Past Workshops
February 19-22, 2013 Workshop Series
For students ages 6-8:
Superhero Shenanigans Tuesday, February 19th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Students will create their very own superheros and supervillains and decide what happens once the two characters meet. Will the bad guys win or will good always triumph over evil? Teacher: Jaci Thomas & Jenna Greenberg
Who's In My Parade? Wednesday, February 20th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Imagine a parade held exclusively in your honor. Who would march in it? Students will investigate their interests and values by coming up with a list of parade attendants from anyone from the entire New England Patriots to their favorite food or animal. Teacher: Erin O'Brien
For students ages 8-11:
A Field Guide to Unicorns Thursday, February 21, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Believed extinct by many cryptozoologists, the study of unicorns has fallen off in recent years, but researchers will share their new findings about the probable secret existence of unicorns. They need the help of young researchers like you to flesh out their work. We'll create a field guide to unicorns using mixed media and of course, stellar writing skills. Teacher: Jessica Gath and Katrina Grigg-Saito
Your Life in 6 Words Friday, February 22, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Legend has it that when Ernest Hemingway was challenged to write a six-word story, he came up with, “For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Inspired by Hemingway’s short, short story, students will have the opportunity to describe their life in just six words. One life, six words: what’s yours? Teacher: Johnny Sadoff
For students ages 9-12:
Spoken Word Poems (two-part workshop) Tuesday, February 19th and Wednesday, February 20, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. If you like to hold an audience, this workshop will teach students to express themselves through the art of spoken word poetry. They will study model poems (in audio, video & published form) write original poems, and learn techniques to help memorize and present their work in public. Teacher: Jason Henry Simon-Bierenbaum
For students ages 12+:
Where We Come From (two-part workshop) Thursday, February 21 and Friday, February 22, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. What rhymes with bigfoot? Students will be given the opportunity to examine their own communities through meter, rhyme, and repetition. Everything from modern rap to ancient ghazals will be served up for examination and inspiration in the creation of their own written histories. Teacher: Erich Hagan
August 2012 Workshop Series
For students ages 6-8:
I Spy Monday, August 13th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. I spy something fuzzy, black, and it moves very slowly. What is it? Edwina, our tarantula! Students will create descriptive riddles using all five senses in this workshopTeacher: Sandra Manzanares
Best Imaginary Vacation Ever! Thursday, August 16th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Summer vacation is almost over, but not quite yet! Combat the threat of a dull vacation by writing about the best one ever.Teacher: Kendall Allen
On the Runway: Cyclops & Fairies Monday, August 20th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. What magical gear do mythical crea- tures wear? A tiara made of licorice? An X-Ray vision eye patch? In this workshop, students will describe all sorts of outfits and then display them on the runway.Teacher: Raquel Kaplan
How to Write a How-To Friday, August 24th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Everybody everywhere has a hidden talent, ability, or wealth of knowledge. Students in this workshop will be the teachers as they share their tips and tricks on various specialties (i.e., how to sneak up on your sister). Teacher: Erin Mahoney
For students ages 8-11:
More or Less, Morals Wednesday, August 15, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. What if you took an adventure to find the truest wisdom? Where would you find “the wise one” and what might he/ she/it say? Write about your long (or short) adventure and the moral at its end with this epic-based workshop. Teacher: Nicholas Decoulos & Charles Bramesco.
How to Survive Anything Friday, August 17, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. What do you tell your teacher when you forgot your homework? How do you defend yourself against a vampire? Students will each pick a scenario they need to survive and write the solution. Teacher: Chris Peck
Picture it Perfectly Wednesday, August 22, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Students will see and describe visual art accurately by tak- ing a look at all the details. There will be a challenge at the end of this workshop where students draw works of art based on peer-written descriptions. At the end, there will be a zine/drawing swap! Teacher: Ali Reid
Secret Superhero Thursday, August 23, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Peter Parker, Clark Kent, and Bruce Wayne are old news! Students will create their own background stories for never-heard-of superheros. Teacher: Anne Handley-Fierce
Fan Fiction Thursday, August 23, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Did you ever want to create your own stories involving Harry Potter or Bella Swan? Maybe they meet and go on an adventure to Gotham City. It’s up to you. Take characters that you love and write your own scene in this workshop. Teacher: Jesse Moskowitz
For students ages 9-12:
Out of this World Wednesday, August 22, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. In this workshop, students will get the opportunity to explore and create new worlds, time periods, peoples and creatures all on your own! Whether they want to travel backward, forward or sideways in time, or slip off to another universe that only exists in their imagination—the sky is the limit—actually no, nothing is the limit! Teacher: Johnny Sadoff
Character Assassination Tuesday, August 21, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. In this lesson, students learn to flesh out their characters with all the details that make them feel real. Then they kill them off (sort of ) using a brief obituary to really figure out what’s important in the character’s life. Students will learn everything from what is in their characters’ trash, to how they eat breakfast, to the layout of their home. Teacher: Dan Richards
Practical Fantasy Friday, August 24, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Fantasies let us escape from what is real and normal by traveling to other worlds or by imagining something magical in our own world. In this workshop, students will learn how to write fantasy stories and myths that make life much more interesting! Teacher: Matt Purdy
For students ages 10-12:
A Mile In My Moccasins (two-part workshop) Monday, August 13, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm and Tuesday, August 14, 1:00pm - 3:00pm. “Walk a mile in my moccasins, and you will know my journey.” 826 Boston is honored to work with WGBH to offer this writing workshop that explores mindfulness and empathy. As part of a city-wide tribute, a compilation of student reflec- tions will be presented to the His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his visit to Boston this fall. Teachers: Katrina Grigg-Saito
For students ages 11-14:
Seeing Poetry Everyday! Tuesday, August 14, 10:00 am -12:00 pm. Believe it or not, we each pass by the seeds for hundreds of poems each day! Students will practice examining the world around them with a poet’s eye for metaphor and simile and expressing the extraordinary imaginative potential of everyday objects, places and events. Teacher: Carolyn Callaghan
For students ages 12+:
The A.R.T. Presents: Podcast Plays (three-part workshop). Wednesday, August 15, 12:30pm-2:30pm, Thursday, August 16, 1:00pm-3:00pm, Friday, August 17, 1:00pm-3:00pm. How do the environments of our imagination compare to the settings we explore each and every day? Write dynamic short plays and record podcasts with staff instructors from the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) in Cambridge. Students will be led through a series of theatre-based exercises to own and elevate the settings of their plays. Includes a field trip to Franklin Park.
Performance Poetry (two-part workshop) Monday, August 20, 1:00 pm -3:00 pm and Tuesday, August 21, 1:00pm-3:00 pm. Find your unique voice and special brand of noise! Students will write and embody their own original poetry with poet/performer/community activist Erich Haygun. Teacher: Erich Haygun
February Workshop Series 2012
Join us during February for a series of free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops from Tuesday through Friday from February 21 through February 24, 2012. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400, drop by our center or email info [at]826boston.org. Please note that in order to ensure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we are now requiring a $10 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.
Click here to download the workshop schedule. Click here to download a workshop registration form.
For students ages 6-8:
Kitchen Creatures. Tuesday, February 21st, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Teachers: Alia Hamada and Sara Skolnick. What do pots, pans, blenders, and broccoli crowns do when you’re not in the room? In this workshop, students will take a look at the seemingly inanimate, and create characters and stories out of objects found in the kitchen.
For students ages 8-11:
Treasure Hunt Adventure Tuesday, February 21st, 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Teacher: Greg Mone, author of Fish. Aargh! Students in this workshop will tour the seas by conjuring up settings, villains, and clues for a treasure hunt. Greg Mone, a visiting author and workshop presenter, will guide students on this voyage, with a great interest in pirates.
Write Tanzania! Wednesday, February 22nd, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Teacher: Ross Lohr. 826 Boston’s students will read and reflect on a story written by a Tanzanian author, and then start a conversation with youth in rural Tanzania, who will respond in the days following with their own thoughts and impressions. This workshop will be conducted with help from the Newton-Tanzania Collaborative.
For students ages 9-12:
Ad Appeal Thursday, February 23rd, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Teacher: Johnny Sadoff. Have you ever heard a really funny advertisement on the radio? In this workshop, students will create an idea for a brand new product or service (Make-Your-Dog-Glow-In-the-Dark services, anyone?) and turn it into an audio performance, as students show off their ability to sell, sell, sell.
For students ages 11-14:
The Bathtub is Screaming. Thursday, February 23th, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Teacher: Jade Sylvan. In this workshop, students will create effective worlds in which supernatural, alien, or completely illogical occurrences fit smoothly and serve to illustrate important real-life themes. Students will learn how to draw boundaries within these magical worlds and discuss how sometimes fantasy can be even “realer than the real.”
