Writing workshop, Composition Camps, and the work of the Indiana Writing Project are not just transformative and empowering for the young writers we teach. Below is a reflection from seasoned classroom teacher Mr. Michael Evans who was energized and inspired by time spent in his school's Comp Camp.
I have always enjoyed writing: other people’s writing. From the time I first learned the alphabet and how letters were used to form words that I could read, writing was important to me. From reading the Sunday funnies and comic books, to writing stories using weekly vocabulary words and participating in spelling bees, I have appreciated how others, real authors, could fit letters together to form wonderful, meaningful, motivating words. I always wished that I could do it myself. Yeah, I had written some kid stuff to entertain my friends, but nothing I thought was any good. I certainly didn’t think of writing as a valid cross-curricular tool that could help my own students learn about engineering and technology.
When IWP Teacher Consultants Barb Miller and Stacey Chester suggested that I might like to attend the Cowan Composition Camp, my first thought was “oh, no.” But I had already used up all my excuses when attendance had been previously suggested and there was no alternative this time but to shrug my shoulders, dust off my pencil, and go. I’m glad I did! Not only did I discover a new way to use the writing I was already doing in class to benefit language arts, but I also found ways to benefit my students and my content. I actually broke through a barrier that I didn’t know existed as cleanly as a new chick breaks through its shell. I thought English classes were taught the same way as they were when I was in class back in 1959 - 1964. Was I wrong! Along the way I met some very talented and deep thinking students. Listening to their sharings of concerns and imaginations was one of the best parts of my experience.
Michael H. Evans
Technology Teacher
Cowan Jr/Sr High School
