CREATIVE WRITING INSTRUCTION

With a M. Ed in English and Professional Certification as an English Language Arts Teacher for grades 5 - 12, I pride myself as an accomplished teacher of writing skills. I have taught research papers, literary criticism, and edited dozens of high school essays and senior essays for college bound kids. I love teaching poetry and memoir. Last summer I taught a 4 week Creative Writing course for adults at the Soul Spirit Sanctuary, where every class began with a warmup prompt, followed by a poetry lesson and a structured mini-lesson on the tools of writing memoir. Students enjoyed both structured lessons with plenty of focused quiet time for writing, and at the end of the session, they each were proud of crafting a beautiful vignette that described an extraordinary event in their’ lives.

Sample Flyer:

  Feeling an itch to write this summer, but don’t know where to start? These classes will begin with a  warmup and exploration of poetic devices as a means of expressing a thought or idea. Experiment with writing poetry, learn a five-step writing process, and enjoy dedicated quiet time to craft one or two nonfiction vignettes that share a heartfelt story or vivid memory.

Testimonial from Creative Writing Student:

“I thoroughly enjoyed this writing class with Jean and the opportunity to stretch a creative muscle that I hadn’t used in many, many years. Throughout the course, we explored different forms of writing, including poetry, and ultimately worked toward a finished vignette. The class was thoughtfully structured, with each exercise and assignment building upon the last and helping us develop our skills and confidence along the way. Jean was incredibly organized and thorough, providing clear guidance throughout the creative process while still giving us the freedom to find and develop our own voices. I appreciated that the experience was not only enjoyable but also gave me practical tools that I can continue to use in my writing. I left the class feeling inspired, more confident in my creativity, and grateful to have rediscovered another creative outlet.” - Katie Ficcardi