For students ages 12+:
Zip Code Stories Wednesday, February 22 and Friday, February 24, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, (two-session workshop). Teacher: Katrina Grigg-Saito. Inspired by the popular WBUR program, Zip Code Stories are our own tales about the neighborhoods that make Greater Boston unique. Writers will be invited to explore their emotional connections to the places that have meaning to them, and then practice the art of performing their pieces for possible broadcast. Drum Magazine’s Katrina Grigg-Saito and Henriette Lazaridis Power will facilitate and lead this 2-session workshop.
Good Advice Wednesday, February 22, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Teacher: Meredith Goldstein, from the Boston Globe. How does an advice columnist give good advice? In this workshop, students will learn the empathetic skills needed for this tricky task.
Join us during the Boston Public Schools’ April vacation for a series of free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops April 17 through 28, 2012. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400, drop by our center or email info [at]826boston.org. Please note that in order to ensure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we are now requiring a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.
Click here to download the workshop schedule.
Para descargar una versión imprimible del calendario, haga clic aqui.
Click here to download a workshop registration form.
For students ages 6-8:
Too Many Chocolate Chips: Ice Cream Sundae Reviews
Friday, April 20, 1 to 3 p.m. Teacher: Emily Eisenhauer. What makes the best ice cream sundae? Students in this workshop will enjoy, critique, and make scooping mini ice cream sundaes. They will write food reviews about what was great and what could change.
For students ages 8-11:
Fluffy's Got Wings? Super Pets! Tuesday, April 17th, 10 am to 12 pm. Teacher: Anthony Orlowski. Dragon poodles and flying kittens? At this workshop, students will write stories about pets with super powers.
Dear Space Creatures Thursday, April 19th, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Need an alien pen pal? Students in this workshop will write letters to beings of all kinds who live in galaxies beyond our reach.
For students ages 9-12:
Left, Right, Left: Parade Chants Wednesday, April 18th,
10 a.m to 12 p.m.
Left, Right, Left: Parade Chants w/Field Trip to Spontaneous Celebrations Wednesday, April 18th,
1 to 3 p.m.
Teacher: Karen Sama. A two part-series in one day:
From the realistic to the fantastic, students in this workshop will create chants and slogans to inspire people to change the world. Once students are finished, we’ll take a field trip to the Egleston branch of the Boston Public Library to make banners or costumes for the Wake Up The Earth Parade in Jamaica Plain.
*Students who sign up for this workshop need to commit to participating in the parade on Saturday, May 5th from 9:30am-12:30pm. More information about the parade will be provided at 826 Boston, or you can give us a call at 617.442.5400.
For students ages 11-14:
Unicorn Seen in Boston Common: Tabloid Fiction Friday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Teacher: Raquel Kaplan.
Extra, extra! Read all about it! Come write fabulous and funky stories that may or may not be true. Stories will be bound into your very own tabloid magazine that you can take home afterwards.
For students ages 12 and up:
Swingin’ All Stars: Sports Writing Tuesday, April 17th, 1 to 3 p.m. Teacher: Gus Martins: Come discover the elements of exciting, effective sports storytelling. We’ll learn about underdogs, dramatic moments, and other factors that make sports and storytelling great.
More Cowbell, Less Tambourine: Music Journalism Thursday, April 19, 1 to 3 p.m. Teachers: Toni Celia and Sara Skolnick. Clap your hands and boogie down at this music review workshop. Students will focus on critical and creative thinking while watching and listening to live performances on our big screen, as well as blogging about it.
Food Blogging Saturday, April 21, 3 to 5 p.m. (Part 1), Saturday, April 28, 3 to 5 p.m. (Part 2). Teacher: Sam Kusek. Learn how to write about your favorite sticky buns, macaroni and cheese, pizza, and more. This two-part workshop will tantalize any food lovers taste buds. During the first session, students will even get to meet Flour owner and pastry master Joanne Chang. Students must attend both sessions.
Para informacón en español, llame al 617.442.5400. Pulse aqui para descargar el horario de los talleres en inglés. Pulse aqui para descargar la hoja de inscripción.
Pulse aqui para descargar el permiso para excursiones (requerido por "Parade Writing").
Hip Hop Workshop
Our WordLife Hip Hop Writing workshop for 12 to 18 year olds will be taught by local teaching artist Erich Haygun.
This three-session workshop kicks off Saturday, November 5th, 2011, and continues the following two Saturdays, November 12th and November 19th, 2011.
All sessions of the workshop run from 3:00-5:30.
August Workshop Series 2011
Join us during the second and third weeks of August for a series of free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops from Monday through Thursday from August 8-18, 2011. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400, drop by our center or email info [at]826boston.org. Please note that in order to ensure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we are now requiring a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.
Click here to download the workshop schedule. Click here to download a workshop registration form.
For students ages 6-9:
Barnacle Bill's Adventure Atlas. Thursday, August 11th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Teachers: Aaron Devine & Heather Hughes. The high seas demand stories of strange creatures and adventure! We’ll create original sea monsters and other creatures, and then follow their wanderings with maps and stories.
Ideas, Bound. Wednesday, August 17th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Teacher: Emily Eisenhauer. Every writer needs to have a trusty journal or notebook to capture inspiration when it hits. Learn how to make your own book and then brainstorm the first few of many great ideas to come.
For students ages 8-11:
Limericks!. Monday, August 8th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Teacher: Nicholas Decoulos. There is a form of poem, you see, that’s only five lines but full of glee. Learn to write a limerick, with your cool teacher Nick, and you’ll be rhyming as soon as can be.
Oh, Great Chickywing. Wednesday, August 10th, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Teachers: Kadineyse Ramize & Valeria Cabrera. Poultry archaeologists have recently unearthed the mummies of five prominent ancient chicken Pharaohs, and they are leaving it up us to write the stories of their strange and turbulent lives.
Dino Encounters.*Field Trip- see note below. Thursday, August 18th, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. (two session in one day) Teacher: Natalia Fadul. Come face-to-skull with the colossal fossil of Cliff the triceratops at the Museum of Science, learn about other dinosaurs, and then write your own tale about a dinosaur encounter. *A field trip permission slip is required for registration. Students who do not arrive within the first 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time of each session will not be able to participate, and will lose their deposit. Click here to download a field trip permission form. Students should bring a lunch to eat during a break in this workshop only.
For students ages 9-12:
Keeping It Real, Junior Edition. Wednesday, August 10th, & Thursday, August 11th, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (two-session workshop). Teacher: Katrina Grigg Saito. Your life is all the inspiration you need. Transform your true stories into two-minute plays starring you as you in the grand NeoFuturist tradition! (and find out what the heck NeoFuturism is...) Storytelling, song-singing, and dancing are welcome but not required.
Captivating Captions. Wednesday, August 17th, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Teacher: Amy Collier. A picture is worth 1000 words, but can you sum it up in 10 or less? We’ll learn how to be witty, unexpected, and above all, brief.
Say When. Monday, August 15th, & Tuesday, August 16th, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (two-session workshop). Teacher: Jesse Moskowitz. Take your characters, put them in a time machine, and send them to anywhere (or anyWHEN) in the past or future. Whether they travel across minutes or aeons, come learn how to write exciting time travel stories that pull your reader right out of 2011.
For students ages 11-14:
Zine: Food & Food Justice. Tuesday, August 9th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Teachers: Cait Van Damm & Hannah Lunetta. Why is it easier to get chips than carrots at your corner store? In this workshop, we’ll learn about the basics of “food justice,” share recipes, and learn tricks of the culinary trade. Then we’ll create our own interactive zine to share what we discuss with our communities.
For students ages 12+:
Keeping It Real, Senior Edition. Monday, August 8th,& Tuesday, August 9th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two-session workshop). Teacher: Katrina Grigg-Saito. Your life is all the inspiration you need. Transform your true stories into two-minute plays starring you as you in the grand NeoFuturist tradition! (And find out what the heck NeoFuturism is...). Storytelling, song-singing, and dancing are welcome but not required
Need to Know. Monday, August 15th, & Tuesday, August 16th, 10:00 am- 12:00 pm (two-session workshop). Teacher: Tianna Tagami & 826 Boston Staff. We all have issues that we’re passionate about, and it’s hard to get people to pay attention. Come learn how to effectively research an issue that you care about, and then create a blog or short video podcast to share with the world.
Para informacón en español, llame al 617.442.5400. Pulse aqui para descargar el horario de los talleres en inglés. Pulse aqui para descargar la hoja de inscripción.
Pulse aqui para descargar el permiso para excursiones (requerido por "Dino Encounters").
April Workshop Series 2011
Join us during the Boston Public Schools’ April vacation for a series of all-new, free, exciting, and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops April 18-22, 2011. See workshop descriptions for details.
To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at] 826boston.org. Please note that in order to insure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we request a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.
