Cultural Arts: Writer-in-Residency Workshop

Back in September, Poet and author Michael Beadle returned to Mrs. Price's 5th grade writing class for a weeklong residency. This year, the 5th graders completed the Chapters and Verses residency. Mr. Beadle taught 5 hour-long sessions to each of Mrs. Price’s classes on how to write poems inspired by books. The chosen book for the week was Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Here is a summary of the book:

Esperanza Ortega possesses all the treasures a girl could want: dresses; a home filled with servants in Mexico; and the promise of one day presiding over El Rancho de las Rosas. But a tragedy shatters that dream, forcing Esperanza and her mother to flee to Arvin, California and settle in a farm camp. There, they confront the challenges of work, acceptance, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression.

Mr. Beadle reported that the students were great to work with and that he always looks forward to coming to Wiley. Many thanks to Mr. Beadle and Mrs. Price for collaborating to bring this experience to our 5th graders!