Each of the kids contributed poetry, short stories, or novel extracts, and today was the first time they had a chance to see the live journal. 

In addition, I asked them to describe themselves in 6-10 words, both for the contributors page and so that they can introduce one another next week at the reading. This assignment was quite a challenge for them!

You can see our Journal online at http://mosaicfreeschoolonlinejournal.wordpress.com/. Each student contributed at least two pieces, and you may need to click the Older Posts button at the bottom of the page a couple of times to see them all.

Final Class Reading

Parents and friends are cordially invited to our Final Class Reading, which will take place at 10:15 in the dining room. Please make sure your children are there by 10 AM, so we can set up.

We spent some time today establishing a reading order and rehearsing how we are going to introduce one another. We talked about overcoming any fear of reading to an audience, about reading slowly, loudly, and with expression. We also discussed how this is now part of the writing process – professional writers are required to “put themselves out there” and read to an audience. As we practiced, we also talked about picking up your head at least a couple of times, not covering your face with the paper or the music stand, and having your reading already in order before you get to your feet.

I’ll send out an invitation to everyone via email as well, but I hope to get to meet a lot of you at the reading next week as we close out a great session of writing!

Homework

Homework this week is to practice, practice, practice reading their piece. My suggestion is that they read it, out loud, at least once a day. Remind them to stand up to do it and to really project their voices. This will have the double benefit of preparing them for the reading and making them a little less nervous about it.