Spoken Word
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Uplifting students' voices & stories.
Spoken Word is a two-part program rooted in the power of language as art. The in-school residency brings a professional spoken word artist into Brooks and Julian Middle Schools, working with all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students through their Arts and Literature classes. Students explore poetry, personal narrative, voice, and performance discovering that their stories matter and their words have power.
For students who want to go deeper, the Spoken Word After-School Club is a free, optional extension where participants refine their craft, perform for audiences, and build a creative community around their writing.
What students will explore
Voice
Poetry writing such as structure, imagery, metaphor, and voice
Self-expression
Personal narrative and storytelling through the spoken word tradition
Writing craft
Reading and analyzing published spoken word artists
Performance
Performance skills along with breathing, presence, and confidence
Community
Community building through shared creative expression
"So happy to have OPEN’s Spoken Word program as part of my language and literature class. I see so much growth from my students during this process and our class comes together through this process. It is a highlight of our school year. Thank you OPEN for bringing this program to Brooks each year!"
Brooks Language Arts Teacher
Oak Park, Illinois
Every Dollar Opens a Door.
OPEN's programs are free to students — and possible because of the generosity of our donors, partners, and community. Your support keeps STEAM exploration accessible to every child in Oak Park, regardless of background.