Click here to download a printable version of the workshop schedule. Click here to download the registration instructions. Click here to download a workshop registration form.
For students ages 6-8:
Swivel, THEN Duck. Friday, April 22nd, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (one session). People have been doing Jumping Jacks since about 1800 B.C.E. The exercise world could use some serious updating! Come help us develop new exercises for modern kids, complete with a written guide and drawings showing how to do them. The Microwave Popcorn? The Man-Eating Escalator Dodge? The Ice Cream Truck Dash? Let’s work it out, baby! Teachers: Susannah Clark and Karen Sama.
For students ages 8-10:
Sky Writing. Tuesday, April 19, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (one session). Lots of great stories and myths have been inspired by the far reaches of outer space. Come learn about astronomy, and add some new constellations, planets, and myths to the night sky. Teacher: Johnny Sadoff.
Cryptomapping. Thursday, April 21, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (one session). Cryptids like the Loch Ness Monster and el Chupacabra live in some pretty strange and murky places. We’ll examine the geography of the areas cryptids have been reported to live in and put together a field guide for the researchers who want to meet them. Bring your expertise and curiosity to this workshop. Teacher: Abe Gore.
For students ages 9-12:
A Hairy Situation: Bigfoot's Big Day. Monday, April 18, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (one session). We spend a lot of time looking for Bigfoot in forests, but what if he just showed up at Fenway? Or ordered a bagel at the Dunkin’ Donuts? Using theatre games, we’ll develop characters and unlikely scenarios and write scripts for performance at the end of the workshop! Teachers: Emerson College Theatre Education Majors.
Gotta Eat It. Wednesday, April 20, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (one session). How do big companies get you to feel
like you’ll die if you don’t buy a bag of Fritos or a Mountain Dew right now? Learn the tricks they use and put them to work in advertising the things you think are worth eating, and record a
radio commercial that makes mouths water. Teachers: Kim Szeto and Eric Ballhaussen.
For students ages 11-14:
Practical Fantasy. Monday, April 18, and Tuesday, April 19, 10:00 am -12:00 pm (two sessions). Fantasies let us escape from what is real and normal by traveling to other worlds or by imagining something magical in our own world. In this workshop, students will learn how to write fantasy stories and myths that make life much more interesting! Teacher: Matt Purdy.
For students ages 12-18:
Poetry & Prose. Wednesday, April 20, and Friday, April 22, 10:00 am -12:00 pm (two sessions). Why should you have to choose between different forms of writing? Come learn how to combine the lyrical power and flow of poetry and the meaning and insight of prose into writing that looks ordinary and sounds anything but: Prose Poetry. Teacher: Tristen Grannum.
Zine and Be Seen.
Dates: Tuesday, February 22
Time: 3:30 pm-5:30 pm
Ages: 11-18
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Sure, you might be a writer already, but how about adding publisher to your credits? Zines are easy-to-make mini-magazines send a powerful message by combining writing and design. Come learn the practicalities of self-publishing and how to put your writing, art, and what’s on your mind right into people’s hands.
This class will be taught by local zine-makers Anna and Kimberly from the Papercut Zine Collective in Somerville.
Want to share this workshop with others? Download the flyer here.
February Workshop Series 2011
Join us during the Boston Public Schools’ February vacation for a series of all-new free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops February 21-25, 2011. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at]826boston.org. Please note that in order to insure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we request a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.
Click here to download the workshop schedule. Click here to download the registration instructions. Click here to download a workshop registration form.
For students ages 6-8:
Wear Your Words: Poet-Tee. Wednesday, February 23rd, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Clothe yourself in gorgeous words! Learn to write poems full of powerful imagery, then transfer them to blank t-shirts and decorate with images to match. Make your own wearable art- the ultimate fashion statement. Teacher: Amy Collier. T-shirts will be provided, so please specify your child’s t-shirt size at time of registration.
Quite the Character. Monday, February 21, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm (one session). Not all characters start in your mind. Sometimes characters are built from the outside in. Come use outrageous props and play around with costume pieces in this workshop to create original characters you can really get into! Teacher: Abby Kurzman.
For students ages 8-10:
Practical Fantasy. Monday, February 21, and Tuesday, February 22, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (two sessions). Why does reality have to be so real all the time? Fantasy writing can help us add magic to the things we do and see all the time. In this workshop, students will learn how to write fantasy stories and myths that make both fantasy and reality much more interesting! Teacher: Matt Purdy.
826 Hollywood. Wednesday, February 23, and Thursday, February 24, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (two sessions). Join Matt, Belinda, and the staff of 826 Boston as we turn a script into a puppet show into a movie! We’re adapting stories previously published by our students into films, and we need your help crafting puppets and staging the show. This promises to be a ton of fun! Teachers: Belinda Arredondo and Matt Watson.
For students ages 9-12:
Paper Airplane. Friday, February 25, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (one session). Are you staying in Boston for February vacation? Want to go somewhere without leaving the city? Come to this workshop, where we will travel to distant lands in writing -- without having to buy a plane ticket or pack a suitcase! Teacher: Aaron Devine.
The Mystery of QuaWrong Island. Thursday, February 24, and Friday, February 25, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (two sessions). Four explorers went missing some time ago on a deserted island. Well... deserted if you don’t count the monsters! Come piece together what happened to the missing explorers as we create an incident report for the President. Teachers: Andy Metzger and Laura Packer.
For students ages 12-14:
Stories Out Loud. Tuesday, February 22, 1:00 pm -3:00 pm (one session). In the past, great stories did not wait around for paper to be invented. Storytellers can find out very quickly what their audience thinks of their stories. Students will practice great storytelling and use it to help them become better writers. Come learn how to tell captivating, funny, and interesting stories from a pro! Teacher: Laura S. Packer.
Caution! Graphic Stories.
Dates: Saturdays, January 22, January 29, and February 5
Time: 3:30 pm-5:30 pm
Ages: 12+
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
If writing is about showing, and not just telling, what happens when you throw visual art into the mix? Using the tools of visual storytelling from forms like comics, manga and graphic novels, you’ll learn how to develop characters and stories that stick in the eye as well as the mind.
No prior experience or artistic talent required!
This class will be taught by local comic book artist Joel Gill (he drew these swell sketches to the left and the comic we've excerpted below!)
Want to share this workshop with others? Download the flyer here.
Spoken Word Poetry
Date: Saturdays, December 4, December 11, and December 18
Time: 3:30 pm-5:30 pm
Ages: 12+
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Spoken word poetry defies the page. It is as bold, personal, and powerful as you are, what you believe, and what you need to say. Come learn to use words as beats, cadence and melody to move crowds - with no band necessary.
In this three session workshop for teens, we'll write and perform original poetry. Students will ultimately record their work for a CD compilation of their work!
Want to share this workshop with others? Download the flyer here.
Photo by A. Germain
The Good Men Project
Date: Saturdays, October 30, November 6, November 13
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Ages: Young men in 9-12 grades.
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Calling all high-school aged men!
Come write with us about a moment in your life that changed you forever. In this three-session workshop, writing center 826 Boston & nationally-recognized book & film producers The Good Men Project will work with students to draft and edit their stories. Workshop participants' writing will be published in an online magazine or in a book that will be sold nationwide!
Photo by Mary Paulose
August Workshop Series 2010
Join us in August for a series of free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops August 2-5 and August 9-12, 2010. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, drop by our center, call 617-442-5400 or email us. Please note that in order to ensure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we are now requiring a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.
Click here to download the workshop schedule. Click here to download a workshop registration form.
For students ages 6-9:
Then the Pineapple Coughed. Wednesday, August 4, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teachers: 826 Boston Staff. Do strange things pop up in your dreams? What do they mean? Nobody knows… but they’ll find out once we write our comprehensive, insightful dream dictionary complete with meanings for disco-dancing ninjas and multicolor teeth.
Dear Mrs. Obama. Wednesday, August 11, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teachers: 826 Boston Staff. Do you have something you’re dying to say to the first lady? What about Sasha or Malia? Do you dream of being published? This is your chance to write a letter or draw an illustration that we’ll send to the first family. Letters and drawings may also be included in a national publication! 826 students nationwide are working on a follow-up to our hit book Thanks, and Have Fun Running the Country, a collection of letters to Barack Obama.
For students ages 8-11:
Lo-Fi Picture Show. Wednesday, August 11 and Thursday, August 12, 1:00 – 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teachers: Ali Reid and Amy Collier. How do you make a cartoon without a high-tech animation studio? Students will write and record flash fiction pieces, then solve that problem with the use of a zoetrope, creating totally handmade animation strips to accompany their stories.
