Ann Neary and Jan Bassin

Neary’s and Bassin’s innovative teaching idea, “Being Heard Intergeneration” focuses on creating a writing curriculum that values and amplifies the voices of those often left out of critical conversations: teens and the elderly. Partnering up with Pathways Academy, created for school adverse children, and the Westport Center of Senior Activities, students and seniors will respond to weekly writing prompts after engaging in open conversations. They will have quiet time to write and time to share in pairs, small groups and whole group situations. Writing will continue through editing and rewriting stages. Neary and Bassin ultimately hope to create a multi-generational writer's workshop model that seeks to respond to contemporary values, intergenerational dialogue, and new perspectives in collaborative thinking.