Cassie Cox

Cox’s innovative teaching idea, “I Was Here,” involves students documenting a year of life (and a year of learning) through poetry — both written and spoken. Poetry will be the common thread through each unit of study. Poetry will be a vehicle through which the students sharpen their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. To wrap up the year of study, Project VOICE, a team of highly accomplished writers, performers, and educators who use spoken word poetry to entertain, educate, and inspire, will visit the school and perform for the entire student body. This presentation will be followed by small group workshops in which students will be coached in the art of Spoken Word Poetry in preparation to perform their own pieces for classmates. The at-risk student population often struggles with self-confidence and trust in their own abilities and power to move others with their words and ideas. This project is aimed at overcoming this hurdle and to give the students a voice with the help of Project VOICE. The students' work will leave the important message of “I was here.”