HEP and CAMP 2024 Presentation

Unleashing the Power of Storytelling:
Empowering Students Through Creative Expression

El Paso Community College
Memorias del Silencio

• Creative Writing Instructor
  El Paso Community College

• Director Memorias de Silencio

​

​Daniel Ríos-Lopera

Memorias del Silencio is a project from El Paso Community College that offers creative writing workshops to HEP and CAMP students.

These workshops provide a safe space for students to express their emotions and experiences, and each year, we publish a book showcasing their talent and hard work.

Beyond writing, we celebrate the diversity and culture of our students, giving them a voice and connecting them with others who share similar stories. We believe in the power of the written word to raise awareness and promote social change. 

Memorias del Silencio

Open Ended

What are the biggest challenges your students face with reading comprehension?

What strategies have you used to help them to improve this skill?

Open Ended

What are the biggest challenges your students face with writing?
What strategies have you used to help them to improve this skill?

Poll

How important do you consider art and creativity for HEP and CAMP students' development?

• Very important

• Important

• Slightly important

• Not important at all

At El Paso Community College, we are convinced of the power of humanities, art, and creativity as essential elements in all types of education.

Objectives:

• Learn and practice techniques to improve reading comprehension

• Approach to writing through creative exercises

• Understand essay structure and learn to present ideas and arguments through writing in a logical and coherent manner.

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memorias del silencio with hep students

Class 1 - Reading Comprehension Boot Camp

Class 2 - Basic concepts of storytelling. How to tell a story?

Class 3 - How to tell a story using the 5 senses?

Class 4 - De donde vengo yo

Class 5 - Narrative Recipe

Class 6 - Intro to Essay Writing

Class 7 - How to find arguments for my essay? Essay Practice 1

Class 8- Essay Practice 2

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HEP Curriculum 2024

Open Ended

Ask the person next to you:

Could you share a tip a student can use to improve their reading comprehension skills?

Share their answer here

Kahoot - Gamification is the key.

Levels of Reading Comprehension
Literal
Inferencial
Critical

Practice games at the beginning of every class

​

HEP - Class 1
Reading Comprehension Boot Camp

Open Ended

Why do humans tell stories?

Reorder

Arrange the elements of a story in the order you think is correct

• Exposition

• Turning Point

• Conflict development

• Climax

• Resolution

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

HEP - Class 2
Basic concepts of storytelling - Hero´s Journey

​Writing activity: What has been the biggest challenge you have faced and feel proud to have overcome?

Word Cloud

Of the five senses, which is your favorite?

Open Ended

Ask the person next to you:

How do you think we can use the 5 senses to tell a story?

Share your partner´s answer here

HEP - Class 3 How to tell a story using the 5 senses

​Writing activity: The Story of a Special Object

​Sensory Exploration Exercises (describe a candy/snack/space)

How to connect the senses with the stories

Simile and metaphor

Open Ended

You will have 3 minutes to choose two or three concepts from the list and define them using similes/metaphors or by describing them through one of the senses.

El arrepentimiento es un plomo frío y pesado apretándote el corazón
Regret is a cold, heavy rock squeezing your heart

Open Ended

Discuss the following question with the person next to you:

How much do you think our place of origin influences our personality?

HEP - Class 4 De donde vengo yo

What sound reminds you of your place of origin?
What color...
What smell...
What flavor...
What tradition...
What word or saying...
What gesture/movement...
What hero...
What paradox...
What do you wish to your place of origin
What do you promise?

​Sensory Exploration of our Memory

HEP - Class 5 Narrative Recipe

Sensory Exploration of Food and Memories

Draw

You have 1 minute to draw your ideal burger

Open Ended

In what way is an essay like a hamburger?

HEP - Class 6 Intro to essay

Debate Activity
Should kids under the age of 10 be using a cell phone? Find 3 arguments.

Essay Structure
Intro
Body paragraphs
Conclusion
Transitions

Writing Practice
Why did I decide to go back to school?

HEP - Class 7 Finding Arguments for your essay

Activity
Identify the parts of an essay

How to find arguments?
Suggestions taken from GED Practice Test

Timed Writing Practice 1
45 minutes to write and essay

HEP - Class 8 Timed writing practice 2

Reading Comprehension Activity

Timed Writing Practice 2
45 minutes to write an essay

Open Ended

You are in a room with 100 other people. If you are better than all of them at something, you win 1 million dollars.
What would you do?

Objectives:

• To create a safe space in which students can explore their creativity

• To teach some creative techniques and approaches students can use in their current careers and as future professionals.

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memorias del silencio with camp students

Class 1 - Know Yourself: We will start by exploring your identity and cultural background.

Class 2 - Build Your Personal Brand: Learn to use what makes you unique to create a personal brand.

Class 3 - Succeed in Interviews and Presentations: Develop storytelling skills to stand out in interviews and presentations.

Class 4 - Final Presentations

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CAMP Curriculum 2024

Open Ended

1. If you could invite one of your ancestors to dinner, whom would you invite, and what would you ask them?

2. If you could change one misconception people have about your culture, what would it be?

CAMP - Class 1 Know Yourself

Discussions about:
Culture and Identity
The Power of Difference



Writing Activity
The story of my name/last name
Virtual Collage of my culture

Open Ended

Imagine you're a WWF wrestler; what song would you use for your entrance?

Open Ended

Discuss the following question with the person next to you:

How do you think having a defined personal brand could benefit a CAMP student?

CAMP - Class 2 Creating your personal brand

Define a celebrity

Decoding your hero´s personal brand

Components of the Personal Brand
Values
Skills
Experiences
Personality

Writing Activities
30 second elevator Pitch
Letter from your future self

Open Ended

Usa a Meme, GIF or Emoji to describe your first job interview.

Open Ended

How do you think storytelling could benefit a CAMP student in a presentation or job interview?

CAMP - Class 3 Personal Presentations and Job Interviews

Discussion about the power of storytelling

The Hero´s Journey Archetype

Using the hero´s journey for presentations
Using the hero´s journey for job interviews

Writing Activity - The story of your biggest challenge using the hero´s journey.

CAMP - Class 3 Personal Presentations and Job Interviews

CAMP - Class 4 final presentations

​Students must:
Introduce themselves using the 30 second elevator pitch.
Make a 5 minute presentation about a topic they are passionate about
Prepare for a practice job interview.

Open Ended

Write a question you might have about the topic presented in this presentation

Open Ended

Share one thing you have learned today in this presentation

opportunities for students