A POETRY RESIDENCY FOR YOUR SCHOOL INCLUDES:
- Twenty hours of session time– virtual, in-person, or in combination
- Trained Poet In Residence: experience in CPS + contemporary poet in the Chicago literary scene
- Up to 8 CPDUs for the participating classroom teacher, free as part of the program
- A poetry portfolio for every student
- Online publication of student work for every student in the program
- Performance opportunities at cultural venues across Chicago, in our schools, and online
- A strong and flexible curriculum— built to adjust to the needs of each classroom
- Evaluation and observation to evaluate program success and ensure quality
- An outlet for creativity and self-expression
- Can include building a poetry team, open mics at the school, and/or field trips
PROGRAMS RUN VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON AS NEEDED
Chicago Poetry Center’s education programs are available as in-person, virtually, or hybrid versions as needed.
In April of 2020, CPC transitioned 26 CPS classroom residencies to virtual and poets continued to meet with their students remotely for the remainder of their residencies. A virtual student showcase was created at the end of the year. We run regular virtual assemblies (including three performance poets and interactive elements for students) that parallel our standard in-person assemblies.
RESERVE PROGRAMS FOR YOUR SCHOOL
Ready to learn more? Reach out at programs@poetrycenter.org
MEET OUR POETS IN RESIDENCE
Our teaching artists are active Chicago poets, internationally touring performers, and published authors active in the Chicago literary scene. They are also skilled educators trained in our program methodology. Click on their headshots below to read their bios, or find our full list of teaching artists here.
POETRY AFFIRMS VOICES
Poetry provides a unique outlet for self-expression, and we’ve tailored our program to be just as unique: our flexible curriculum and roster of Poet Teaching Artists means we can build the perfect residency for your classrooms. Our program is engaging, dynamic, and fun for students. We support and celebrate every student in the room, exactly where they are. Student and teacher testimonials show proof of our success.
POETRY CELEBRATES STUDENTS
Each week the Poet in Residence will engage students through performance, video, and written poetry. Students shake off the school day with theater and movement exercises and write original poems.
The customized online publication platform built for your school showcases student work. We offer multiple opportunities for student performance in school, at cultural venues across Chicago, and virtually.
RESIDENCIES ARE TAILORED TO YOUR COMMUNITY
Our residency can function as a poetry club and/or poetry team, meeting at lunch or after school, or whenever is appropriate for your school community.
Our teaching artists are active Chicago poets and trained educators able to take our curriculum, your needs, and their passion, and translate them into a customized plan for your residency.
Your dedicated Poet in Residence (teaching artist) will meet with you before the residency begins to learn about your community’s interests and build a tailored syllabus and mutually agreed upon schedule for the year.
EQUITY AND SUPPORT
Arts education is a human right. Our program utilizes Ingenuity’s Creative Schools scores and our program data to ensure we continue to support schools across the district in need of creative literacy programming. Through active fundraising we’re able to keep our costs to schools exceptionally low while providing high quality services in the form of teacher professional development, curriculum, in-class programming, portfolios, publication, and performance throughout the school year.
