What are some ways to sustain a writing practice? How can you encourage your students to write for civic engagement?
After you have completed Step 1: Getting Started Writing about Topics that Matter, and Step Two: Bringing Play and Creativity and Your Writing Practice, and Step 3: Taking Your Writing Public- Extending the Reach of Your Writing , this next step will help you reflect on your writing practice and suggest pedagogical extensions to keep your students writing and engaged with the world around.
Civically Engaged Classroom
Activity: Nicole Mirra writes with beauty and compassion about engaging students in civic issues. Her writing provides endless inspiration for educators, and we especially love Educating for Empathy: Literacy Learning and Civic Engagement.
In addition, the link below is a recording of a Chicago Area Writing Project meeting where Dr. Mirra spoke to us about her work. She speaks about empathy and the importance of a civic imagination.
Supplies: A writing utensil and paper or a computer writing document such as a Google Doc.
Time Needed: 120 minutes, but feel free to fast forward as needed.
Reflecting on Writing
Activity: What are the opportunities and impediments embedded in your writing practices? Take a moment to reflect on what ignites your creative energies, as well as what extinguishes them.
Supplies: A writing utensil and paper or a computer writing document such as a Google Doc.
Time Needed: About 30 minutes.
Prompts:
- What would help encourage and sustain your writing practice?
- How can we continue to engage civically as educators?
- How can you include your students in civically engaged writing?
- What are additional topics you’d like to explore?
This post is part of the Teachers Writing for Civic Engagement collection.
