Larry Smith’s visit to my classroom
Two years goes by fast! Who knew I would actually be continuing this journey into the podcast world. The newest podcast is a re-release of my first episode with my first guest, author Larry Smith. I do not think I would have thought of podcasting if it were not for him visiting my classroom and sharing stories from “I Can’t Keep My own Secrets: Six Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure”. My senior students were highly engaged and into hearing one another’s story in only six words. In fact, one senior brilliantly wrote “If Beyonce says it, do it!” You cannot argue with that! It was great to learn another tool to get kids to become passionate about writing.
Who is this “miracle worker”? In his own words, “he is the creator behind the wildly popular book series Six-Word Memoirs, a literary subgenre described as “American haiku” that has become a global phenomenon. Comprising the best-selling series of books, a board game, and live event series, the project reflects Smith’s quest to stimulate the creativity of aspiring writers. Smith launched Six-Word Memoirs in 2006 with a simple online challenge: Can you describe your life story in six words? Now, more than a million short life stories have been shared on sixwordmemoirs.com and countless more in classrooms, boardrooms, churches and synagogues, veterans’ groups, and speed-dating sessions, where this short form is a tool to catalyze conversation, spark imagination, and boil big ideas down to their essence. In this one-of-a-kind session, Smith takes us on a journey through his thought process, introduces us to his newest project, “Six Words Fresh Off the Boat: Stories of Immigration, Identity, and Coming to America,” and shows how each of us can write the six word stories of our lives”
If you are ever in a bind on what to do with your students at the end of the year or when you need a break from your daily routine, be sure to pick up one of the Six Word Memoir books. It is a guarantee for community building and memories.
You can subscribe and listen to this and other episodes on iTunes, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Reviews are amazing and wonderful! Be sure to leave one & even better in “six words”. And follow HallPassBreak on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
