Our Goal
Our goals for Arkansan students are to gain confidence with written and verbal communication skills; to explore new avenues of self-expression and awareness; to critically and creatively engage with the world around them; to be active contributors to their communities’ creative culture; to acknowledge the value of their own observations, singular experiences, and individual voices; to share and learn from one another’s unique perspectives; to pay close attention to language when reading and writing; to take risks in invention and to experiment with creative problem-solving.
The recognition and development of these skills will build a generation of leaders, inventors, and problem-solvers, which is especially important when we’re moving into an economy in which ideas and language carry the most capital value.
WITS works with students and teachers from diverse backgrounds and makes a concerted effort to reach underfunded school districts in under-served parts of the state where the majority of students come from low-income families and are considered “at risk” for dropping out of school.
Arkansas WITS is made possible through a partnership with the University of Arkansas Graduate School and by the generous support of private donors.
History
Beginning in 1973, WITS has empowered young people across the state of Arkansas by opening doors to self-expression, awareness, articulation, and creative problem-solving—all through the writing and sharing of poetry.
In 1973, The University of Arkansas’s Poetry in the Schools (PITS) program was created by MFA student John Biguenet and Professor James Whitehead. PITS grew rapidly while remaining steadfast in its mission of bringing creative writing to young people across Arkansas. In 1989, PITS changed its name to the sharper, more optimistic, and more inclusive WITS (Writers in the Schools). Every year since 1973, graduate students in the University of Arkansas MFA Program in Creative Writing and Translation have visited public and private elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and juvenile detention centers throughout Arkansas, teaching in pairs and conducting 2-day creative writing workshops.
Every school year, an anthology featuring student poetry is published the subsequent fall. Our archives date back to the 1973 – 1974 school year. Today, every student whose work is published (as well as his or her school) receives a complementary copy of the WITS anthology.
FAQs
What is WITS?
Writers in the Schools (WITS) is a program administrated, staffed, and taught by graduate students in the University of Arkansas’s English Department. These graduate students visit elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the state of Arkansas and teach two-day poetry workshops. The WITS program was first started during the 1973-1974 school year and has served Arkansas schools every year since.
Who Can Request a WITS Trip?
Any and all public or private elementary, middle, and high schools within the state of Arkansas are eligible for a WITS visit. We can coordinate visits with principals, teachers, librarians, and literacy coaches. Juvenile Detention facilities may also request a WITS workshop. There is no charge for WITS to visit your school or institution.
Which Grade Levels Can Participate in WITS?
WITS is designed to introduce students to poetry and promote creative writing. Over the years, we have found that the program best serves students from grades 3 – 12. Your WITS instructors will select specific prompts and adjust the session’s lesson plans according to the students’ grade level(s), interests, and skills.
What If Students Have No Experience Writing Poetry?
That is perfectly fine! In fact, many of the students we work with have very little familiarity with poetry or creative writing when we first arrive. Our program is designed to foster and emphasize creative thinking, associative thinking, experimentation, and problem solving.
How Many Instructors Will WITS Send?
WITS sends out instructors in teams of two. Our lessons are designed to be taught by a team of two instructors, and schools may not split the team apart for any reason. However, schools can request multiple teams on a single visit.
How Many Lessons Can Each WITS Team Teach Per Day?
Each WITS team may teach up to four hours (four sessions) per day. We also request that we work with the same students on the second day as we did the first. On Day 2, students generally feel considerably more comfortable, demonstrate a greater sense of authority with their writing, and take more risks.
The length of each session varies depending on the school, but sessions usually range from 45 – 60 minutes (the length of an average class period). If your school is on a block schedule, we are happy to accommodate that as well.
How Many Students Can Participate in Each Session?
The number of students varies depending on the needs of the school, but we like to work with one or two classes per session (25-50 students).
How Long is a WITS Visit?
Each WITS workshop takes place over two consecutive days. On the first day, students are introduced to the WITS program and are guided through some short prompts. The second day consists of a short review, followed by more complex prompts. On the second day, students generally feel considerably more comfortable, demonstrate a greater sense of authority with their writing, and take more risks.
We Would Like to Invite WITS to Our School, But We Can Only Do it in a Large Group Setting. Is This Acceptable?
WITS’s primary goal is to bring poetry workshops to your students. Over the years, we have led workshops in cafeterias, libraries, all-purpose rooms, and auditoriums. Every school has different classroom space, needs, and resources. We will not let any of those restrictions prevent us from fulfilling our mission. If your school has special requirements, we ask that you communicate these in advance with the program director and trip leader so we can plan appropriately.
How Does WITS Determine When To Visit Each School?
We understand that the school year is hectic, and your WITS visit is planned around your school’s scheduling needs. When you request a WITS workshop, the program director will ask you which month you would like to schedule a visit. The trip leader will then contact you to determine the final two-day block.
What Qualifies WITS’ Staff to Teach?
Our staff is comprised of graduate students in the University of Arkansas’ English Department. While many of us arrived at graduate school with teaching, coaching, or counseling experience, we all have taught (and most of us currently teach) undergraduate writing courses at the University of Arkansas. At the U of A, you will find us teaching the following courses: Creative Writing Workshops 1 and 2 (poetry and fiction), Essay Writing (creative non-fiction), World Literature, Composition 1 and 2, Technical Writing, and Advanced Composition.
Where Do You Get Your Prompts and Exercises?
We invent them. Every single poetry prompt and exercise that WITS brings into your classroom has been created by graduate students who are either current or former members of the WITS Staff.
What Is the WITS Anthology?
Each year, the WITS program puts together an anthology of student poetry created during WITS workshops. Every student whose work is included (as well as all participating teachers) will receive a complimentary copy of the anthology for that school year.
We’re Interested in WITS But Have Additional Questions. Who Should We Contact?
Please send an email to arwits@uark.edu. We’re happy to answer any questions!