Creative Writing and Poetry at the Core
Iconoclast Artists offers free, year-round creative writing and poetry programs for middle and high school students across Houston and Galveston. During the school day, students read, write, and revise poetry and other original work as part of English Language Arts. Outside of school, S.W.A.P. (Students With Amazing Potential) adds the arts, creative movement, and field trips.
Across every program, mentorship and trauma-informed instruction help students build their skills, express themselves, and grow the core competencies they need to succeed in the classroom and in life.
The core competencies we build
- Self-awareness
- Confidence
- Emotional regulation
- Resilience
- Critical thinking
- Communication
- Empathy
- Respectful collaboration
- Healthy relationships
In-School Program
Our In-School program brings weekly creative writing and poetry instruction into the school day. Students read literature by diverse writers, discuss and analyze it, and write and revise original poetry and narrative pieces through multiple drafts.
Lessons align with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English Language Arts and are designed to improve literacy and well-being while building core competencies.
How it works
- Led by Teaching Fellows, who are experienced educators, writers, and mentors
- Held weekly during an existing class period, such as English Language Arts, theater arts, an ancillary class, or a free period
- Typically one class period per group of students each week, with longer blocks available
- About 15 to 25 students per class, in a classroom provided by the campus
- Scheduled around your school calendar to minimize disruption to core instruction
- Free for students
See the full list of TEKS alignment areas and schools we’ve partnered with.
S.W.A.P.: After-School, Weekend, and Summer Programs
S.W.A.P. gives students more time to create, explore, and connect outside the school day. Creative writing anchors every session, alongside the arts, creative movement, mentoring, and field trips. Like our In-School program, every part of S.W.A.P. is designed to build core competencies in a supportive environment.
- Creative writing: Students explore poetry and creative writing to strengthen literacy, express themselves, and find their voices.
- The arts: Fine arts activities give students new ways to share their ideas, talents, and perspectives.
- Creative movement: Dance, yoga, and other physical activities build discipline, physical well-being, and mindfulness.
- Mentorship: Small-group conversations with caring mentors help students navigate school, relationships, and life.
- Field trips and Family Nights: College campus tours, museum visits, and local outings open up new possibilities, and Family Nights bring students and their families together.
THEY SAY: Annual Student Showcase & Poetry Anthology
Every spring, Iconoclast Artists honors all its students at THEY SAY. Student writers are published in the annual THEY SAY poetry anthology, and many perform their original work for hundreds of supporters at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and The Bryan Museum in Galveston.
With a live DJ, a keynote speaker, and art giveaways, the night celebrates their courage and creativity. Anthology sales fund scholarships for students pursuing higher education or career training.
Highlights From Our Student Artists
A few lines from a decade of THEY SAY anthologies.
Even when I get knocked down,
I’m still capable of love …
Like everyone else,
I’m still capable of love
—Kevin W, from “Capable,” THEY SAY, 2017
Never stop dreaming. Keep fighting for your goals.
Reach for the stars and grab the universe.
—Lily Mosher, from “For You We Stay,” THEY SAY, 2025
What Changes for Students
Over the school year, we track student progress using pre- and post-assessments, literacy benchmarks, student surveys, classroom observations, and administrator feedback.
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Classwork completion * rose from 33% to 65%
65%
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Students reporting worry or nervousness * dropped from 52% to 20%
20%
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Self-awareness * increased by 20%
+20%
