Workshops for students in schools or community programs

A Creative approach to literary theory using the Psychoanalytical Lens: A Workshop for Senior English Classes

ENGLISH: Grades 11 & 12 University Classes

Tessa pulls from her pervious experience as a high school English teacher to create a unique window for students into the world of literary theory through Jungian analysis. This workshop focuses on using the Ontario English curriculum in tandem with creative writing exercises to augment student’s voice, expression and understanding of the literary content being studied in class. Using the psychoanalytic lens of Jungian psychology, under the umbrella of literary criticism, students dive into the unconscious of the characters’ they study, thus bringing them closer to an analytical understanding of the texts, and a deeper understanding of themselves.

Writing the Way: Relationship with Self as a Form of Resistance

ENGLISH: Grades 9 & 10

This workshop is designed to be catered for grades 9-12. The workshop uses a variety of creative writing prompts in tandem with the curriculum to get students into a creative, spade space where their imaginations can flourish. The goal of the workshop is to awaken students’ creativity. The workshop conveys to students that there is more than meets the eye when we look at, and study characters in stories. Students will leave the workshop feeling more connected to the motivations, intentions and core values of the characters they are reading about. When we look to extend empathy to characters we read, the artists we study, we ultimately grow our capacity to understand those around us and ourselves with greater depth and compassion.

For The Love of Writing (3 Class Series)

ENGLISH: Grades 9-12

This workshop breaks away from academic writing and focuses on reassociating writing as something that can be pleasurable, and fun and often therapeutic. Tessa focuses on different creative writing prompts each week and uses the multi-class series building on ideas and flexing the creative muscles over three classes. Tessa and the classroom teachers find through this workshop that writing creativity helped students re-shape their perception of what "writing" in an English class can mean; having a creative writing practice, ultimately strengthens more formal, academic writing.

Embodied Character

DRAMA: Grades  9 -12

Using voice, movement and creative exploration students are invited out of their heads and into their bodies as they write and or prepare for different dramatic roles. In particular a large focus of the worksop, after embodiment exercises, is spent creatively getting in the mind and heart of the characters they are playing. Using fun and unique explorations and playful exercises students leave the workshop feeling bolder and more confident to embody their characters.

faqs

  • Investment for all school workshops in a 75 min period are $195.00 plus HST.

  • Please see the testimonials page below with student feedback, but overall the response to this work is overwhelming positive. Students seem to love the opportunity to see writing in a new light, and they like getting to know their peers in a new way.

  • The goal of the workshop is to awaken student’s creativity. The workshops hope to convey that there is more than meets the eye when we look at, and study characters in stories. Students will leave the workshop feeling more connected to the motivations, intentions and core values of the characters they are reading about. When we work to extend empathy to the characters we read, the artists we study, we ultimately grow our capacity to understand those around us and ourselves with greater depth and compassion.

  • Yes. Especially when there are in person meetings where Tessa can present that data and feedback from students and staff about their positive experience; as well during these meetings Tessa can speaks to how she draws on her previous experience as a teacher and her familiarity with the Ontario High School Curriculum which she connects to all her workshop content.

  • Tessa thrives with this age group and loves working with teenages. She specifically chose to study within, during her teaching degree, the “supporting students at risk” cohort at OISE ( Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at University of Toronto) and feels passionate about reaching all types of students with her workshops.

  • A lot of time and energy goes into creating these handcrafted workshops. The price reflects hours of unseen labour imagining and planning out what each unique group of students are going to need and benefit from. Tessa draws on years of experience during two degrees of studying and learning about stories, teaching and learning and 13 years as a high school English and drama teacher.

Testimonials

The following are teacher testimonials and student testimonials are from Dave Harvey’s grade 11 university English class at Guelph Collegiate Institute in the Upper Grand District School Board, May 2023.

  • “The time my class spent with Tessa was a gift. In only 3 sessions, I saw students move from indifferent to engaged, and from engaged to inspired. She made writing and sharing and risk-taking so inviting through her enthusiasm and genuine passion, that kids couldn't resist trying. I'm so happy that Tessa came to our class - everyone got a lot out of it (me included)."

    Dave Harvey, Teacher at GCVI, Guelph, ON

  • Tessa was very organized, welcoming and capable with the class as she gave an overview of Jungian psychology and how it might be utilized to deconstruct characters in literary texts. Students were consistently engaged and challenged by Tessa and the material. At its conclusion, students had a beneficial experience and indicated that they had obtained valuable and useful insights into their texts. I would not hesitate to welcome her back into my classroom."

    Joel Wright, Teacher at CCVI, Guelph, ON

  • “It can really help people be open with the people around them, and also themselves. It did for me, at least.”

    Student at GCVI, Guelph, ON

  • “I really loved listening to everyone who shared in the bigger circle as well as in the smaller groups. Hearing how people think when they are given the time and space to do so is very interesting and showed me a lot of insight into the people I spend my time with.”

    Student at GCVI, Guelph, ON

  • “I think it can show high school students just how effective jotting out what's on the mind can help with stress and other emotions.”

    Student at GCVI, Guelph, ON

  • “I really enjoyed having a reason to do creative writing. I had never really thought about writing in a creative way like we did in the workshop”

    Student at GCVI, Guelph, ON

  • “The sharing process was really enjoyable. It gave me a different perspective of my peers and how they interreact with writing.”

    Student at GCVI, Guelph, ON

  • “I felt comfortable being vulnerable and open with myself, and even more, my classmates, which I thought was special. You created an environment that made no one feel alone or judged, which was really special.”

    Student at GCVI, Guelph, ON

  • “The fun emptying my thoughts and sharing with others was really enjoyable.”

    Student at GCVI, Guelph, ON

  • “I enjoyed writing without being marked or a certain topic.”

    Student at GCVI, Guelph, ON

  • “I liked being gifted dedicated time to write with a passionate guide.”

    Student at GCVI, Guelph, ON