THE WRITING WORKSHOP
 Carla
has presented The Writing Workshop in public, private, and parochial
schools, and to homeschool groups all over the United States. In this
multi-level seminar, the teaching parent (or teacher) does all class
exercises together with the children. The seminar starts at
9:00 a.m. and runs to 3:00 p.m., except for a short morning recess
and a lunch break. Lunch may be brown bag or pot luck.
Children third grade and up benefit fully from the seminar.
Younger children are welcome to participate and will benefit.
Carla teaches the basics of old fashioned (patterned) poetry: rhyme,
rhythm, and meter. She explains story structure and dramatizes
each lesson with thrilling true stories from her Montana childhood.
She shows how to unleash a child's creativity and makes their day
of writing fun! She delivers a compact 12-year creative writing
curriculum, plus a 3-page list of recommended classics for a child's
reading program. The cost is $300. This can be divided up and
part paid by each attending family, or by each individual student.
In a public or private school, Carla can condense the program and
travel class to class, or focus on just one aspect of it, such as
poetic structure for classrooms, assembly, or as an in-service seminar.
Carla travels to most of the 48 mainland states every year. To schedule
The Writing Workshop in your community, just e-mail her: doncarla@vtc.net
. She'll work out the details with you. |
Read on to hear what the parents and students say about their day with Carla!
Poems by students in Carla's writing seminar: THE WRITING WORKSHOP
This class has gone fast from the start
With all Carla’s thoughts to impart.
My day has been filled
So full that it spilled.
My brain has not one empty part.
by Chad and Chris Johnson, Alanson, MI
The Park
The
park is where I love to stay--
Not for ice cream, not for play;
Just to sit and watch the dove,
Soaring, soaring high above.
by Miss Goerdt, Cotton, MN
Ode to Miss Carla
To
write a poem would be my heart’s desire.
I have my pen and paper by my desk.
To shom should credit go? Who did inspire?
Miss Carla saved me from writings grotesque!
I like to hide the edit man away,
So I can focus on what I create.
Miss Carla’s put her time in us today;
Today she opened up our writing gate.
She’s told us stories of her life so real,
And how it all relates to God somehow.
She puts them in a rhythm I can feel;
I like to hear the stories she tells now.
At home I’ll practice what she’s taught: wild write--
And now you’ll see if I have learned it right!
The above poem was produced by four young Alabama ladies (sorry, I didn’t record your names). It was their entry in the timed-write contest. Instead of a limerick, however, these veteran Writing Workshoppers (it was their second time to the seminar) chose to create in a more challenging poetic discipline: the sonnet!
Excerpts from Critiques of The Writing Workshop
(Here are statements from some moms and students who have attended the Workshop)
“Poetry
is not easy for me, because I never learned the proper skills. I can
get somewhere with this now. You can’t get some of this out of
books.” (Mom)
“I always stayed away from poetry, but now am excited about it.
The program was well thought out.” Mom)
“I think the workshop was fun and interesting, and I liked the
wild writes and lunch.” (Child)
“I am very into integrated age teaching and this was a very positive
experience of this for me.” (Mom)
“What I really liked was the part where we got to write about
somebody or something and make it have a lot of troubles. Thanks a
lot.” (Child)
“I am not a good writer, but I’d like to be. This workshop
has inspired practice. I did enjoy it.” (Child)
“The writing workshop was fun. I have always liked to write.
But today I got a new feeling about writing. I liked the way you had
us write poetry. I have never gotten into poetry, but today I got
a better feeling for it. It was fun, not grown-up and boring.”
(Child)
“I’m glad my mom brought me here. At first, I didn’t
want to come here because I didn’t think I could write very well,
but I realized that I can write just fine if I put my mind to it.
Thank you very much.” (Child)
“I profited from this workshop by learning the importance of
writing and communications. Thank you for your time and effort to
make it clear. Now, I see writing differently and would like to write
more.” (Child)
“I think it was great that I had the privilege to come and learn
what you taught me. I really like the wild writes. You’ve changed
my thinking. I can write so much better now. Thanks for all your help.”
(Child)
“Even though we took this class last year, I again have a sense
of accomplishment. I have learned to walk through that wall of burning
flames. Your stories were exciting, heartwarming and very good tear-jerkers.
You have been given a gift that you gladly share with others.”
(Mom)
“The writing workshop was fun, informative and entertaining.
Even reluctant writers discovered that they can write. It gave me
some good ideas of things to do with my children at home. I appreciated
your emphasis on cursive writing.” (Mom)
“I liked the limericks and the beats of the limericks.”
(Child)
“I liked the list of books you handed out. Now I have a list
of some good books to read.” (Child)
“The other day when my mom told me about `The Writing Workshop,’
I wasn’t very excited about it. I really wasn’t so sure
about going, but I am soooo glad I came. The writing workshop was
so interesting and the stories were a great thing, because no matter
how old you were, it kept you listening intently. I also liked learning
about limericks and writing some on our own. “ (Child)
“The wild write was the best thing for one of my sons. I’ve
never seen him write so much in a short time! He has stretched a little
today!” (Mom)
“I don’t like writing very much. But for a writing workshop,
it was all right. It made writing a little easier.” (Child)
“At first I didn’t want to come to this, but my mom told
me I had to, so I did. I am glad I came now. I didn’t like writing
stories that much because I thought it was boring, but today I learned
that you can make writing fun, and that’s what you did. The class
today was fun but also challenging. I like the way you teach.”
(Child)
“The writing workshop has inspired me as a home school mom/teacher.
I saw in my children today great progress. I can’t wait to try
these ideas at home.” (Mom)
“After your workshop I am much better equipped to write. Teaching
writing is a difficult task, but you make it look so easy. Most people
have no idea how to teach it, so they just don’t. Your methods
seem to make writing possible for everyone.” (Mom)
“Thank you for reminding me to keep putting one foot in front
of the other!” (Mom)
“The part where you discussed four needed parts of writing really
made me think. I need to work on my editorial skills (spelling, punctuation,
etc.). Thank you for showing me how truly important they are.”
(Child)
“Your way of teaching through story-telling seemed effective
and appropriate. Thank you for the 12-year curriculum and specific
directions, like `Share one oral and one written story or poem each
week,’ and, `Spelling never stops!’” (Mom)
“I liked your stories a lot. I wish you could stay longer. The
`Wild Writes’ were fun.” (Child)
“I really like it when we drew the pieces of paper from the box
and tried to make sentences in five minutes.” (Child)
The
Writing Workshop Is Now Available on Audio!
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