Words Unlocked 2017
Authenticity
Words Unlocked Update #11: May 30th, 2017
"They were all strong, they all dove into the ether realm of anguish and confusion and struck the temple bell of authenticity— I’m proud of them, they all have unique voices, clear and genuine, their affection gripped me and their sincerity was compelling— I applaud them all for a commendable effort!"
~ Jimmy Santiago Baca
Drumroll, please!
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ALERT: Words Unlocked 2017 Contest results will post no later than Tuesday, May 30th.
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Words Unlocked Update #10: May 19, 2017
Final 15!
Congratulations teachers and poets! We'll be back in touch next week with the winning poems.
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Words Unlocked Update #9: May 12, 2017
Round 1 Results!
All of the poems included in the list below were moved forward by our Round 1 Volunteer Reviewers and will be included in the 2017 Words Unlocked Anthology. Congratulations to your poets!
Teachers, please click the linked file below and make any corrections related to your poets' submissions. This is important and will ensure that the 2017 Words Unlocked Anthology is accurate.
Round 2 Review is Underway
Poetry Break
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Words Unlocked Update #8: May 5, 2017
WU17 Poetry Contest: Review Round 1
All poems are currently in the hands of our Round 1 Volunteer Reviewers. We'll be back next Friday with another update on the review process. By then, we will have moved on to round two.
Teacher Spotlight!
Kim: The students at CAS were very motivated by the video on "Let Me Breathe" and "High School Training Ground." These videos inspired us to create and perform a group number that focused on the idea of authenticity. This performance happened at our staff appreciation day; it was well-received and appreciated by all. Through this process, the students discovered an appreciation for poetry. This project has motivated staff and students to develop a Poetry Group.
Thanks, Kim, for sharing your story! Have your own WU17 story to tell? Well, click the link and Tell It!
Praise Your Poets!
It's so exciting to hear that many of you are praising your poets during classroom celebrations, schoolwide award ceremonies, poetry cafés, and staff appreciation days. Click the image of the certificate to download a Word version, add your personal touch, print, and present to your poets for so expertly and so very humanly sharing their most authentic selves. : )
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WU17 Submissions!
Due to an error on our part, the WU17 Submission Portal will remain open through midnight of Saturday, April 29th. Hope this helps!
Teacher Spotlights!
Leslie: Yesterday I submitted 25 poems to Words Unlocked that students had written. A huge increase since submitting six poems last year!! It has been an amazing journey for all of my students, many whom have never written anything like this before. The array of poets and material we have had the opportunity to have access to via Words Unlocked has been invaluable. My classes are looking forward to our own "Slam Poetry" event on Thursday. It will be a small forum where my classes will "perform" during their own class period. "Words Unlocked" has made April a fun and creative month for my students to explore their writing.
Ken: Final touch-ups underway to submit on Thursday! AMAZING work from my students - I'm so very proud of all of them! The prompt of "Authenticity" has "opened up" some of my most difficult students to begin writing honestly about themselves, in poetic form. I'm planning a day for all my classes to share their poems with other classes, serve decaf coffee, hot chocolate and have "open mic poetry day" in my classroom!
Thanks, Leslie and Ken for sharing your stories! Have your own WU17 story to tell? Well, click the link and Tell It!
Poetry Break
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Words Unlocked Update #6: April 21, 2017
WU17 Submission Portal is Open!
If you have any trouble downloading the WU17 Submission Template or uploading to the WU17 Submission Portal, please let us know and we'll get on it.
Poetry Break
Then, check out the WU17 resource on creating your very own Poetry Café inside your facility or school space. Already planning to hold a spoken word event? Share your experience or ideas on our WU17 "Tell It" Padlet or just send us an email!
*Remember, poetry is relevant beyond April! Who says you can't hold a spoken word event at the end of the traditional school year or over the summer?
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WU17 Update #5: April 14th, 2017
Jimmy's Poetry Reflections
Want to access Jimmy's reflections beyond May 15th? Click HERE to subscribe to ongoing access to the poetry reflections and more at jimmysantiagobaca.com.
"The essence of language is to interpret what's in your heart."
