Students at Memorial Junior High had the unique opportunity to meet young adult author Sharon G. Flake on Thursday, October 15th. A winner of several Coretta Scott King Author Honor Awards, Sharon’s books often deal with issues common to teens. She began her visit with an all-school assembly in the gym during which she talked about her writing career and answered students’ questions. Following the assembly, a small group of 7th and 8th grade students had the opportunity to participate in a writing workshop in the school library, led by Ms. Flake. During the hour-long workshop, Ms. Flake handed each student a different picture or writing prompt depicting people from various backgrounds. She explained that the prompts would be used to help them create a first person narrative, and encouraged students to “trust your gut”, and enter into the life of another person through the writing process. Students then took fifteen minutes to write a short narrative based on their assigned prompt, during which Ms. Flake took time to visit each table and provide them with helpful feedback. Once they were finished writing their narrative, the students took turns sharing and discussing their stories with each other and Ms. Flake. In addition, all students participating in the workshop received a free copy of You Don’t Even Know Me: Stories and Poems about Boys, courtesy of a grant provided by University Hospitals University Suburban Health Center. Ms. Flake also took time to provide her signature below a quote from You Don’t Even Know Me that is displayed on a wall inside the school library.
The South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools would like to thank Sharon G. Flake for visiting with our Memorial students and passing along her love for writing and learning!
