MISSOULA — We introduce you to an organization whose job is to get kids excited about writing in this edition of Arts and Education.
The Missoula Writing Collaborative is an organization with one specific goal, bring a joy of writing to the community.
That's exactly with they are doing with the Missoula County Public Schools as they send professional writers into the class room to teach kids about writing and poetry.
“We teach kids form poetry, odes and haikus, and their writing grows by leaps and bounds and they begin to understand the power and possibilities of language," Caroline Patterson explained.
Along with teaching these kids to love and write poetry, the Missoula Writing Collaborative is also giving these kids tools to excel in other areas of life.
“Over and over again every writer has had stories of amazing transformations," Patterson said. "Kids who at the start are so shy they can barely put a pencil to paper, who then by the end are marching up to speak in front of parents.”
Building self confidence and helping to achieve goals outside of school is great, but poetry and writing can also help these kids succeed in the classroom as well.
“A lot of times we are able to reach kids who aren’t always touched by traditional academics, you know, we’ve had kids who weren’t participating in classes who suddenly find a voice because they can write, and they figured it out while writing poetry, Patterson concluded.
Click here for more information about the Missoula Writing Collaborative.
