At George Jackson Academy, Teaching Fellows Sam and Stefan transformed their 7th-grade creative writing workshop into a dynamic world of alternate realities—where fantasy met humor, and role-playing met personal voice.
This semester’s theme, “Alternate Worlds,” gave students space to explore writing across genres including comedy, fantasy, horror, dystopian fiction, sci-fi, and poetry. Students read from authors like Ray Bradbury, Shel Silverstein, and Tara Campbell, and engaged with short comics (Garfield, Peanuts, Little Nemo in Slumberland), as well as an abridged live game of Dungeons & Dragons. Each student was given a die to roll and tasked with crafting a story from their character’s first-person point of view—merging storytelling with imagination and chance.
“We’ve seen students grow more comfortable taking risks in their work and sharing it out loud,” the Fellows shared.
“There’s genuine enthusiasm—not just to share, but to listen to one another’s work. The classroom feels like a community of storytellers.”
A standout moment came when a student expressed frustration: “I have the whole story in my head, but when I try to write it, it doesn’t come out right.” Sam and Stefan encouraged him to let go of the need for perfection:
“Write it anyway. It’s easier to fix something than to make it good from scratch.”
This advice unlocked not just that student—but many others—to dive into their drafts with more freedom and less fear.
Sam and Stefan also found success by mixing media and sensory experience into their lessons. For spooky story night, they turned off the overhead lights and brought a flashlight for students to read their horror tales—creating atmosphere and excitement. On more focused days, students lingered longer on short stories than expected, fully absorbed in reading and discussion.
“We learned that a mix of interactive lessons and quiet, reflective sessions helps keep the energy balanced and students engaged.”
This cohort of middle school boys at George Jackson wrote with imagination, courage, and growing command of their voice. As they wrap the semester, Sam and Stefan are proud of the community they’ve built—and the worlds their students dared to dream.