Letters to Michelle. Monday, August 2, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (one session). Teachers: 826 Boston Staff. Do you have something you’re dying to say to the first lady? What about Sasha or Malia? Do you dream of being published? This is your chance to write a letter or draw an illustration that we’ll send to the first family. Letters and drawings may also be included in a national publication! 826 students nationwide are working on a follow-up to our hit book Thanks, and Have Fun Running the Country, a collection of letters to Barack Obama.
This is Where I Want to Be. Tuesday, August 3 and Thursday, August 5, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Rachel May. Join us as we piece together places we’ve been and places we’re going with words, images, and fabric, expressing not only what they look like but how it feels to be in them and what they mean to us. Students will learn about both writing and quilting.
For students ages 9-12:
Guerrilla Poetry. Monday, August 2 and Thursday, August 5, 1:00 – 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Becky Eidelman. Does poetry jump? If you saw a poem on the sidewalk, a building, or the inside of a bathroom stall, you might feel like it’s leaping out at you! We’ll find poems that speak to us and discover ways of inserting them, unexpectedly, into other peoples’ lives. This workshop is for all writers who want to improve their poetic technique, and for thinkers who want to take poems out of hiding and bring them out to the world.
My First Galactic Empire! Tuesday, August 3 and Wednesday, August 4, 1:00pm-3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Jesse Moskowitz . Do you like dragons? Have you always dreamed of ruling a country called Iggledywick? Do you think you have the perfect idea for a character who could take over the universe? Bring all your ideas to this class, in which students will be building their own fantastical stories and wacky science fiction.
”and… scene!”. Monday, August 9 and Tuesday, August 10, 10:00 am-12:00 pm (two sessions) Teachers: Dinela Gjecka & Karen Sama. Have you noticed how differently a story plays out when it goes from the page onto the stage? Using improv games, we’ll learn the elements of good screenwriting, then write and perform our own mini-vignettes strung together by a mysterious theme.
Look! Wednesday, August 4, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm. FIELD TRIP (one session). Teacher: Ali Reid. Students will visit Charles LeDray’s exhibit “workworkworkworkwork” at the Institute of Contemporary Art, then serve as art critics, writing reviews and sharing their insights in a downloadable PDF catalog for the show. A permission slip is required for registration. Students must be present by 9:15 in order to participate in the field trip. Students not present at that time will not be able to participate, and we will keep their deposit. For a feild trip permission form, click here.
For students ages 12-18:
Blogging 101. Monday, August 9 and Tuesday, August 10, 1:00 – 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teachers: Lindsey Plait Jones & Maya Shugart. Do you have more than a little to say about a lot of things? Come create a blog about the things you’re interested in, find web tools to spruce it up, and figure out how to get your creative mojo to work for you! By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a blog up and rolling, and the chance to write your own entries in cyberspace.
Adding Insult to Poetry. Thursday, August 12, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Nicholas Decoulos. Anyone can say, “Same to you, buddy!” In this workshop, you’ll learn why it’s not wise to cross a poet; they will write clever & unflattering poem about you that may become famous! Learn to use the blason form to make sure your next comeback has a certain sophisticated burn.
Found in Translation
Date: Saturday, June 5th
Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Ages: 9-12
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Ever have to explain something to a 3-year old? Or use words in English or another language to clue in an adult? We all “translate” sometimes to make sure we are understood, even if we’re speaking the same language! Discover how we do this and improve your translation skills. Together we will compile a “Glossary of Untranslatable Words” to prove that no word or concept is beyond our power to communicate.
The Art of the Sell: You Need This Workshop!
Date: Saturday, June 5th
Time: 3:00-5:30 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
This class is a must if you’ve ever been in a situation where you have to influence people (a.k.a. parents) in order to get you what you want. Build up your natural powers of persuasion by turning things that seem ordinary into what they really are: awesome! We will put together a catalog with the most exciting descriptions around!! This class is the one for you! Don’t miss it!
The Island That Floated Away
(A Workshop in 3 Parts)
Date: Saturdays, April 10th, April 17th and April 24th
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Ages: 10 to 14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Years ago, land attached to what is now Cape Cod broke off and ?oated away into the Atlantic Ocean. What happened to it? We intrepid historians will create and reveal this island to the world with a textbook and the celebration of a traditional holiday never before seen by the eyes of mainlanders!
Download a registration form here or drop by our center at 3035 Washington St. to pick one up. You can also call 617.442.5400 to register for this workshop or email us at info@826boston.org.
Para información en español, llame al 617.442.5400, mande un email a info@826boston.org, o visítenos en 3035 Washington St.
Descargue la hoja de inscripción haciendo clic aqui, o venga a nuestro centro para conseguir una. También puede llamar al 617.442.5400 para inscribirse.
Speak Up, Speak Out!
(a workshop in 3 parts)
Dates & Times:
Saturday, April 10th 3:30-5:30 pm (at 826 Boston)
Saturday, April 17th 3:30- 5:30 pm (at 826 Boston)
Saturday, April 24th 4:00-6:00 pm
(session starts at 4:00pm/performance starts at 5:00 pm, both at Emerson College)
Ages: 14-18
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Learn to create and perform spoken word poetry that moves people; hypes them up, hangs them on a word, & switches directions on a dime. Participants will have the chance to perform their finished pieces for an audience at Emerson College.
Download a registration form here or drop by our center at 3035 Washington St. to pick one up. You can also call 617.442.5400 to register for this workshop.
Para información en español, llame al 617.442.5400, o visítenos en 3035 Washington St.
Descargue la hoja de inscripción haciendo clic aqui, o venga a nuestro centro para conseguir una. También puede llamar al 617.442.5400 para inscribirse.
April Workshop Series 2010
Join us during the Boston Public Schools’ April vacation for a series of free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops April 19-23, 2010. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400, drop by our center or email info [at]826boston.org. Please note that in order to ensure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we are now requiring a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.
Click here to download the workshop schedule. Click here to download a workshop registration form.
For students ages 6-9:
Cooking For Cryptids. Friday, April 23rd, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Teacher: Shannon DiGregorio. What mix does Bigfoot eat when he’s on the trail? And what does the Loch Ness Monster snack on after a couple of laps around the loch? We’ll find out the answers to these questions as we carefully consider the palates of the wild unknown and cater to the likes of the Chupacabra with an original short cookbook.
For students ages 8-11:
Sticky Words. Tuesday & Wednesday, April 20th & 21st, 1:00 – 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teachers: Maya Shugart and Ryan Smith. Why should the ears have all the fun when it comes to poetry? The eyes want in! How can we make poems that look as beautiful as they sound? We’ll write original poems and collage them into art for readers’ eyes and ears to enjoy in harmony.
Vindicated Villains. Wednesday, April 21st, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Nick Decoulos. No one has any sympathy for the villains any more! What if the “heroes” of our favorite tales were lying or left out other important information? Help us justify the injustices of these well-known villains by uncovering the truth!
For students ages 9-12:
Homerun Sports Stories. Friday, April 23rd, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Aaron Devine. Come discover the elements of exciting, effective sports storytelling. We’ll learn about Underdogs, Dramatic Moments, and other factors that make sports and storytelling great. Students will take home a piece of original sports fiction that makes for nail-biting, heart-wrenching reading.
Wild City. *Field Trip- see note below. Tuesday, April 19th, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Ruby Geballe. We’ll take a field trip into one of the many Earthworks Urban Orchards in the Roxbury area to peer, poke and sniff around and bring original short stories into bloom. Site information coming soon! *A field trip permission slip is required for registration. Students who do not arrive within the first 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time of each session will not be able to participate, and will lose their deposit. Click here to download a field trip permission form.
For students ages 11-14:
Mapping Memory Lane. Monday, April 19th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Audrey Beth Stein. What twists and turns (both real and metaphorical) have brought you to where you are now? Join us as we think back over our individual experiences and craft short memoirs and memory maps.
Portraits in Words. *Field Trip- see note below. Thursday, April 22nd, 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM and 1:00-3:00 PM (two sessions). Students must be picked up for lunch (or have parental permission to leave 826 Boston for lunch on their own) at 12:00 PM and return promptly by 1:00 PM. Teacher: Danielle Dreilinger. Who knows what interesting stories are lurking in the people you see every day? Learn how to use your writing and people skills to interview and write profiles of several Egleston Square business-owners. Profiles will be posted on the Egleston Square Main Streets website. *A field trip permission slip is required for registration. Students who do not arrive within the first 15 minutes of the scheduled starting time will not be able to participate, and will lose their deposit. Click here to download a field trip permission form.
For students ages 14-18:
[Me]moir. Monday, April 19th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Audrey Beth Stein. You’re uniquely qualified to tell stories about someone very interesting: YOU! Join published fiction and memoir author Audrey Beth Stein for an intensive two-hour introduction to writing and refining meaningful stories from your personal history.
Para informacón en español, llame al 617.442.5400. Pulse aqui para descargar el horario de los talleres en inglés. Pulse aqui para descargar la hoja de inscripción.