In the video above Jimmy shares the motivation behind his poetry reflections and the inherent connection between poetry and the lived experience of teachers and students. How will you empower your students to express what's in their hearts and reignite the embers of learning?
WU17 Submission Template
Please download the WU17 Poetry Submission Template. This is a Word document and we ask that all submissions be uploaded as Word documents, using this template. PDFs will not be accepted.
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Why? If one of your poets is featured in the WU17 anthology, it makes life easier when working with a Word document.
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Thanks in advance! : )
WU17 Submission Portal is open!
The WU17 Submission Portal is live and ready to receive submissions! You can simply complete your submission directly through the WU17 Contest Webpage or click HERE to open the portal in a new window. Again this year, you can submit up to 50 poems at a time! We're thinking this should cover it for most folks. ; )
Teacher Spotlight!
"When we returned after spring break, a few students showed me poems they wrote during the break. A few others shared with me how they read poetry (even checked out Tupac's poetry book from the public library). I am so proud! My students are taking off with this unit. I've been pleasantly surprised by many students' effort toward creating these poems. Their poems about themselves that include symbolism are wonderful!"
Kendra, we are so glad to have you participating again this year. You are en educator to emulate! Checking books out from the public library? MAJOR win!
JSB's Poetry Reflections
WU17 Submission Template
WU17 Submission Portal
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WU17 Update #4: April 7th, 2017
Come and Get 'em
Tell It!
WU17 Reviewing Artists
Unable to stream video inside your facility? No worries! Feel free to download and save them.
Noah Schultz
Jeremiah Ramirez
Talib Robinson
Jimmy Santiago Baca
Mwende "FreeQuency" Katwiwa
R. Dwayne Betts
Victoria Sammartino
Josh Lefkowitz
Amy Woolard
Teacher Spotlight
Check out these posters this group of students made on Day 1 of WU17. Nice!
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WU17 Update #3: March 31st, 2017
Are you ready?
WU17 Website
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WU17 Focus Poet: Mwende "FreeQuency" Katwiwa
Previous Words Unlocked Day 1 Lesson Materials
WU16 Day 1
WU15 Day 1
WU14 Day 1
WU17 Contest Poster!
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Words Unlocked 2017 Contest Guidelines
WU17 Contest Guidelines
WU17 Calendar and Lesson Plans
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Words Unlocked is BACK for 2017!
In the spirit of National Poetry Month (April), and in an effort to encourage literary exploration by young people held in locked juvenile facilities, we are proud to announce that we will be running our month-long poetry writing initiative and competition, Words Unlocked, again this year.
This year's theme is Authenticity! Authenticity is commonly referred to as "being real" and true authenticity requires a genuine sharing of our inner selves, irrespective of the consequences. Very often, our actions in a given moment do not always reflect our authentic selves in that we alter or mitigate our behavior to avoid such a consequence. Being inauthentic, though, can constrain our growth and self-esteem. Being authentic requires a genuine sharing in the present moment and requires us to care enough to ensure that our words and actions reflect our intention. Through Words Unlocked we hope to encourage young people held in locked facilities to explore this theme and voice their truths about authenticity.
All materials for the initiative are available at our Words Unlocked website, which will house a robust set of tools available for public use: daily lesson plans and teacher-ready classroom materials. Check back often, as we will continue adding material! Please share the website with anyone and everyone you know who might help get these materials to teachers working with incarcerated youth. We hope to have thousands of students kicking off Words Unlocked 2017 on April 3rd.
Far too many young people are locked up around the country. Through this initiative, we continue to ensure that their words are not.
The Words Unlocked 2016 theme was interconnectedness. Take some time to read and listen to what young people held in locked facilities had to say through their poetry and podcasting about being connected to themselves, to others, to the world.
words unlocked tether
lives, interconnectedness
through absent presence
Words Unlocked Anthologies
Words Unlocked 2017 Updates!
The Podcast Project
The Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings
We help alternative schools inside locked facilities implement transformational, student-focused practices, designed to significantly improve the life chances of the students they serve.
Email: csampsonkelly@ceeas.org
Website: www.ceeas.org
Location: Washington, DC, United States
Phone: (240) 326-3796
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CEEAS.org/
Twitter: @SecondChanceEDU