My students need this immersive experience with Spoken Word Poet and rap artist, Desdamona, to spark their creative expression and discover empowerment through the art of an original performance.
My 7th grade English Language Arts students love to express themselves through all kinds of creative avenues, including poetry. My classroom is very culturally diverse, with many students coming from low-income families. We are a demographically urban middle school located in a first-ring suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The best qualities of my students are how creative, resourceful, earnest, and enthusiastic they are.
My kids love to learn and show their dedication to learning each and every day. Opportunities for both individual expression and for community-building experiences are very important for the academic growth and the emotional well-being of my students. When they are challenged and inspired to produce creatively, they thrive and shine!
My Project
Without exception, every time Spoken Word artist Desdamona has served as poet-in-residence in my classroom, through the non-profit organization COMPAS, a flame is lit within my students that sparks energy, light, motivation, and exceptional achievement! She takes my kids on a week-long journey that leads them from novice poets to committed performers, as each one engages in an original, creative performance that is unlike anything many of them have ever experienced before.
I've seen her bring forth the voices of the quietest in my room, laser focus the energy of my most active, and address questions of culture, identity, belonging, and adolescence in the most poignant ways possible.
As a female rapper and spoken word poet, she is an inspiration to many of my students. During the first few days she will be working closely with the students in developing their ideas, sharing her craft, and discussing the importance of word choice, figurative language, structure and rhythm. It is the highlight of our year every time we have had this opportunity, and it is my fervent wish that my students this year will benefit as well, despite tighter funding and fewer enrichment opportunities with every passing year.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Ruda and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