Pulse aqui para descargar el permiso para excursiones (requerido por "Wild City" y "Portraits in Words").
Ono-mato-WHAT Now?
Date: Saturday, March 20th
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Ages: 8 to 10 years old
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
ZZZZPPP, krrrsh, pooooowakkKA! Ever wonder how to write the sound of a candy wrapper being torn open for the first time or the sound of your shiny new jacket rubbing against itself? Explore everyday sounds and write a fabulous story using the shwoo of your pencil and the tink, tink, tink of your brain. We'll work on writing a group story and figure out the perfect way to express sounds!
Download a registration form here or drop by our center at 3035 Washington St. to pick one up. You can also call 617.442.5400 to register for this workshop or email us at info@826boston.org.
Para información en español, llame al 617.442.5400, mande un email a info@826boston.org, o visítenos en 3035 Washington St.
Descargue la hoja de inscripción haciendo clic aqui, o venga a nuestro centro para conseguir una. También puede llamar al 617.442.5400 para inscribirse.
Skulk, Roar, Squeak!
Friday, February 19, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session).
Teacher: Kristen Hoggatt.
Join us as we transform into animals real and imagined! We will slither, hop, trot, strut and prowl while learning about rhyme and writing poems about our favorite beasts, large and small!
February Workshop Series 2010
Join us during the Boston Public Schools’ February vacation for a series of free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops February 15-19, 2010. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at]826boston.org. Please note that in order to insure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we are now requiring a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.
Click here to download the workshop schedule. Click here to download a workshop registration form.
For students ages 6-9:
Any Which Way. Thursday, February 18 and Friday, February 19, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Lindsey Plait. Ever wanted to trek the Amazon rainforest or join a band of supervillians? While we can't help you do those things, we can show you how to make a realistic, wild, and bold choose-your-own-adventure book that will take you all over the place. Students will create a class book in two sessions.
Skulk, Roar, Squeak! Monday, February 15, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Kristen Hoggatt. Join us as we transform into animals real and imagined! We will slither, hop, trot, strut and prowl while learning about rhyme and writing poems about our favorite beasts, large and small!
For students ages 8-11:
Yummy Words. Friday, February 18, 1:00 – 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Alia Hamada. Expose yourself to poetry writing - with fruit, vegetables, lasagna, falafel - all sorts of food as the inspiration! Students will talk about food with the powerful description that comes with using all five senses, and each will have the chance to write a few poems about their favorite foods. Just like at the best recipe swaps, everyone will leave with their own collection of delicious poetry made by the group.
Speaking in Tongues. Wednesday, February 17, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Wednesday, February 17, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Heather Hughes. Bring your creativity, imagination, and plenty of mlamdiggleby to an afternoon of playing with words from all corners of the globe and the farthest reaches of imagination! We will speak in tongues, create our own words and write multilingual poems!
For students ages 9-12:
Sonnets with Superpowers. Tuesday, February 16, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Sarah Green. Do you want to write poems that can: see in the dark, travel invisibly, breathe underwater, or fly faster than light? In this poetry class, we will look at the basics of the sonnet form, and learn how to craft creative new sonnets the likes of which no Bostonian-- or world citizen-- has ever seen. Who knew fourteen lines could be so powerful?
For students ages 11-14:
Create a Lit Mag! Monday, February 15, Tuesday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 17, 1:00-3:00 PM (three sessions). Teacher: Andrea Drygas. Attention aspiring poets and story spinners: in this class you will learn how a literary magazine is made! Each student will write a poem or short story, and then learn how a collection gets put together to create an impressive magazine!
For students ages 12+:
SpecifiCITY: Image and Rhythm in the Urban Landscape. Thursday, February 18, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Maggie Dietz. Join published poet and BU faculty member Maggie Dietz to explore and write poetry. Students will write poetry collaboratively and individually about the urban landscape.
Cartoonists Unmasked!
Dates: Saturdays, January 23rd & 30th, 2010
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 8-10
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Leave your secret identity at the door, and learn the essentials of making a comic about a character you can really get into: YOURSELF! We’ll look at different styles that cartoonists use to write about themselves, and experiment with our own styles, too. In this workshop, you’ll be writing comics about your past, present and future lives. At the end of this two-week class, all of our comic stars will take home a compilation comic book featuring their very own work!
Download a registration form here or drop by our center at 3035 Washington St. to pick one up. You can also call 617.442.5400 to register a student for this workshop!
Para información en español, haga clic aqui, llame al 617.442.5400. o visítenos en 3035 Washington St.
Para descargar la hoja de registración, haga clic aqui o venga a nuestro centro para conseguir una.
Skulk, Roar, Squeak!
Dates: Saturday, December 5th, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 6-8
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Join us as we transform into animals real and imagined!
We will slither, hop, trot, strut and prowl while learning about rhyme
and writing poems about our favorite beasts, large and small!
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing info [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
How to Survive Anything
Dates: Saturday, September 26th, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 8-10
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
What do you tell your teacher when you forgot your homework? How do you defend yourself against a vampire? How can you get out of doing your chores? How do you stop aliens from taking over the planet? It’s about time someone put together a book of how to survive absolutely anything- and that someone is you! After looking at existing survival guides, students will create a “how to survive anything” survival guide to solve even the most fantastical mishap.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing info [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
W826: Monster Radio -- Where Monsters Tell All
Dates: Saturdays, October 3rd, 10th & 17th, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 10-12
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Have you ever wondered how Bigfoot really feels? Or what it’s like to be the Loch Ness Monster? We’ve got their phone numbers. Here’s your chance to get exclusive interviews with the world’s most mysterious creatures. In our radio workshop, you’ll get a hands-on opportunity to interview them and then create a radio show full of sound effects and music where you’ll be the hosts.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing info [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
August Workshops 2009
Join us the first two weeks of August for a series of free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops August 3rd-6th and August 10th-13th, 2009. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at]826boston.org. Please note that in order to insure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we are now requiring a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.
Click here to download the workshop schedule.
Are You Talkin' To Me? Monday August 3rd & Tuesday August 4th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Val Madden. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 11-14. By playing improv and theatre games and working with pieces of famous plays, students will create their own monologues and dialogues for performance!
Choose Your Own Adventure. Tuesday August 4th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm & Wednesday August 5th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Lindsey Plait. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 6-9. Students will learn about the basic elements of telling a story, and will create their own multi-choice adventures. All adventures will be published in a group book for students to take home.
Message in a Bottle. Monday August 3rd, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Leora Fridman. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 6-9. Using ancient papers, bottles, and special author pens, students will compose their own postcards and personalized letters, and prepare them for mailing to the individual of their choice!
All the Stars in the Night Sky. Wednesday August 5th & Thursday August 6th, 1:00- 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Ali Reid. Enrollment is capped at 10 students. Ages 8-10. Using the Stellarium planetrium to view stars, planets and constellations, students will learn about constellations and the myths around them, and write their own myths about characters in the night sky.
Manic Mansions. Thursday August 6th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Matt Grzecki. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Using 3D tools and ideas from movies and television, students will get to design their own crazy mansions and the super weird rulers who live in them.
Make Your Own Magazine. Monday August 10th, Wednesday August 12th & Thursday, August 13th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (three sessions). Teacher: Kristen Berke and Andrea Drygas. Ages 10-12. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Students will learn the basics of interviewing, write profiles of each other, and put together their very own 826 Boston Magazine!
Outer Space Fictions. Monday August 10th & Wednesday August 12th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Jesse Moskowitz. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 11-14. Do you like dragons? Have you always dreamed of ruling a country called Iggledywick? Do you think you have the perfect idea for a character who could take over the universe? Bring all your ideas to this class, in which students will be building their own wacky science fiction and fantastical stories.
Fly Your Flag High. Tuesday August 11th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Karen Boss. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 8-10. Do you think you'd be a great king or president? Does your family have enough history to fill a whole country? In this workshop, we will be making our own personal flags and writing short stories about the countries, families and worlds where we are the queens and kings.
Find the Moment. Tuesday August 11th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Charles Coe. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 11-14. Working with esteemed Boston-area poet Charles Coe, students will talk about the important moments in their own lives, look at defining moments in poetry, and write their own poems about important moments that will be collected in a chapbook of 826 Boston youth poetry.
Speaking in Tongues. Thursday August 13th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Heather Hughes. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 8-10. Bring your creativity, imagination, and plenty of mlamdiggleby to an afternoon of playing with words from all corners of the globe and the farthest reaches of imagination! We will speak in tongues, create our own words and write multilingual poems!
Write Your Own Rag!
