The Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey

Kids came into class all hopped up on Star Wars today. So I saw them down for a little lesson about Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey. Then we explored the theme of light v. dark in our creative writing exercise. May the fourth be with...
Even a Shimmer of Light

Even a Shimmer of Light

Mac is a 12th grader. He’s a student in a creative writing workshop I’m teaching at Olympic High School in Santa Monica. The students in this school have been kicked out of all the other high schools. Olympic is the last stop on the line. I was a little...
Imagine Seeing the Sun for the 1st Time

Imagine Seeing the Sun for the 1st Time

Big Picture By Abby Gail, 7th Grade I walk out the door for the first time. I have never been out the door. I see this bright ball of yellow. It warms my heart, stings my eyes. “Walk closer,” I think. I do. The bright ball of yellow is getting bigger. I...
You Care About Your Kids

You Care About Your Kids

I do, too. The instinct that inspired me to start Word Up Kids is no doubt what motivates you as a parent…a desire to give our kids what we didn’t have growing up. Growing up isn’t easy. Children face intense challenges at every stage. For me, the greatest difficulty...

“Stranded” By a 6th Grade Student

This poem was written in my creative writing class by a young girl with Asperger’s. She’s in the 6th grade, and wishes to remain anonymous. She looks away when I talk, never says a word, and walks out of the room at random intervals without warning. I...

Turning Truth into Art

I’m sitting at a coffee bar sipping some kind of latte, figuring out what to say. It’s Thursday night, October. My kids are at home sleeping, probably next to my wife. I keep holding the clear glass up to catch the light, watching the color change. My old...

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