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Tuesday, March 1, 2016

#8 Barrio Writers Workshop at KIPP Austin

Before the holiday break, BW Founder Sarah Rafael García taught 1-class period workshops at KIPP in Austin, Texas. She was hosted by an empowering high school teacher (and poet) whose goal was to influence her students through creative writing—Yay for Ms. Minde!

For the next few weeks we will be featuring Ms. Minde's students on our blog! During the workshops the youth read, wrote and shared as a community (60 mins: 20-reading, 20-writing, 20-sharing). They read and discussed works by Tim Z. HernandezJasminne MendezRene S. Perez II and Barrio Writer Jesse Castillo!

After reading, they were asked to respond to a writer by doing "blackout poetry" or writing their own poem/story in similar style as the writers read in the workshop.

After writing, all the students were offered the opportunity to share their work and receive feedback from their peers. They were also invited to share on our blog!


Today's piece is by Priscila M., she created her own poem through freewriting!
Freewriting: often done on a daily basis as a part of the writer's daily routine, usually for 5, 10 or 15 minutes. Write without worrying about spelling, grammar, or making corrections (revisions or editing). It’s one way to reduce writer’s block and develop a natural voice. If you reach a point where you can’t think of anything to write, then write that you can’t think of anything, until you think of something else to write.
In Barrio Writers we welcome youth to express themselves freely in whatever language they choose. What makes Priscela's poem unique, is her use of Spanish and daily language through code-switching!
"Codeswitching" is the practice of alternating between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation.
Here's Priscela's poem:

Lunch

Hurry, walk faster,
more, I'm gonna get lunch,
Apurate, nana callate,
You dumb, viste lo que puso,
Look at Luis' hair, I couldn't
stop laughing, we should hang
out, I have to go, let's go guys.

(Everyting we—my friends—say during lunch.)
                               
                                       —Priscila M.


Check out her submission! Great use of words & a fun read, good job Priscila!