Dates: Wednesdays, May 27th, June 3rd, and June 10th
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Ages: 9-13
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Learn how journalists create stories, from the moment your editor assigns you to a hazy scoop to the satisfaction of holding the printed copy in your hand. It requires detective work and word craft, and you'll try your hand at all of it in this three-session workshop. Investigate an alleged Bigfoot sighting, interview witnesses and untangle the story, then write it up and have your own newspaper clipping to take home.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Yummy Words!
Dates: Saturdays, June 6th and 13th
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Ages: 8-10
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Expose yourself to poetry writing - with fruit, vegetables, lasagna, falafel - all sorts of food as the inspiration! Students will talk about food with the powerful description that comes with using all five senses, and each will have the chance to write a few poems about their favorite foods. Just like at the best recipe swaps, everyone will leave with their own collection of delicious poetry made by the group.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Build Your Own Adventure
Dates: Tuesdays April 28th, May 5th, and May 12th
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.
Should you go down the deep dark tunnel or climb up the tree? There’s a story either way and it’s your job to write it! In this workshop you will learn to create a story with multiple ending and discuss character, settings and all the aspects that go into creating an adventure.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Speaking in Tongues–Poetry Writing in Many Languages, Real or Imagined!
Date: May 30th, 2009
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Ages: 9-12
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
Sut mae! ¿Qué tal? Bring your creativity, language skills, and
plenty of mlamdiggleby to an afternoon of playing with words from all corners of the globe and the farthest reaches of imagination! In this one amazing session, we'll speak in tongues, create our own words, write multilingual poems, and host a reading to share poetry and language - real and invented.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Con-text-books Part II
Date: Saturday, May 2nd & Saturday, May 9th, 2009, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
In the second edition of this hands-on poetry class, students will combine visual arts with writing to transform found text into powerful works of visual poetry. We will work on our poetry by erasing, painting, cutting and pasting. Students will learn about illuminated manuscripts, visual poetry and cut-up poetry and create their own mixed-media poems. Each student will also have time to work on their own writer's notebook filled with their writing-collages. Both new students and students who attended part one are welcome! Teacher: Julia Newman.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
April Break Workshops 2009
Join us during April School Break for creative workshops at 826 Boston! We will offer a morning and an afternoon workshop each day, Tuesday - Friday, April 21-24, 2009. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at]826boston.org.
Click here to download the workshop schedule.
Airbrush Haiku. Thursday & Friday, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Alex Gordillo. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 6-9. In the first session of this workshop, students will explore various forms of haiku, from the classic practice of Basho and Issa, as well as more contemporary urban haiku. Students will learn to write their own versions of the form, and will have these verses airbrushes onto their own t-shirts by the end of session. White t-shirt required for airbrushing.
Words of the Wise. Thursday & Friday 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Dana Horrocks. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 9-11. Does your Grandma have a knack for always saying it like is? Is there a song or a lyrics which always rings true to you? In this workshop, participants will discuss different kinds of wisdom and where they come from, and will then wisdom poems to pass their own words along to others.
Hip-Hop-oetics Take II. Tuesday & Wednesday, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Chris Mooney. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 10-14. In this two-session workshop, students will explore verbal and rhythmic elements of hip-hip lyrics, and write their own lyrics to perform at Jamaica Plain Youth Week Talent Showcase on the evening of April 21st!
Sketch Comedy. Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00 am -12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Lily Mooney. Ages 11-14. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Working with improv games and comedy-writing exercises, students will create their own sketch comedy skits and have the opportunity to perform them on the evening of April 21st, at the Jamaica Plain Youth Week Talent Showcase.
February Break Workshops 2009
Join us during February School Break for creative workshops at 826 Boston! We will offer a morning and an afternoon workshop each day, Tuesday - Friday, February 17-20, 2009. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at]826boston.org.
Step by Step: A Life Instruction Manual. Friday, February 20, 2009. 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Sara Legasy. Ages 6-9. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. There seem to be instructions for everything, except for the things anyone really wants to do. There are instructions for tying our shoes, and making our beds, and long division, but none for anything fun. Do you think you could teach people how to dance? What about how to blow bubbles, or how to pick their nose? Together, we will go through the steps of writing instructions for just about anything, and compile the most original instructions manual ever written.
Sonnets with Superpowers. Wednesday, February 18, 2009. 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Sarah Green. Ages 9-11. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. Did you accidentally send a singing valentine to Bigfoot? Are you tired of rhymes like "Roses are red, violets are blue?" Do you want to write poems that can: see in the dark, travel invisibly, breathe underwater, or fly faster than light? In this poetry class, we will look at the basics of the sonnet form, and learn how to craft creative new sonnets the likes of which no Bostonian-- or world citizen-- has ever seen. Do sonnets always have to rhyme? Do they have to be about love? Come to 826 to find out, and leave with your own magic poetic invention. Who knew fourteen lines could be so powerful?
Con-text Books. Tuesday February 17 & Thursday February 19, 2009, 10:00 am -12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Julia Newman. Ages 9-11. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. In this poetry class, students will combine visual arts with writing to transform found text into powerful works of visual poetry. Start with a newspaper article, a xeroxed page of your favorite novel, or a recipe for crème brûlée, and learn to bring out its poetry through a process of erasing, painting, cutting and pasting. Students will begin with a short history of illuminated manuscripts, visual poetry and cut-up poetry before making their own mixed-media poems. Each student will leave with the beginnings of a writer's notebook that's sure to turn heads.
Hip-Hop-oetics. Tuesday February 17 & Wednesday February 18, 2009, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Chris Mooney. Ages 11-14. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. Want to know the secret to Lil Wayne and Jay-Z's rapping ability? Among many things, it's a clear understanding of poetic elements such as metaphor, simile, assonance etc.. Students will listen to hip hop with these concepts in mind, and will use group activities and writing exercises to produce one long, poetic verse with hip hop influence!
Stand-up Comedy. Thursday February 19 & Friday February 20, 2009, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Evan Fleischer. Ages 11-14. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. Stand-up comedy: a man (or a woman) telling jokes. End of story? Not quite. A stand-up routine needs a form and an engaged, friendly audience, which the workshop aims to be. After looking at good comics, okay comics, and absolutely terrible comics, students will workshop their jokes into a short routine, which will then conquer the world.
Con-text-books
Date: Saturday, April 11th & Saturday, April 18th, 2009, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Ages: 10-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
In this poetry class, students will combine visual arts with writing to transform found text into powerful works of visual poetry. Start with a newspaper article, a xeroxed page of your favorite novel, or a recipe for crème brûlée, and learn to bring out its poetry through a process of erasing, painting, cutting and pasting. Students will begin with a short history of illuminated manuscripts, visual poetry and cut-up poetry before making their own mixed-media poems. Each student will leave with the beginnings of a writer's notebook that's sure to turn heads. Teacher: Julia Newman.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Visiting Artist, Visiting Critics
Date: Saturday, March 7th 2009, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Ages: 9-12
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
In this one session workshop, students will travel from 826 Boston to visit a show by artist Chris Reid at the Godine Family Gallery at Massart. They'll learn the language of art critics, and publish personal reviews of Reid's work online on a website developed specifically for this project. Teachers: Ali Reid and Evan Smith.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Sensing Symphony
Date: Saturday, February 21st 2009, 1:00 pm,
Sunday, February 22nd 2009, 2:30 pm (concert at Sander's Theatre in Cambridge)
&
Saturday, February 28th 2009, 1:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.
Are you a shower-singing specialist or a rhyming whiz? Join us as we trek through the world of classical music and learn about the pieces that make up a symphony. By the end of our three sessions, you'll have attended a performance at the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and have written your own music review!
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Speaking in Tongues
Date: Saturday, Jan 17th, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
Join us for a workshop in multilingual poetry, where we'll work with all languages -- real or imagined!
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Sensing Symphony
Date: Saturday, February 21st 2009, 1:00 pm,
Sunday, February 22nd 2009, 2:30 pm (concert at Sander's Theatre in Cambridge)
&
Saturday, February 28th 2009, 1:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.
Are you a shower-singing specialist or a rhyming whiz? Join us as we trek through the world of classical music and learn about the pieces that make up a symphony. By the end of our three sessions, you'll have attended a performance at the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and have written your own music review!
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
College Essay Night
Date: Monday, November 10, 2008
Time: 6-8 pm
Join us for the chance to start, work on, or polish up your college essay! This workshop will feature the expert advice of college students, graduates, admissions professionals, and other helpful people as students work to craft the perfect college application statement.
Any high school senior (or prepared junior!) can join this workshop by RSVPing to info [at] 826boston.org or 617-442-5400. Bring your materials, whether you have no idea or a near-final draft, we'll help you get ready to send off your college application today!
Narrate Yourself!
