All Write! Adult Literacy Program

• Any Adult Basic Education (ABE) or English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class, at any level, can participate.

• Teachers, tutors, or site administrators register their class(es) for either the morning program or the evening program.

PLEASE NOTE:

Symphony Space offers the All Write! events at two times, Morning and Evening, to accommodate the times the classes meet. If teachers teach in both the morning and the evening, they are welcome to register for both times. Because we select stories to be performed for the culminating Morning performance from the registered Morning classes (likewise for Evening), we recommend that any class enrolled in the Morning All Write! classes attend the Morning All Write! performances, and classes enrolled in the Evening All Write! classes attend the Evening All Write! performances.

Symphony Space’s All Write! gives teachers resources to inspire and enable their students to engage with challenging prose and poetry, and to write creatively. We understand that most ABE and ESOL classes are focused on helping students master the basics of standard English. However, we have heard from teachers and tutors of students at ALL LEVELS that introducing students to great literature and poetry and inviting them to express themselves creatively unleashes not only a desire to read and write more, but an elevated level of confidence in themselves across the board.

To that end, Symphony Space provides the following:

• The texts to the published stories and poems that will be performed at the first presentation.
• An accompanying Resource Guide with a unit on each of the above pieces, including “Pre-Reading,” “About the Story or Poem,” “Language,” “Writing,” and “Drama” activities and strategies focused on the piece.
• Along with the Resource Guide comes a set of images that are related (sometimes very closely, sometimes very generally) to some or all of the stories and poems. These images have been extremely effective in stimulating discussion, enhancing understanding of the text, and in prompting creative writing.
• Professional Development Workshops: Two PD workshops are offered to all participating educators. The first one, held in the late fall, focuses on alternative strategies for introducing students to the stories and poems they will hear performed at the first presentation. The second one, held shortly after the presentation, will explore a variety of ways to inspire and enable student to write their own stories and poems. Both workshops are interactive. Once an activity has been tried out, teachers discuss how they would adapt it for their particular students. The “cross-participant” sharing is especially valuable. All activities are hands-on and replicable in both in-person and virtual classroom settings.
• In the classroom: With the above resources, much of the content of All Write! happens in the classroom. That is, the participating teacher or tutor introduces some or all of the provided texts to the class, using some or all of the techniques given in the Resource Guide, the PD workshops, and/or the teacher’s tried and true teaching methods. Note: There is no required amount of preparation. It is up to you to see where this can fit into your schedule. In the Resource Guide, we have super-short activities that can open a window onto each story and poem but take only a couple of minutes.
• Performance 1 - Introduction to the material: There are two performances for registrants to attend, with in-person and/or virtual options for participation. The first performance features acclaimed actors of stage and screen performing the published short stories and poems that have been selected for each year’s curriculum. The performance generally lasts 60 minutes. At the end of this performance the student audience is invited to submit original writing for the chance to have their work featured at the second performance.
• Student writing time: After the first performance, the teacher guides the students in the writing assignment, and submits the students’ writing to All Write! in March. There is no obligation to submit student writing.
• Performance 2 - Celebration of Student Writing: The second performance features the same cast of professional actors reading a selection of stories and poems written by the enrolled students to an audience of their peers, teachers, family, and friends. Teachers and students attend the performances at Symphony Space, or as a livestream in their classroom or home. The performance generally lasts 90 minutes.

• November 15, 2024 – Registration deadline
• Late November – Confirmed workshop and performance dates and links to the online resources (story and poem texts, the All Write! Resource Guide, and the set of images) are sent to registered teachers, tutors, or site administrators.
• Early December – Professional Development Workshop #1: Working with the Stories and Poems is held.
• Early February – Performance #1: professional actors perform published short stories and poems. This performance is offered at 11AM EST Classes who are unable to attend in-person may watch a recorded livestream for a limited time.
• Early February – Professional Development Workshop #2: Generating Student Writing is held.
• Mid-March – Student writing submissions are due to Symphony Space.
• Early April – Teachers who have submitted student writing are informed of the pieces chosen for the second performance.
• Mid- to Late May – Performance #2: professional actors perform short stories and poems written by enrolled students. Note: this performance is offered in-person and livestreamed at 11AM EST for classes that meet in the morning; and at 7PM EST for classes that meet in the evening.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and its variances, we continue to offer both in-person and virtual events. Those include:

• All Professional Development workshops are held virtually only
• All performances have in-person and virtual options available

"I can't begin to tell you what a valuable service your program performs for the adult literacy community. The performances and highly professional, well-thought out support materials provide structure and inspiration for many different types of valuable lessons supporting reading, writing, and listening skills, as well as conversation and reasoning. Your programs have become an important part of our curriculum." -Volunteer Tutor, NY Public Library

"My students were greatly impressed. [one of the students]… has blossomed as a writer, [he] says it’s the best thing that has ever happened to him." -Teacher Brooklyn Adult Learning Center

"Through All Write!, students feel less alone knowing that they are not the only one struggling with literacy problems. For me, it is a voice in the dark. It fills me with a great sense of joy knowing that my students’ voices are acknowledged, not only in my center, but through other important venues as All Write!" -Teacher, Brooklyn Public Library

"The biggest impact of All Write! on my students is hearing great literature, including the student writing. The biggest impact on me is seeing my students honored." -Teacher, Brooklyn College Adult Learning Center

"The curriculum guide is wonderful. I have five years of guides that I use all the time." -Teacher, Brooklyn Public Library

"The All Write! program has been an anticipated series of events on my professional calendar every year for more years than I can remember. The motivation it inspires, the professional development for our instructors, and the celebration of selected student writing by professional actors in the wonderful theatre is FANTASTIC! I can't wait to see this year's program." -Literacy Program Director, NY Public Library

A recent evaluation revealed the following findings as a result of participating in All Write!

Of the 28 teachers who responded (62% of all teachers):

• 74% reported that as a result of participating in All Write! at least 50% of their students now write more
• 71% said that at least 50% of their students read more
• 95% reported that overall student participation in classroom activities had been positively affected by participating in All Write!
• 55% reported that TABE (Tests for Adult Basic English) scores, and 42% said GED essays were positively affected by All Write!
• 100% of responding teachers said they incorporated the All Write! materials into their curriculum; 70% said they incorporated them “a lot”

Of the 179 students who responded (15% of all students):

• 90% report that they read more often
• 91% report that they write more often
• 89% report that they read more “literature and poetry”
• 95% report that they feel more hopeful about their future

Symphony Space is a multidisciplinary performing arts center where bold programming, presented in a uniquely warm and welcoming environment, forges indelible relationships between artists and audiences. Our fundamental mission is to connect art, ideas, and community through our programs and our commitment to literacy and education through the arts. On our New York City stages, through our national broadcasts, and in the classrooms and communities we serve throughout the country, we foster access to the arts through all the disciplines. Our embrace of the audience and the arts is wide, and the experience of our patrons is deep and enriched.