How to Design & Fund
Visiting Writer Programs

• One-week intensive residencies, where I work with a core group of students each day. This can be an effective way to jump-start students' creativity and language fluency, especially if there are complementary activities before and/or after the residency. I may consider traveling outside the Chicago area.
  
• Two to eight-week residencies within the Chicago area, where I see core classrooms of students one to 3 times/week, coordinating with classroom teachers to design units which reinforce curriculum or emphasize particular skill sets. In elementary settings, I often see students in both their classrooma and during 'specials' (music, art, etc.) to minimize time taken from classroom scheduling. Check out this page to see the many poetry/art projects I've done with students.
• Adult or multi-generational workshops within schools, libraries or community centers. One option is a half or full-day collage/poetry workshop (visit the collage page).
• Before or after school creative writing clubs or 'teams.'
  
  Activities which can enhance Visiting Writer Programs include:

• Professional Development Sessions for Teachers.
• Family programs where parents and children write together.
• Performances or slams, preceded by special coaching sessions to prepare students to present creative work effectively.
• Anthologies or Student Magazines.
  

Funding Residencies can be a challenge. The Illinois Arts Council can be of assistance, supporting up to 50% of eligible costs through their Quick Start grants (open deadline/residencies 6 weeks or less) or Arts-in-Education Residency Grants (June 16, 2011, deadline for following year/residencies of 1-6 months). Some schools PTAs or PTOs support residencies, sometimes sponsoring special fund raisers. I am a professional grant writer and can help you with this process.