Creative Writing as Self-Advocacy is a 12-week course that asks students to read and compose a variety of writing genres. Its goals include:
– Affirming cultivating the identity of people with disabilities by teaching that they have unique stories, opinions, quirks, and experiences to share that are different from anything else that’s being written.
– Social capital and networking by connecting students: with each other, with other students in the program, with their teachers, with the model authors they read, with community locations where programming takes place, and with audiences who read and value their work.
– Confidence building through public speaking, “exact words only” writing and facilitation practices, and a supportive environment to both be valued for who you are and push toward and explore new subjects.
– Creating a written record of the virtues and voices of people with I/DD to be shared across place and time.
Session: 1
Title: Introduction
Description: An overview of the 12 weeks of class, the purpose of our program, and the book release and author reading we are building to.
Objectives:
Students will know purpose of people with disabilities writing their own stories.
Support staff will know and use “exact words only” transcription methods.
Students will read and compose at least two pieces of creative writing.
Session: 2
Title: Creative Nonfiction
Description: An introduction to creative nonfiction, exploring several authors and creating diverse student works.
Objectives:
Students will read and discuss three examples of creative nonfiction.
Students compose at least three pieces of creative nonfiction.
Session: 3
Title: Creative Nonfiction
Description: A deeper dive into creative nonfiction, extending readings and student creations.
Objectives:
Students will build upon readings of creative nonfiction.
Students will compose next level pieces of creative nonfiction, including option of extended works, edits, and/or collaborative pieces.
Session: 4
Title: Fiction
Description: An introduction to fiction, exploring several authors and creating diverse student works.
Objectives:
Students will read and discuss three examples of fiction.
Students compose at least three pieces of fiction.
Students and support staff will give preliminary feedback on class.
Session: 5
Title: Fiction
Description: A deeper dive into fiction, extending readings and student creations.
Objectives:
Students will build upon readings of fiction.
Students will compose next level pieces of fiction, including option of extended works, edits, and/or collaborative pieces.
Session: 6
Title: Poetry
Description: An introduction to poetry, exploring several authors and creating diverse student works.
Objectives:
Students will read and discuss four examples of poetry.
Students compose at least four pieces of poetry.
Session: 7
Title: Poetry
Description: A deeper dive into poetry, extending readings and student creations.
Objectives:
Students will build upon readings of poetry.
Students will compose next level pieces of poetry, including option of extended works, edits, and/or collaborative pieces.
Session: 8
Title: Drama
Description: An introduction to drama, exploring several authors and creating diverse student works.
Objectives:
Students will read and discuss three examples of drama.
Students compose at least three pieces of drama.
Session: 9
Title: Drama
Description: A deeper dive into drama, extending readings and student creations.
Objectives:
Students will build upon readings of drama.
Students will compose next level pieces of drama, including option of extended works, edits, and/or collaborative pieces.
Session: 10
Title: Journalism
Description: An introduction to journalism, exploring several authors and creating diverse student works.
Objectives:
Students will read and discuss three examples of journalism.
Students compose at least three pieces of creative journalism.
Session: 11
Title: Journalism
Description: A deeper dive into journalism, extending readings and student creations.
Objectives:
Students will compose next level pieces of journalism, including option of extended works.
Students will prepare for author reading and book release.
Session: 12
Title: Closing
Description: A celebration of the 12 weeks of class, reflection on what we’ve learned, and preparation for author reading and book release.
Objectives:
Students and teacher will conference about writings to include in book and any edits.
Students and support staff will give closing feedback on class.