Poetry in Schools
Laurel Nakanishi has taught creative writing to students in Hawai'i, Nicaragua, Montana, and Florida for over nine years. During this time, she founded two writers-in-schools programs, collaborated with fifteen elementary schools, and wrote poetry curricula in both English and Spanish for elementary-aged students. Here is a short video about The Sunroom, a writing program that Laurel designed in Miami, FL. If you are interested in having Laurel teach creative writing to your students, please contact her at: [email protected].
Hawai'i State Foundation for Culture and the Arts
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The Hawai'i State Foundation for Culture and the Arts (SFCA) supports the Artists-in-the-Schools Program (AITS), which places professional artists in public schools.
As a Teaching Artist with this program, Laurel visits public elementary schools to teach poetry and fiction residencies. Children in grades 2-5 have the opportunity to write, craft and publish their own books of poetry and stories. Students also perform in a community reading and star in a poetry video. |
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Feedback from students:
“I could read my poem all day. I found writing poems is very relaxing…. Reading my classmates’ poems brings me joy. You are the best. Learning from you has changed my life. I hope I see you next school year. I hope to learn more from you.” – 4th grade student, Palolo Elementary School
“My favorite thing about poetry is that it helps us calm down and it is an activity that makes you relax…. The reaction on our parents’ faces when they saw the poems is that they wanted to write one right that second…. At the Art Showcase, I read my poem and in my head I said ‘this is what I want to do more of.’” – 4th grade student, Palolo Elementary School
“It really inspires me to start writing poetry. I hope I can be a poet someday.” – 3rd grade student, Sunset Beach Elementary School
Feedback from Teachers:
“Students were not afraid to write. Writing became something that they wanted to do instead of something they had to do. And students that were considered weak writers came up with some of the better poems. It gave them an alternative outlet for writing then the traditional essay format, in which they struggle in.” – 4th Grade Teacher, Lanakila Elementary School
“I believe that having the students meet a poetry teacher, with the credentials and the experience that Miss Laurel has, caused the students to take her lessons seriously. The lesson they learned is that poetry can open your eyes to the world around you, and see things in a different way than you saw them yesterday. This ability can create adults who are problem solvers. Therefore, I believe poetry, taught by skilled educators is vital to the world.” – 3rd Grade teacher, Sunset Beach Elementary School
“I believe my students are more confident as poets because of Laurel’s lessons. She inspired them by showing her love of poetry and the simplicity of looking around and seeing beauty in their environment and translating that beauty into poems.” - 3rd Grade teacher, Sunset Beach Elementary School
“I could read my poem all day. I found writing poems is very relaxing…. Reading my classmates’ poems brings me joy. You are the best. Learning from you has changed my life. I hope I see you next school year. I hope to learn more from you.” – 4th grade student, Palolo Elementary School
“My favorite thing about poetry is that it helps us calm down and it is an activity that makes you relax…. The reaction on our parents’ faces when they saw the poems is that they wanted to write one right that second…. At the Art Showcase, I read my poem and in my head I said ‘this is what I want to do more of.’” – 4th grade student, Palolo Elementary School
“It really inspires me to start writing poetry. I hope I can be a poet someday.” – 3rd grade student, Sunset Beach Elementary School
Feedback from Teachers:
“Students were not afraid to write. Writing became something that they wanted to do instead of something they had to do. And students that were considered weak writers came up with some of the better poems. It gave them an alternative outlet for writing then the traditional essay format, in which they struggle in.” – 4th Grade Teacher, Lanakila Elementary School
“I believe that having the students meet a poetry teacher, with the credentials and the experience that Miss Laurel has, caused the students to take her lessons seriously. The lesson they learned is that poetry can open your eyes to the world around you, and see things in a different way than you saw them yesterday. This ability can create adults who are problem solvers. Therefore, I believe poetry, taught by skilled educators is vital to the world.” – 3rd Grade teacher, Sunset Beach Elementary School
“I believe my students are more confident as poets because of Laurel’s lessons. She inspired them by showing her love of poetry and the simplicity of looking around and seeing beauty in their environment and translating that beauty into poems.” - 3rd Grade teacher, Sunset Beach Elementary School
Nica Arts
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In 2012 and 2013, Laurel lived and worked in Nicaragua on a Fulbright scholarship. During this time, Laurel founded Nica Arts, an arts education program that provides creative writing, theater, dance, art, and literacy workshops for children in the small town of El Castillo, Nicaragua.
Every summer, Nica Arts organizes a VolunTour trip to Nicaragua. For more information, please visit: http://nica-voluntour.weebly.com/ |
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