The Write Ingredients: Exploring Identity and Storytelling Through Food, Grades 4-5
Writing the Stories and Lessons Behind Family Recipes and Food Memories
8 class sessions, 1.5 hours per class (12 hours of instruction)
October 2 - November 20
Thursdays, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. PST
Course Description:
Narrative writing is a powerful tool for students to master because it helps them communicate personal experiences, reflect on identity, and connect with others through storytelling. Students will have the opportunity to analyze how writers use food in literature to create themes and symbols, then craft polished narratives about meaningful family recipes. Dynamic writing instruction will strengthen students’ skills in structuring stories, using dialogue, adding vivid details, and developing characters. We will be taking a deep dive into narrative techniques, literary analysis, and reflective writing to produce engaging, high-quality stories.
Course Objectives:
Instructor Biography:
Mr. Carranza was a fellow of the UCI Writing Project Summer Institute in 2021. He teaches English and Journalism at Jefferson Middle School in the San Gabriel Unified School District. After earning a B.A. in Literature at Cal State Long Beach, he went on to earn an M.A. in English at Claremont Graduate University where he learned the value of cross-curricular work. He believes strongly in centering students’ own experiences and voices in their learning and the lasting impact that their stories can bring.
Narrative writing is a powerful tool for students to master because it helps them communicate personal experiences, reflect on identity, and connect with others through storytelling. Students will have the opportunity to analyze how writers use food in literature to create themes and symbols, then craft polished narratives about meaningful family recipes. Dynamic writing instruction will strengthen students’ skills in structuring stories, using dialogue, adding vivid details, and developing characters. We will be taking a deep dive into narrative techniques, literary analysis, and reflective writing to produce engaging, high-quality stories.
Course Objectives:
- Write narratives with a clear sequence of events, vivid details, and dialogue
- Analyze stories to understand how characters, settings, and events create meaning
- Organize writing to tell a complete and engaging story
Revise and refine writing to make it clear, descriptive, and expressive
Instructor Biography:
Mr. Carranza was a fellow of the UCI Writing Project Summer Institute in 2021. He teaches English and Journalism at Jefferson Middle School in the San Gabriel Unified School District. After earning a B.A. in Literature at Cal State Long Beach, he went on to earn an M.A. in English at Claremont Graduate University where he learned the value of cross-curricular work. He believes strongly in centering students’ own experiences and voices in their learning and the lasting impact that their stories can bring.