Summer Creative Writing Institute Helped Students Find Their Voice

Harrison students from the sixth grade through the tenth grade spent a week this summer participating in a variety of activities geared toward establishing an individual voice through the craft of creative writing. The workshop also utilized Google classroom technology to ensure timely feedback, collaboration with one another on specific assignments, and the continuous reinforcement of 21st century technological skills needed to ensure academic success.

“The workshop was designed to develop strategies and tools necessary to engage in active, high-level learning which will support success in future creative and academic writing,” said Harrison High School English teacher Tara Xanthopoulos who along with LMK teacher Carolyn Pasquantonio oversaw this year’s Creative Writing Institute.

Students engaged in daily improve, group work, and performance in addition to creative writing instruction. They were introduced to Free-writing, Focused Free-writing, Two-Voice Poetry, Slam/Performance Poetry, Short Story, Sensory Writing, Screenplay, and Narrative Voice. Students were provided opportunities to emulate such styles and hone in on their own creative perspectives.

In finding both their writing and creative voice, students were encouraged to focus on what might make their voice more powerful: Volume, Pacing, Enunciation, Emotion and Eye Contact.

Other summer learning opportunities in the Harrison Central School District included summer school classes, the Pre- AP/IB Summer Academy, the ACT/SAT Summer Academy, Summer College Essay Writing Forum, and new this year the IB Extended Essay Writing Workshop.