Author-in-Residence

For 10 years, Jeff Baron was the Author-in-Residence at Ardsley Middle School, in Ardsley, NY, north of NYC.

The program, a collaboration between Jeff and the English Language Arts Faculty started as special event, and became part of the 7th grade curriculum.

The entire 7th grade, usually about 170 students, was divided into teams of 4 or 5 students. Each team wrote and produced an original short play or video.

STEP 1 – THE PITCH

Jeff provides tips and exercises for coming up with and developing an idea, and how to pitch a story, Hollywood-style. Then each team pitches their idea to Jeff, including the setting, the characters, and what happens in the story.

The pitch takes place in front of each team’s ELA class, and Jeff gives feedback immediately after. This master class approach gives other groups the opportunity to hear Jeff’s ideas about visual storytelling that may be helpful in shaping their own plays and videos.

STEP 2 – THE SCRIPT

Using the notes they got from Jeff on their idea, as well as his handouts about writing dialogue and turning an idea into a story with a beginning, middle and end, each team collaborates on a draft script for their play or video.

Jeff returns to the school, meets with each team separately, and listens to them read their script out loud. He gives each team detailed notes and suggestions, stressing the fact that their audience will be seeing this production only once, with no knowledge about the story going in.

STEP 3 – THE PRODUCTION

Each team edits their scripts and plans their production, including sets, costumes, props, projections and sound effects. Originally, the teams all did plays, but since COVID, students can also use video to tell their stories.

Jeff returns to the school and sees a rehearsal of the play, or a rough cut of the video, and once again gives detailed notes. Almost every 7th grader is acting in their play or video, a new experience for most of the students.

All 40 plays and videos are then performed live, or screened for audiences of 5th and 6th graders, who score each production. The plays and videos with the highest scores are shown again on the last day of school to the entire 7th grade.

Jeff Baron, together with Ardsley Middle School ESL teacher Cameron Brindise and Principal Edgar McIntosh were invited to do a featured presentation at the National Council of Teachers of English convention.

“Working with Jeff Baron has been wonderful for the students at Ardsley Middle School. Through example, Jeff has taught them about the importance of research, integrity, and grit in writing.”
– Edgar McIntosh, Principal, Ardsley Middle School

Jeff Baron also spoke about the program at several School Library conferences and the NJ English Teacher convention.

Click here to read an article about this program