Ms. Mitchell’s class visited the AWM in April and participated in the Write In program for middle and high school students. Write In combines the unique experience of a museum visit with specially-designed curricula that aims to increase students’ knowledge about American writers as well as boost their confidence as writers. Since the museum opened in May, we have welcomed more than 2,700 students from throughout Chicagoland. If you are interested in bringing your class, or sharing this opportunity with a teacher, you can read more here.
Ms. Mitchell is a teacher at Carl Sandburg High School, and was kind enough to share her thoughts on the AWM from a teacher’s perspective. We truly value all teachers who come through our doors, and are happy to offer 1/2 price tickets for teachers who come to the Museum during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 8-13, 2018.
Besides providing this generation with a hands-on experience in the world of writing before the explosion in technology, the “Story of the Day” section of the museum sparked interest, curiosity, and conversation that I’ve been hard-pressed to find in our classroom all year.
Myself and about 45 of my Advanced Placement and Composition students visited the AWM last month, and our largest tactile take-away for this generation of smartphone and laptop users was a love affair with the typewriter. Besides providing this generation with a hands-on experience in the world of writing before the explosion in technology, the “Story of the Day” section of the museum sparked interest, curiosity, and conversation that I’ve been hard-pressed to find in our classroom all year. The novelty of the typewriter was instrumental in engaging students in wanting to write by typing words that then they showed off to their peers. It was spectacular! But honestly, so were the rest of the exhibits in the museum as well: “Hear the Rhythm” and “Take Action” as well as the table interactive devices, the word waterfall, and the ceiling covered in books, made a complete package of inspiration and value for the written word and those who strive to bring that art to life.
Excellent post! A trip to AMW and a typewriter workshop would do wonders for every high school student, with or without writing aspirations. I took a joyful ride down memory lane with those AMW typewriters on my visit to the museum as well, providing content for two of my own blogs (the most recent: https://authorselectric.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/its-all-in-fingers-umberto-tosi.html).