Teacher

Recent Residencies

Stevens Elementary School, Dawson Minnesota
Florence worked with students in the after-school program to help them write poetry about the different seasons.

New London-Spicer Middle School
5th grade students wrote poetry based on their experiences at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. Florence worked with some senior writers at Glen Oaks Senior Campus.

Lakeview School
Middle school 7th and 8th graders wrote poems connected to their English and science curricula, as part of an Artists and Schools as Partners grant through the MN Perpich Arts Center.

Please email Florence to find out how you can apply for arts funding to bring her into a school or community setting near you!

Minnesota State Arts Board Roster Artist since 1988.
Over 130 successful school residencies, helping students and communities write poems about such themes as "Pioneers," "Story of Our River," "A Peaceful World," and "Intergenerational Sharing." Residencies vary from one week to long-term and include the publication and performance of participant's original writings.
Scores of presentations and workshops for youth, teachers, nursing home staff, social service providers, other artists.
Years of exerience teaching journal writing for survivors of domestic abuse and for addicted gamblers.

Journal Writing in Recovery Programs: Florence is in her 10th year of leading a journal writing class for recovering addicted gamblers in the Vanguard Treatment Program in Granite Falls, Minnesota. Participants learn some basic journal writing techniques and write on topics ranging from the serious to light-hearted. To contact Florence about leading journal writing sessions in recovery programs and other settings, click here.

COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS:

"I learned that writing poems can take a lot of stress out of you and it is fun."

"Florence, you rock! You're the best poet writer ever!”

"I know I can write poems whenever I want. I can give them as presents."

'"When I went up to read my poem I had the butterflies. But when I came back to sit down, everyone was clapping and I felt very proud of myself."

"I learned a lot about my life that I never really think about."

COMMENTS FROM TEACHERS:

"The experiences we have had with this artist are always unique and designed to meet the needs of our students and teachers. She is passionate about writing and this spills over into the work she does with our students. We had students who continued to write long after the residency was completed."
Val Tuff, Principal
Stevens Elementary School

"Florence did an excellent job with the 4th grade students. Their understanding of both poetry and the pioneers increased throughout her time with them."
A Teacher