Workshops
Designed to foster creativity, strengthen writing skills, and provide students with a forum to execute projects they otherwise might not have the support to undertake. 826CHI Workshops are led by talented volunteers — including published authors, educators, playwrights, and other artists — during evenings, on the weekends, and throughout the summer.
Workshops are free for students, ages 6-18. Unless otherwise noted, each Workshop occurs once a week on the same day, at the same time, for the duration of the number of sessions indicated. Because each workshop builds upon the ideas learned in the previous session, students are asked to attend all dates of a Workshop.
For detailed information about some of the particulars of attending and registering for Workshops please click here.
826CHI’s Youth Advisory Board
Oh hey there, high school students. We think you’re pretty great and we’re wondering if you’d like to be involved in something big going on at 826CHI this year. If you like pizza, service hours, giving your opinion, and writing, then this is probably right up your alley. This year, 826CHI is inviting motivated high school students to be a part of its Youth Advisory Board. YAB connects its members to local literary culture through crazy-cool workshops and events. YAB members will provide 826CHI with student perspectives on programs and publications, while also serving as mentors and positive examples for other students in the 826CHI community. YAB will meet for hour and half-long sessions twice a month from September to June, where you’ll find cool people, some guest writers, and a fair amount of snacks. For your efforts, we grant service hours.
The group meets every other Tuesday throughout the year.:
Tuesdays - starting September 27th
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Taught by: Kait Steele and Josh Lesser
Limited to: Students in grades 9-12
Please Note: contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information
High School Tutoring
Hello, high school students! Could you use some extra help with homework, but can’t make it to tutoring during regular tutoring hours? Here is your answer: 826CHI is now offering special sessions for high school students on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30pm and Saturday afternoons from 3 to 5pm. You’ll have the opportunity to work one-on-one with tutors on all of your homework needs, and get this: you can come as often as you like, for FREE! In order to join us for high school tutoring, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) by the night before at 5pm and let her know you’ll be there. Just include your name, phone number, and the type of homework you need help with (such as writing, math, Spanish, chemistry, etc) and we’ll pair you with a tutor who can help you master all homework challenges. If you have questions – just email or call 826CHI. We can’t wait to see you!
Available twice a week - come as often as you need:
Wednesdays and Saturdays
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 on Wednesdays and 3 to 5pm on Saturdays
Taught by: 826CHI volunteers
Limited to: students who RSVP the night before by 5pm in grades 9-12
SuperStar : The Hip-Hop Workshop
Come to 826CHI and learn how ordinary people become rapping geniuses! Just like writing a story, we'll start by creating our hip-hop characters. But our alter-egos aren't just going to be in a tall tale; they're going to be beat-dropping, verse-swapping, traffic-stopping hip-hop SuperStars
Two Sessions:
Saturdays, January 14 and 21st
Time: 12:30-2:00 PM
Taught by: Eric Miller
Limited to: 12 students in grades 5-8
Baby Got Snack – How to Write a Song Parody
Writing a song parody is like playing a game of musical Mad-Libs. Take a song everyone knows and switch out the boring old lines for the unexpected; hilarity usually ensues. Maybe “Hey There Delilah” becomes “Hey Sarah Palin,” or “The One That Got Away” becomes “Wish I Was Tina Fey.” Learn the other type of musical comedy – the one favored by Andy Samberg and Flight of the Conchords – from a writer and improviser who used to intern at Saturday Night Live.
Two Sessions:
Thursdays, January 19th and 26th
Time: 6-7:30 PM
Taught by: Jenna Marotta
Limited to: 12 students in grades 5-8
Back to the Future: Time Travel Writing
Great Scott! We’ve gotten our hands on our very own time machine and we’re going back to the future… and the past! If you’ve ever wanted to meet your younger self, watch the building of the pyramids, or see the Chicago of 2050, come be a part of our travels. We’ll design our own time machine, watch clips from the classic time travel movie, Back to the Future, make a master timeline and write our own accounts of what happens when you have the power to leave the present and change history.
Two Sessions:
Saturdays, January 21st and 28th
Time: 10:00–noon
Taught by: Liz London
Limited to: 12 students in grades 5-8
Soapbox Speeches
Do you have an opinion? Well, get out your megaphone and step up to the box! This Soapbox Speech Workshop is for those of you who have something to say - whether it's that you're sure you have the answer to solving world hunger, if only President Obama would return your calls, or that you're convinced your block would be a better place if only people learned how to use trash cans. We will help you write and give a speech that inspires listeners to take action.
