(Mentor Text used for this session: "Postcard From Texas" (Laura Van Prooyen) (Please look for other classes in this series that focus on other mentor texts.)

This course is based in Bernabei's writing methods. I enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with much discussion.  Students should come to this course with basic understanding of the writing process, and a desire to gain positive experience in verbal expression. Students will write poetry inspired by classic and contemporary authors. This is not a foundational-level course, so students should be prepared to dig deeper than the basics of poetry.

During our sessions, we will ...
*  have a quick-write designed to give the writer a basis for the poem he or she will create during the session;
*  share a mentor poem; 
*  analyze the poem (considering its title, various craft points noted by students and teacher);
*  define the text structure of the poem (chunking the poem by purpose, topic, etc.);
*  discuss all finds and student perspectives during this process;
*  and allow individual students to write poems based on their quick-writes and the analysis of the mentor poem.

Remember, we are all expanding our knowledge together (including the teacher).
I'm looking forward to learning with you!

Mrs. Rae Marie (M.Ed.) (Writing, Poetry, Fantasy Fiction, ACE Educator)