Most ideas are easier dreamed up than actually executed. And my plan for teaching writing to children and adults was one such thought. Having been a journo, and done other kinds of writing—words were what I knew something about. And, more importantly, felt and cared for. So, it was time for me to walk my words.
After a year or so of reading books on teaching writing, going through my dusty MA notes, researching worksheets, informally test marketing, and luxuriously pondering, I came up with a blueprint for my version of an effective writing course, and chose the workshop model.
The group for this creative writing workshop was a mix of 7- to 12-year-olds. I had made folders from red chart paper for the kids to file their worksheets. (A hangover from my handicraft shop running days.) These folders caused some buzz with my young participants. One of them came up and asked me if I was the owner of Inkpot (the label on the folder, and the name I had bestowed upon my venture), or worked there. Talk about brand exposure!
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| The handmade folder distributed to the kids |
The budding marketer within me glowed. But the teacher inside (the larger share) felt competitive. I decided to gauge my brand new students idea of creativity through this craft item.
A while into the workshop, I asked them why they felt I had made folders instead of just zipping across to the stores and picking up fancier ones. Their answers made me grin stupidly and do mental cartwheels:One kid declared that since this was a creative class, it was better to create things. Another said that perhaps I loved craft. A third voice solemnly added that this ensured that we had a folder nobody else had.
My young learners intuitively understood what creativity is: doing your own thing (as your imagination dictates)—in words or form—for the love of it. And being original!
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