Dates: Wednesdays, October 15, 22 & 29, 2008
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Ages: 14-18
Teachers: Dan Bromfield & Dan Rudolph
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
Do you dream of breaking into the film industry? Well here’s your chance. 826 Boston is searching for aspiring young screenwriters, directors, actors and grips who will combine forces to create a short film. Here’s the twist: instead of using a standard video camera the film will be composed through a series of still images with the voice action recorded later. In addition to snapping the pictures ourselves we will scour the internet for images that bring our setting to life. No experience, resume or cover letter required.
Download the flyer.
About the teachers:
Dan Bromfield co-taught Screenwriting & Filmmaking workshops last year, and directed the original 826 Boston student film, Me Need Job. Dan Rudolph is an after-school tutor extraordinaire.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
The Whole (Mailed) Package
Dates: Thursdays, November 6 & 13, 2008
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Ages: 8-12
Teachers: Chris Glasser
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
In this workshop, students will imagine, design, and create an amazing and fantastic package to mail to a friend or loved one. Not only will they find new and unique ways to write a letter, but they'll collect and create objects of sentimental value and prepare it for mailing.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
The Emergency Story Kit
Dates: Wednesdays, November 5, 12 & 19
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Ages: 11-14
Teachers: Evan Fleischer
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
Receive full training for a thrilling new product still in beta testing, the Emergency Storytelling Kit, a portable device designed by award-winning scientists* at the Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute to be readily deployed at a moment's notice to save any and all storytelling emergencies.
Participants will test the strengths and weaknesses of the ESK in a variety of environmental and real world situations, learn techniques from the realm of improv comedy, practice spontaneous prose, have their scientific observations thoroughly examined and expanded upon, and look at the works of Joseph Cornell.
New ESK's will be designed by participants.
* Honorary Medal for Preserving the Humanoid Integrity of the World Mustache Competition.**
** He's out there. And he really shouldn't win mustache competitions.
About the teacher:
Evan Fleischer is a member of the Chocolate Cake City comedy troupe and co-led the Improv & Sketch Comedy Workshop this summer at 826 Boston.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Collage for Inspiration
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2008
Time:10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 8-12
Teachers: Christine Junge & Brian O'Neill
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
In this class, we will use another artistic medium, collage, to explore students’ fictional stories. We will start by discussing certain elements of fiction, such as character development, setting, theme and plot. Then each student will make a collage, choosing images that are meaningful to his or her story. Through the collage-making, students will get a better understanding of their stories. This technique is particularly helpful to turn to when you are feeling blocked or stuck on a particular piece of fiction, though it can be used at any point in the creative writing process.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Profile Writing
Dates: Wednesdays, October 1 &8, 2008
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Ages: 8-12
Teacher: Meredith Goldstein
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
Everyone’s got personality. Learn how to interview an interesting subject and write about them in this class about personality profiles.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Whoa....You Wrote That Song?
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Ages: 14-18
Teacher: Sarah Green
Enrollment is capped at 8 students.
We'll bring the chords; you make the words. Join two local musicians in November for a fun and friendly songwriting workshop. By the end of our session, you'll have written lyrics and recorded your own new hit! Astonish your friends and family. Rule the charts. No songwriting experience necessary.
About the teacher:
Sarah Green holds an MFA in Creative Writing and is on the faculty of the Writing, Literature, and Publishing Department at Emerson College. She guest-taught a lesson on Pablo Neruda's Book of Questions and a town-hall debate on bigfoot at 826 Boston's summer camp.
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Extra! Extra! Write All About It!
Dates: Thursday, September 18, 25, October 2, 9, 2008
Time: 6-8 pm
Ages: 11-14
Teachers: Chris Hinman & Elizabeth Bernardi
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
This workshop gives kids a basic understanding how to identify a story, gather primary and secondary information through research and reporting, and structure and write a basic feature article. The workshop will culminate in the publication of a newspaper with all the feature articles!
Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.
Food Critic For A Day
Don't miss this fall's tastiest workshop!
Date: Saturday, September 3 & 20, 2008
Time: 1-3 pm
Age: 11-14 years
Teachers: Ryan Rose Weaver & Jennie Coates
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
In this workshop, we teach you the skills to review restaurants professionally and to experience a meal with all of your senses in order to do so. You may decide (maybe after your third dumpling)
that this is the job for you! We’ll be talking about some great food writers, then you'll visit a fine restaurant in Boston to write and illustrate your own food review. Then you' ll go over the review with your "editors" (your workshop teachers).
Please note: A parent or guardian will have the opportunity to accompany the student on their restaurant review! The meal will be scheduled during the week between the two workshop sessions (September 7-19). Confirmation of parent or guardian participation is required at time of registration for the workshop.
Download the flyer.
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
About the teachers:
Jennie Coates holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition and is on the faculty of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University. A dedicated volunteer, Jennie led the highly successful Science of Ice Cream lesson at 826 Boston's Summer Science & Writing Camp.
Ryan Rose Weaver, a graduate of Emerson's journalism program, is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in the Weekly Dig and the Boston Business Journal.
Writing in Response to Images
Date: Wednesday & Thursday, August 13-14, 2008
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Ages: 8-12
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Claudia Auer
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Poetry for Little Ones
Date: Monday & Tuesday, August 11-12, 2008
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Ages: 6-9
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Jondelle DeVeaux
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Spoken Word Poetry
Date: Wednesday & Thursday, August 6-7, 2008
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Ages: 14-18
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Steve Subrizi
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Cartooning
Date: Wednesday & Thursday, August 6-7, 2008
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Ages: 8-12
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Paul Thie & James Rathmell
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Sock Puppet Theater
Date: Monday & Tuesday, August 4-5, 2008
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Ages: 6-9
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Ali Reid
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Improv Comedy
Date: Wednesday & Thursday, August 13-14, 2008
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Ages: 14-18
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Chocolate Cake City
ATTENTION BUDDING JESTERS AND/OR CLASS CLOWNS. Want to write sketches? Make others laugh? Think on your feet? Think faster than your feet? Sign up for the Chocolate Cake Comedy Camp, where you'll learn the basics of improv comedy and sketch comedy in a fast-paced two-day workshop taught by Chocolate Cake City.
Chocolate Cake City is a comedy troupe based out of Emerson College best known for the mash-up trailer Brokeback to the Future and Taste Test, and they've generated attention from Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, MTV, and The New York Times. The Guardian finds them "intelligent, admirable, and very funny."
Uncovering the Extraordinary: A personal profile and portrait writing workshop
Date: Mondays and Tuesdays, August 4-5 and 11-12, 2008
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend all 4 sessions.
Teacher: Beba Knight
Download the flyer.
Flyer by Ben Sisto
Uncovering the Extraordinary will be a four-session 2 hour workshop devoted to the art of literary portraits and personal profiles. Students (ages 11-14) will be introduced to a variety of writers who are great in the medium of the personal profile as well as develop the skills to research and write their own. Individual profiles celebrate the anonymous, help us to see what is shared about a personal experience, how it fits into society, and provide a human face for even the most complex of issues.
The object of this workshop is to introduce students to profile writing and develop their basic listening, interviewing, and writing skills as they search for an ordinary citizen within their community who makes for an extraordinary personal portrait. Their bus driver, their lunch lady, a relative or a quirky neighbor, here students will realize how an individual’s story stands out as interesting while still possessing something familiar that pulls the reader in and touches them.
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Braving the Elements - Wrap-up & Publication
Monday, June 9, 6:30-7:30 p.m. is the last class--come and help put together the book of your writing, and invite your friends & relatives to sit in for a presentation of the book.
Lisa Gordon & Rebecca Wasley will also be giving a short lesson and having a discussion about how to move on from here with your writing, including different opportunities for publishing.
Note: This workshop is only open to students who participated in Braving the Elements I or II.
Monster Poetry
Date:
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Time:
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ages:
8-10
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teacher:
Hannah Nolan-Spohn
Perfect poetry for a cryptozoological research center! This workshop focuses on bringing imagination to poetry by focusing on a subject all kids are familiar with: monsters! Show up to learn more about some zany creatures and create a poem of your own!
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Word Photography II
Date:
Friday, April 25, 2008
Time:
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ages:
11-14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher:
Hope Kelly
Get in a good-weather mood! Learn techniques of descriptive writing, this time with a focus on classic, surprising, and personal images of spring & summer. (Participation in Word Photography I is not a prerequisite for this workshop.)
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Gross Science Experiments II
Date:
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Time:
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ages:
11-14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher:
Daniel Johnson
The much-requested sequel to Gross Science
Experiments & Other Strange Phenomena. Touch squishy specimens; smell pungent odors; hazard to guess the contents. (Participation in Gross Science Experiments I is not a prerequisite for this workshop.)
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Short Story City
Dates:
Thursday, April 24 & Friday, April 25, 2008
Time:
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Ages:
9-11
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher:
Gus Lubin
Starting from a few details about a fictional city, students will collaborate to flesh out the details. Then, each student will write a short story featuring intersecting characters, places, and plot lines, to put in the final collection.
