Laura Oliver

For over twenty years, I have taught creative and academic writing and a variety of settings: in school and after school, summer programs, workshops, and in-home settings as a private instructor. I thrive on breaking down the barriers that students might have to mastering writing and seeing them grow, thrive, and develop their own writing voices. Through the reading of model texts, critical thinking, journaling, brainstorming, planning, and drafting, I enjoy making writing accessible to a diverse group of students and taking them through the writing process. 

• Writing Instructor/ Tutor: teaching private, in-home writing classes to grades 3-10th, October 2005-present.
• Creative Writing Instructor, College For Kids, West Valley College: teaching creative and academic writing classes to students in grades entering 5-9th in a summer school setting, June 2016-July 2018. 
• Journalism and Poetry Instructor, De Anza College Extended Year Enrichment program (now De Anza Academy), teaching poetry and news writing to grades 3-5th in a summer school setting, June 2004-July 2012
• Teaching Artist, Cultural Kaleidoscope, Palo Alto Art Center; Instructing poetry writing classes in the Palo Alto and East Palo Alto Unified school districts through an arts education program.  
• Creative Writing Instructor, I Have A Dream Program, East Palo Alto: instruction poetry, creative writing, and journalism classes to at risk youth in an after school and summer school setting, 2003-2005.

Master of Fine Arts in Poetics and Writing, New College of California