TEm summer 2009
11/05/2009
12:09
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I began bringing along prompts to the meetings as much to give myself something to talk about as to provide something to write about. We begin reading anything one of us has written and give our responses. The writers tend to be encouraging and supportive to each other. It isn t a class but the writers involved would agree they ve learned more about reading poetry as a result of the group. They make very competent judgments about their own writing as well as about the prompts. I bring news of any competitions that are open to the attention of the group and let them know of any poetry events that are on in the Regional Cultural Centre. We have produced a pamphlet of work and held reading evenings for the last two years. We invite friends and family along. We have a profile in the school now and are asked to write poems to mark occasions like the official opening of our school and the fortieth anniversary of Loreto in Milford.
Acknowledgements I have worked with local writers and they ve been so incredibly encouraging. I have learned a lot about writing and teaching from Frank Galligan, Kate Newman, Kathryn Daly, Denise Blake and Monica Corish.
Recommended Reading Pat Boran The Portable Creative Writing Workshop New Island 2005. David Morely The Cambridge Introduction to Creative Writing Cambridge University Press 2008 Alexander Gordon-Smith Inspired Creative Writing. Paul B Janeczko A Kick In The Head- An Everyday Guide To Poetic Forms Candlewick Press Pat Schneider Writing Alone and with Others Oxford University Press Resources and Motivation Poetry Ireland Writers in Schools programme contact poetryireland.ie Local writers are willing to come in to schools and don t look for much money Competitions like the Teaching English magazine poetry competition are great motivators and provide a focus to aim towards Run themed competitions in your school Get involved with open night, school prayer services, prize giving, end of year events Publicize/publish student work on notice boards, school magazines, calendars, Have a poetry reading evening and produce a pamphlet
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