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Elementary Aphorisms
Date:
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Time:
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ages:
6-9
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher:
Hannah Nolan-Spohn
You've heard "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," or maybe "Perro que ladra, no muerde." In this workshop, we'll be writing our own proverbs, witticisms & sayings, proving that you don't need to be old to say something wise. (This workshop will include both English & Spanish elements, but students need not be bilingual to participate.)
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Collage Poetry
Date:
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Time:
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ages:
11-14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher:
Ali Reid
Use found writing - from newspapers and magazines to store receipts
and product labels - to create original poetry.
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Onomatopoeia
Date:
Monday, April 21, 2008
Time:
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ages:
6-9
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher:
Laura Messenger
We'll use well-known and invented sound-words along with
drawings to tell stories, and students will take home their own original picture book.
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Observation & Inspiration
Date:
Monday, April 21, 2008
Time:
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ages:
9-11
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher:
Katie Sticca
Learn how to us your powers of observation to create
fascinating fiction.
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Braving the Elements II: A Continuation of the Traditional Writing Workshop
Dates:
Mondays, April 28, May 5, 12 & 19
Time:
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Ages:
11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teachers:
Lisa Gordon & Rebecca Wasley
Have you always wanted to write but never really given it a try? Or, do you love to write and want to take it to the next level? This beginners' writing workshop will discuss some of the major elements of writing fiction. If you don't already love to write, you will after this workshop! (Participation in Braving the Elements I is not a prerequisite for this workshop.)
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
You're the critic
Dates:
Rescheduled for: Wednesdays, April 2 & 9, 2008
Time:
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Ages:
11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teacher:
Meredith Goldstein & Alexandra Perloe
Salty. Sweet. Overcooked. Tangy. Heavenly. Doughy. Grainy. Bland. Can you think of other words to describe the food you eat each day? "You're the Critic" is a hands-on descriptive writing workshop that will have you tasting fine cuisine and coming up with words to describe your dining experience. Food will be provided.
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Braving the Elements: An Introduction to the Traditional Writing Workshop
Dates:
Mondays, March 10, 24, 31 & April 7, 2008 (there will be no session on Monday, March 17 due to the BPS Holiday)
Time:
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ages:
11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teachers:
Lisa Gordon & Rebecca Wasley
Have you always wanted to write but never really given it a try? Or, do you love to write and want to take it to the next level? This beginners' writing workshop will discuss some of the major elements of writing fiction. You'll learn about plot, characterization, dialogue, and how to make your sentences stand out on the page. If you don't already love to write, you will after this workshop!
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
A mono that won't make you sick
Dates: Monday & Tuesday, February 18 & 19, 2008 (two sessions)
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm
Ages: 11-14
Teacher: Katie Sticca
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.
Tired of staring at yourself in the mirror while you expound on your amazing ideas? Now someone else will look at you--and listen! Learn how to write a theatrical monologue in this groundbreaking two-session workshop.
Word photography
Date: Thursday, February 21, 2008 (one session)
Time: 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Ages: 11-14
Teacher: Hope Kelly
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
This workshop is a great introduction to creative writing, focusing on using language to make a picture appear in the reader’s mind. We start with describing a person (character), move on to describing a place (setting), and finally, objects (things).
DIY Zines
Date: Friday, February 22 (one session)
Time: 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Ages: 9-11
Teacher: Christopher Budnick
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.
Students will make their own books and zines with just a printer, some scissors, and our trusty stapler. Through comics, photographs, and writing students will construct and publish their own Cryptic Exposé, chronicling and revealing the history of one of the world's many hidden creatures in this one-session workshop.
The most interesting person you know
Dates: Thursday & Friday, February 21 & 22, 2008 (two sessions)
Time: 9:30 - 11 am
Ages: 9-11
Teacher: Hope Kelly
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
Students will write autobiographies by using photos and timelines to select scenes from their own lives and developing detailed literary snapshots of that point in time. The end product may take several different forms, from non-fiction to fiction to poetry, over the course of two sessions.
Gross science experiments & other strange phenomena
Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 (one session)
Time: 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Ages: 9-11
Teacher: Daniel Johnson
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.
Ever dissect a hairball? Ever stare into the sun until you saw spots? The workshop encourages far-out questions & promises freaky hands-on experiments! The faint-of-heart ought not register for this one-session workshop!
Poetry/Poesía
Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 (one session)
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 am
Ages: 6-9
Teacher: Joseph Diaz
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.
Students will read some of Pablo Neruda's "Odes to Common Things" then write their own poems in praise of everyday objects. We will work on blending English and Spanish (other languages welcome!) in our poems, focusing on the sounds of words. Students need not be bilingual to enjoy this one-session workshop.
"Dear Bigfoot..."
Date: Monday & Tuesday, February 18 & 19, 2008 (two sessions)
Time: 9:30 - 11 am
Ages: 6-9
Teacher: Ali Reid.
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.
This workshop is the perfect opportunity to see where science and stories overlap. Students will look at the factual and fictional sides of Bigfoot, and will learn to make their own handmade books in two sessions.
True Confessions: Turning Your Ordinary Life Into an Extraordinary Story
Dates:
Mondays, February 25 & March 3
Time:
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Ages:
11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teacher:
Katie Bayerl
Have you ever wondered what makes other people's stories so exciting to read? Have you doubted whether your own life could be turned into a captivating story? Well, doubt no more. You don't need to live a life of fame, mystery, or adventure to write stories with a "wow effect." In this story-writing series, you'll learn how to turn your everyday life into words that will cause laughs, tears—and maybe even a little nail biting. By the end of this two-session workshop, you will have several captivating, true-to-life stories. You may even have the beginnings of your own award-winning memoir or novel.
Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.
Sock Puppet Theater
Dates:
Saturdays, January 26 & February 2, 2008
Time:
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Ages:
6-9
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teacher:
Ali Reid
Bring characters to life in this workshop, which will help students learn about character development, writing for the stage, and above all, how to sew that perfect button nose! Relatives and friends are invited to join us at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 2 to watch the theatrical creations of the workshop students. Students are asked to bring a sock to the first workshop and any other interesting materials they have around the house. All other needed decorations (buttons, yarn, felt, etc.) will be provided.
From Dream to Screen: An Introduction to Filmmaking
Dates:
Mondays, January 28, February 4 & 11, 2008
Time:
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ages:
11-14
Enrollment is capped at 8 students.
Teacher:
Dan Bromfield
Have you ever dreamed of being a bigtime Hollywood director, or building a YouTube empire of viral video skits? This workshop will introduce you to the creative and fun process of film/television production, from writing, to shooting, to editing your own project! It will teach you how to craft your imaginative ideas for the screen, as well as the basic technical skills necessary for production. Each student will go home with a DVD of their work to show friends and family!
Creative Poetry for Beginners
Date:
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Time:
9 am - 12 pm
Ages:
11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
Teacher:
Jondelle deVeaux
In this workshop we will focus on poetry writing as a craft and as a way of artistic expression. No prior experience is necessary as we learn together through skill building exercises how to begin to explore ways of creating poetry and connecting words to flow and tell a story. At the end of the workshop, we will make a collection of our newly crafted poems and word pictures to share with families and friends.
Screenwriting Workshop
Don’t just be part of the audience. Write your own Movie!
Heres your ticket! Our first screenwriting workshop is next week!
Monday, December 3rd & 10th, 2007
6pm to 8pm
Ages 11-14
Don't miss your chance to start writing your own film!
Free College Essay Writing Workshop
Monday, November 19th and Tuesday, November 20th, 2007, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm
All High-School aged students are welcome.
826 Boston staff & volunteers want to help you create the essay that will get you into the college of your dreams. For this free workshop, we'll look at college essay samples, work one-on-one with you to draft the essay, and discuss what exactly college admission staff look for on applications.
Bam! Pow! Krash! Writing for Comics
Wednesday, November 7th & Wednesday, November 14th, 2007, 4:00-5:30 pm
Ages 8-12
Learn how to tell a story through drawing! Develop two unique characters and lead them on an adventure of your creation!
Animator Dave Schlafman and Creative Writer Mattie Bowden will be co-teaching this two-session workshop, which will culminate in a bound collection of original comics.
Keep us in mind as school vacations approach! 826 Boston runs a series of workshops with offerings for all ages during Boston Public Schools' February and April school vacation. We also run a two-week series in August. Email us at info [at] 826boston.org if you'd like to receive email updates when new workshops are scheduled!
Want to get an idea of what our workshops are all about? Click on Past Workshops at the bottom of this page to see all the ways in which our students have flexed their creative muscles in past sessions!
Volunteers: got a great idea for a workshop? Download a workshop proposal and send it on in!
Want more information? Read our workshop guidelines.
PAST WORKSHOPS »
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