Worldwide traveling authors provide writing clinics for Canutillo & Alderete middle school students
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Students at Canutillo Middle and Alderete Middle schools got versed in the proper prose and purpose of writing.
AMS and CMS collaborated to bring visiting authors and educators Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger to help students understand the purpose and value of writing in the classroom.
The high-energy poetry performers travel the world teaching K-12 students specific essential writing elements and strategies that they can incorporate into future work. They aim to inspire and engage students as they build literacy skills and find their own voices.
“We are excited to have these authors visit with our students to energize and inspire them to use new techniques and strategies to take their writing to the next level,” said CMS Principal Christopher Judge.
The pair will work with CMS and AMS students at every grade level over the course of three days. Each day is composed of a full grade level assembly, in-class writing workshops with students where presenters model writing workshops for teachers, and a professional development session for teachers during the grade level planning period.
“The authors have written poetry for the latest STAAR exam and have extensive experience working with students to improve their writing techniques in a fun and innovative way that will resonate with our students,” said AMS Principal Nidia Avila. “We are eager to work with them.”
Holbrook and Salinger said they hope to put “motion into emotion” for students to make learning more visible and have them read and write with conviction.
Known for their lively, informed and interactive presentations, both Holbrook and Salinger are frequent speakers and keynoters at state, national and international literacy conferences, as well as providing assembly presentations for students at all grade levels, classroom workshops on writing and public speaking skills, and teacher professional development.
They have visited over 75 international schools in over 50 countries and hundreds in the U.S., which has helped them develop expertise in working with second language learners.
They are the authors of over 20 books of poetry for adults and young people as well as five teacher professional books.