Utilizing Creative Writing Instruction to Support Adolescent Emotional Development and Mental Well-Being
Open Access
Author:
Himmel, Cara
Area of Honors:
Secondary Education
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dr. Charlotte Land, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Charlotte Land, Thesis Honors Advisor Michelle Renee Knotts, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
Creative Writing Secondary Education Well-Being Unit Plan
Abstract:
Creative writing has been proven to be a valuable tool for expressing emotions and processing trauma (e.g., Deveney and Lawson, 2021; Lee, 2021; Litten, 2022). While the school environment often compounds student trauma, creative writing practices have the opportunity “to help each student build healthy relationships with themselves and with the world around them” (Tsatsou-Nikolouli, 2020, p. 179). When students’ emotional development and well-being are centered in the classroom, there is more equitable opportunity for them to thrive. Incorporating creative writing into English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum can bolster academic success and support students during the tumultuous period of adolescence (e.g. Coleman, 2021; Sandbäck Forsell et al., 2021). In my thesis, I present a creative writing unit that has the potential to aid students’ emotional and social development. This unit provides the opportunity and support necessary for students to experiment with their identity in a classroom environment that celebrates all aspects of their creativity and personality.
