{"id":401,"date":"2019-01-16T00:18:16","date_gmt":"2019-01-16T06:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/?p=401"},"modified":"2023-09-30T11:40:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T15:40:24","slug":"why-you-should-teach-a-creative-writing-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/why-you-should-teach-a-creative-writing-class\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Teach A Creative Writing Class"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I never wanted to teach a creative writing class. When my principal told me I’d be teaching two sections of Creative Writing<\/a>, I was secretly horrified.<\/strong> All I could imagine was the mountain of work to grade, the new material to create, and my biggest fear–overly emo poetry. Now that my first Creative Writing class is coming to a close, I find myself dreading the end. My Creative Writing class has become my favorite class of the day–something that completely shocks me. This post will explain why you should teach a creative writing class of your very own.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Reason #1 Why You Should Teach a Creative Writing Class: No One Cares What You Do <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ok, this sounds bad. <\/p>\n\n\n

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There are so many fun creative writing projects you can do that allow choice and differentiation options. This Creative Writing Author Study Project is a great example!<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Your school may be different, but my Creative Writing<\/a> course is an elective credit, not an English one. I’ve noticed that no one really pays attention to this class. There are no district mandates, no required curriculum, no special administration evaluations. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have complete freedom. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to play word games one day and then spend the next devoted to complex comma rules, you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t feel like rolling out a whole new lesson, or your students are struggling with a writing project, you can take the extra time to review or work on existing projects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don’t need to feel guilty for not steamrolling through content. Sometimes I ask my students what they want to do or what they need help with and then we do that–instant differentiation. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative Writing might be the only class in which an English teacher can just teach without the pressure of standardized tests or college prep.
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Reason #2 Why You Should Teach a Creative Writing Class: Relationships <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Aside from curricular freedom, teacher-student relationships are another huge benefit. When you teach a creative writing class, you get to see a student’s creative side and they get to see yours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative Writing allows you to see a whole different side to your students. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a student who is in both my English and Creative Writing<\/a> courses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In English, he’s quiet, diligent, and frequently uses run-on sentences. In Creative Writing, however, he doesn’t just do the work–he creates his own passion projects, taking time to write romantic love poems to his girlfriend, or trying to find the words to explain what it’s like living with bipolar disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without his poetry, I wouldn’t know about his passions or internal struggles. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amount of time put aside to be creative also means more time to just talk to students about their interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I find myself embracing my silly side (not something I’m known for) as the students and I grasp together for just the right descriptions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every time my students write, I learn–about their devotion to their mothers, their love for all things creepy, or even the fact that they’d rather be playing basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n