Community Arts Partner

Participant Details

Community Arts Partner Name
Stephanie Guerra
Partner Type
Individual
Profile Photo
Individual Bio or
Organizational Statement
Stephanie Guerra is the winner of the 2014 Virginia Hamilton Essay Award for her research on multicultural literary experiences for youth. She is the author of children’s novels Torn and Billy the Kid is Not Crazy, as well as a forthcoming young adult series from Skyscape and a picture book series from Simon Spotlight. Kirkus called her “a strong new voice” and Booklist praised her “complex characters.” Stephanie teaches children’s literature and writing in the College of Education at Seattle University. She also teaches creative writing at King County Juvenile Detention and researches and speaks about literacy instruction for at-risk teens. As a Creative Advantage Partner, Stephanie specializes in integrating creative writing across the curriculum for grades k-12. She develops and teaches writing workshops in creative nonfiction, fiction, or memoir to deepen understanding in the content areas of language arts, social studies, history and science.

Contact Information

First Name
Stephanie
Last Name
Guerra
Address
College of Education, Seattle University
Address 2
901 12th Avenue, P.O. Box 222000
City
Seattle
State
WA
Zip
98122-1090
Phone
206-902-7094

Grade Levels Preferred

Grade Levels Preferred
K-2, 3rd - 5th, 6th - 8th, 9th - 12th

Artistic Disciplines

Discipline
2
Type
Creative nonfiction, fiction, memoir

Experience

Previous School Partnerships
Other Trainings or Certifications
Sample Lesson Description: Student / Classroom Residencies
Sample Workshop Description: Teacher Professional Development

Areas of Experience and Expertise

Approved Professional Development Provider
Yes
Approved Classroom Residency Provider
Yes

Lesson Plan

Integrated Art
Cultural Art

Teaching Approach

Teaching Philosophy + Approach
At the core of my teaching is the belief that writing is a powerful vehicle for learning, and that it should be made an organic part of every subject. I follow the premise of writing “process” theorists like Peter Elbow and Lucy Calkins who lead students to establish a writing process and learn craft issues as they arise. I teach students to assess their own writing through the “6 Traits” model, an analytical scoring system that breaks writing into components: ideas, organizations, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation. As a Creative Advantage Partner, I am committed to honoring teachers’ and schools’ philosophies and adapting my techniques to fit their needs. My residencies include an initial consultation on planning, fit, and institutional approach. I then design a series of content area writing lesson plans and submit them for review to my partnering teachers. I give regular personalized feedback to my students, and guide them through multiple drafts to develop a successful finished product. Throughout my residency, I maintain open lines of communication with my host teachers, inviting formal critique and feedback at several points. At the close of the residency, I continue to be available for follow-up consultations.
Curriculum Integration Possibilities
Language Arts, Social Studies, History, Science
Special Skills and Areas of Expertise
I have ten years of experience working with at-risk and incarcerated teens and leading professional development with k-12 teachers.
Testimonials from Schools
Reference 1: Katherine Schlick Noe, Ph.D. Professor and Director of Literacy College of Education, Seattle University 901 12th Avenue P.O. Box 222000 Seattle, WA 98122-1090 kschlnoe@seattleu.edu 206.296.5768        Reference 2: Unna Kim Recreation Coordinator, King County Juvenile Detention 1211 East Alder Street Seattle, WA 98122 unna.kim@kingcounty.gov    

Fees

Fees

Images

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Stephanie Guerra working with students at King County Juvenile Detention
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Image Description
Stephanie Guerra working with students at King County Juvenile Detention
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Writing student at King County Juvenile Detention
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Billy the Kid is Not Crazy, 2013
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Torn, 2012

Video

Video Description
Eleven-year-old Garrison reviews Stephanie Guerra's book.
Video Description
Video Description