Discusses the role of the Creative Writing segment of English departments. Questions the goals and aims of creative writing programs and attempts to sketch a reasonable version of those goals. Provides ways that department chairs might promote rather than ghettoize the creative writing programs in their departments. (HB)

Describes a program that used art and poetry therapy with terminally ill patients. Presents the creative writings of two patients. (SR)

Illustrates how children's "poetic voices in action" provide context for the writing of poetry. Describes how the author taped hours of classroom interaction and the talk that surrounded the children's writing, browsing, reading and performance of poetry. Shares examples of reflective voices at play. Examines ways in which teachers can…

Demonstrates that poetry is a valuable tool in individual and couples therapy; specifically, that the Bowen Family Systems Theory and attachment theory are useful paradigms for including poetry. Offers several case examples demonstrating the usefulness of poetry within a therapist's practice model. (SR)

Offers an interview with poet and teacher Bernadette Mayer about her poem "Sonnet," the sonnet form, and teaching poetry. Discusses her particular use of the sonnet and how it adheres to and breaks the standard rules of that poetry style. (SR)

Relates the author's experiences as a year-long visiting poetry teacher with one third-grade girl in particular, an assertive, determined, and oppositional child. Muses on the author's difficulties working with her. (SR)

Describes how the author, when teaching dream poems and poem writing to older kids, uses Margaret Atwood's "Dreams of the Animals" to extend the discussion about dreaming and have the children think about dreams that have little to do with their own. Includes examples of students' poems about animal dreams. (SR)

Describes the author's experience teaching poetry to a fourth-grade class, and how an inspired moment from one student (improvising a poem about an imagined hairstyle of poet Federico Garcia Lorca) led the entire class on a journey of inspiration. Looks at the route to that place of "inspired rightness." (SR)

Discusses "January Morning," a poem of William Carlos Williams, wherein the 15 sections come in no apparent order and are "unparallel" (varied in content, tone, length, etc.). Finds the language colloquial and conversational, with casual notation. States the poem, with its free format, can be used successfully in college poetry…

Discusses a new trend in college textbooks, where instructional content is presented in story format. The authors of these new textbooks say boring treatises are out, bodice-rippers are in; but some professors complain that the new books are selling students short. (EV)

Touches on central arguments surrounding the debate over the expressive essay for composition instruction. Notes that a primary assumption about the expressive essay--that it is honest and truthful--remains unchallenged. Suggests that students themselves offer ways to address concerns of social constructivists while acknowledging what is valuable…

Describes how a teacher and her grades one through three children made poetry come alive and serve as an authentic part of their lives. Describes the factors underlying authentic classroom instruction, and notes how poetry moved out from lessons and even school time to become something that will continue to be with many of these children…

Explores the verbal reflections of a competent fifth-grade speller as he performed word sorts, spelling lists, and creative writing activities. Finds the accuracy or inaccuracy of the student's statements were related to his level of spelling development, and each literacy task appeared to have a predominant category of responses. (RS)

Juvenile offenders studied creative writing and had their work published in anthologies as part of a therapeutic program that is a partnership between a writers' forum and the Alabama Department of Youth Services. A curriculum was developed to train department staff and writers who participate. (SK)

Describes how, like other writing assignments implemented in various courses in response to the writing across the curriculum movement, creative writing can be a very effective learning tool in economics courses. Includes description of such a class assignment. (EV)