Three Sessions:
Saturdays, January 28, February 4 and 11th
Time: 12:30-2:30PM
Taught by: Allison Weigel
Limited to: Limited to 12 students in grades 7-12
RegisterThe Micro-Mini Players Present Theatre of the Tinies
Do you believe in the old adage "good things come in small packages?" do you find magic in plays & performing? If you answered yes to these questions then this is definitely the workshop for you. You & your fellow students will collaborate to create character, action, story & dialogue & perform for each other. Except the actual actors will be the finger puppets you'll be wiggling on your digits. So warm up those joints & your imaginations & prepare yourselves to stage a delightful evening!
Two Sessions:
Mondays, January 30th and February 6th
Time: 6-7:30 PM
Taught by: Ellen Rosen
Limited to: 12 students in grades 5-8
RegisterWhy a Tiger is Like a Pickle
Looking for answers to these questions? How is a bicycle like an earthquake? How is Selena Gomez like a pineapple? And why is a pickle like a tiger? In this workshop, you will write about characters that make these silly comparisons. Along the way, you will learn about different rhetorical styles, like description, persuasion, and narration. Your writing will be published in a chapbook packed with the crazy comparisons made by everyone in the workshop.
Two Sessions:
Saturdays, February 4th and 11th
Time: 10:30 to noon
Taught by: Hilary Hodge and Andrés Carrasquillo
Limited to: 12 students in grades 4-6
The Committee for the Exploration of Mysteries
Are you a world famous adventurer? Are you ready to travel the globe in search of ancient artifacts and lost civilizations? Can you handle dangerous lands, hostile natives, and evil rivals? If so, your skills may be required!
Join us and share tales of daring and discovery as an esteemed member of the Committee for the Exploration of Mysteries. Together, through acting and role playing, we will create a shared story of exploration and adventure!
Three Sessions:
Thursdays February 9, 16 and 23rd
Time: 6-8pm
Taught by: Josh Kurlander
Limited to: 16 students in grades 7-12
RegisterCharacter Building Builds Character!
Do you have the idea for the next great hero or villain? Does he or she have a sidekick, x-ray vision or an intense fear of peanut butter? If you have the makings for a heroic Harry Potter or a miraculous Matilda, come join us as we learn how to build the world’s most interesting characters! Whether your character lives in a world of wizards or right here in Chicago, he or she will need to be well-equipped!
Two Sessions :
Saturdays, February 25th and March 3rd
Time: 10:30 to noon
Taught by: Ariel Fox
Limited to: 12 students in grades 2-4
ACT Prep Workshop
The ACT. I know right? Worst thing ever invented. We can give you the skills and strategies you need to tackle the obnoxiousness that is the ACT. Seriously. You might not even hate it.
Students will be best prepared if they took a full practice ACT before the class date. They should note which types of questions they have trouble with so we can address specific concerns in the workshop.
For this workshop a $25 deposit is required to reserve your space. If you attend all of the sessions in your workshop, your $25 will be refunded in full at the last class. (Check to 826CHI or cash). To sign up fill out the online form and then mail or bring $25 to 826CHI/The Boring Store by February 26th 1331. N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL 60622.
Four Sessions:
Saturdays, March 3, 10th, 17, and 24th
Time: 12:30-2:30PM
Taught by: Josh Lesser
Limited to: 25 students grades 9-12
Please Note: Please note: If the class is full – preference will be given to Juniors and Seniors.
RegisterPoetry is a Centaur
Have you ever wanted to write a poem but just couldn’t find the words? A poet named Ezra Pound once said, “Poetry is a Centaur.” You may be wondering what a mythical creature that is half horse and half human has in common with poetry, right? We will be exploring what happens when words from different sources combine to create something magical. By the end of three weeks you will be seeing poetry everywhere! Come and write the best thing that you didn’t write a single word of! No pens or pencils necessary, just scissors and glue.
Three Sessions:
Saturdays, March 10, 17th and 24th
Time: 10:30 to noon
Taught by: Jeni Crone
Limited to: 12 students in grades 4-6
