The Teen-Centered Writing Club: Bringing Teens and Words Together

by Constance Hardesty

Overview

Build your teen community with a program that's irresistible—a teen writing club. Teens have primal urges to create and to connect. Now you can tap into those urges with the help of this comprehensive, step-by-step guide to creating a teen writing club in the school or public library. Featuring creative writing activities, with detailed planning advice, coaching tips, and culminating in performance/publishing ideas, this book makes it easy for you to create a place where teen writers connect with one another through words—written, spoken, sung, or even howled. Grades 6-12

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591585480
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/30/2008
Series:	Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Librarians Series
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	11 - 17 Years

About the Author

Constance Hardesty is a YA programming and book club specialist with more than 20 years' experience working with teens and adults in educational and recreational settings. From writing workshops for middle schoolers to CE courses for educators, she focuses on connecting people with ideas through the written word. She is the co-author of The Teen-Centered Book Club (Libraries Unlimited, 2006). Her writing has received several awards from the American Booksellers Association, National Parenting Publications Awards, Associated Press, and others.

Table of Contents

Figures
Series Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: What's a Teen-Centered Writing Club?
Chapter 2: Nothing to It: Getting Started
Chapter 3: The Four Roles of Facilitator
Chapter 4: Core Elements of the Writing Club
Chapter 5: Writing Clubs for All
Chapter 6: The "You Are What You Write" Nonfiction Club
Chapter 7: Getting Crafty with Fiction
Chapter 8: Online Joins the Mix
Chapter 9: Grand Finales and Finishing Touches
Chapter 10: Measure Up! Evaluating the Program

Editorial Reviews

In this follow-up to The Teen-Centered Book Club (2006), Hardesty provides a step-by-step guide to getting a teen-centered writing club up and running. . . . This would be a valuable resource for anyone interested in beginning a teen writing club or wishing to invigorate a current club.” —Booklist

“Hardesty encourages librarians to listen to teens and assist them in their search for identity through the written word. . . . An essential resource for planning or presenting writing clubs.'” —School Library Jourbanal

“The purpose of this comprehensive guide is to provide librarians with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to create teen writing clubs in public and school libraries. The writing is clear and contemporary, supportive and knowledgeable. This guide fills a unique niche in young adult library programming and is a companion volume to The Teen-Centered Book Club.” —VOYA

“Hardesty shares her experiences with writing clubs in clear, easy-to-follow, detailed instructions that can be adapted to one's individual situation. . . . Librarians looking for ways to give young people creative outlets for writing might want to purchase this title and start a creative writing group in their school or public library.” —Catholic Library World

“This title will be a very useful addition to any school or public library that is doing young adult programming. . . . Providing detailed information on a variety of written formats along with the technology to motivate even the most uninterested teen, this book will be a wonderful guide for the librarian who wants to touch base with teen clientele.” —Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

Hardesty encourages librarians to listen to teens and assist them in their search for identity through the written word. Instead of focusing on improving skills, the clubs she suggests are about letting young people have control over the direction of the program. From starting a club and the writing activities to share, to grand finales and how to evaluate the program's effectiveness, the author details all the information needed to create such a club. Particularly useful are chapters on the four roles of facilitators, creating a nonfiction writing club, and how to take your efforts online. Many handouts are included, a boon to any busy librarian. An appendix includes resources for publishing. All this information is laid out in a straightforward, positive manner. An essential resource for planning or presenting writing clubs.-Melissa Rabey, Frederick County Public Libraries, Frederick, MD

School Library Journal