Open Writing

 पी. एम. श्री केन्द्रीय विद्यालय  मुरादनगर

Activity- Open Writing Challenge

The concept of "open writing" during a library period involves engaging students in various creative and critical writing activities within an open and trust-based library environment. This approach shifts the library from a quiet storage space to an active, dynamic learning hub where students are encouraged to experiment and develop a love for literacy without the pressure of grades. 

Core Concepts

• Open Access & Trust: An open library fosters a sense of responsibility and trust by allowing students free access to diverse physical and digital resources, encouraging independent exploration.
• Choice and Freedom: Students are given the freedom to choose what they write about, what they read, and how they engage with the material, which is a key element of the workshop model in education.
• Reading/Writing Connection: Activities leverage the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing, using exposure to various genres and authors to inspire students' own creative output.
• Community and Collaboration: The library period becomes a social learning experience through activities like writing groups, peer feedback, and author interactions, which build a sense of belonging. 

Practical Writing Activities

During "open writing" library periods, students can participate in diverse activities designed to make writing engaging and relevant: 

• Creative Writing Prompts: Students can respond to imaginative prompts related to libraries, books, or characters, such as "You open a bottle that holds a genie who tells you she will grant you one wish. You say 'library card please'".
• Book Reviews and Recommendations: Students can write and present short book reviews to their peers, fostering discussion and helping others discover new books.
• Author Letters: Students can write letters to their favorite authors. Many authors reply, which can be a huge source of encouragement.
• Story Weaving: In groups, students can collaboratively write stories, with one group starting a story and another completing it.
• Design and Illustration: Students can design book jackets or bookmarks for books they have read, which combines creative art with an understanding of the book's themes.
• Journaling and "Writing Boxes": Providing dedicated writing journals or a "writing box" allows students a private space to write when they play and play when they write, free from grading pressures.
• Current Events and Analysis: For older students, activities might involve analyzing different newspaper articles on the same topic to understand varied viewpoints and writing styles.
• Book Blogging: Students can contribute their thoughts and reviews to a school or library blog, publishing their work for a wider audience. 

These concepts aim to make the library period an exciting, self-directed time that fosters a lifelong love for reading and writing. 

Open Mic

पी. एम. श्री केन्द्रीय विद्यालय ओ. एफ. मुरादनगर

Activity- Open Mic Session

Open mic sessions during a library period can focus on creativity, literacy, and community building. Topics can range from personal stories and book discussions to sharing original work. 

Here are some topic ideas for an open mic in a library period:

Creative and Literary Topics

·         Original Poetry or Short Stories: Encourage participants to share their own creative writing.

·         Book Reviews/Recommendations: Participants can present a brief outline and personal response to a favorite book, explaining what made them read it and why others might enjoy it.

·         Readers' Theater: Groups can perform a dramatic reading of a scene or two from a classic or contemporary work of fiction to engage the audience.

·         Favorite Quotes or Excerpts: Participants can read a meaningful excerpt from any text (book, poem, song lyrics, etc.) and explain its significance to them.

·         The Power of Words: A discussion or presentation on how literature or specific words have impacted their lives or society. 

Personal Growth and Experience

·         Your Passion/Journey: Speakers can share their journey toward a personal goal or a passion they are pursuing.

·         Memorable Life Experience: Sharing a significant or transformative event from their life in a storytelling format.

·         Lessons from Failure: Discussing a time something went wrong and the valuable lessons learned from that experience.

·         Public Speaking Experience: An ice-breaker topic where participants talk about their own relationship with speaking in front of a group. 

Informative and Thought-Provoking Topics

·         The Future: Sharing ideas and perspectives on future trends, technology, or societal changes.

·         Environmental Issues: Topics like conservation, pollution, or climate change can be a great way to raise awareness.

·         The Importance of Libraries: A reflective topic on why libraries are important and their evolving role in the digital age.

·         Debate a 'Disrupting' Idea: Introduce a controversial or unconventional idea and present compelling evidence to challenge the general opinion on the subject.

·         Local History or Architecture: Sharing interesting facts or insights about the local area, potentially linking it to resources available in the library itself. 

Themed Events

·         Holiday or Heritage Themes: Align the open mic with a specific cultural month or holiday (e.g., Black History Month, National Poetry Month) and ask participants to share relevant work or the work of a relevant author.

·         "Book Fight": A playful debate where two people champion different books and try to convince the audience which one is better.

·         Mystery Bag: Participants select a random theme or prop from a "mystery bag" and must speak about it improvisationally for a short time. 

When planning, encourage a supportive and respectful atmosphere, as the primary goal is to build confidence and foster a love for learning and expression within the library setting.