Region 9 Guest Speaker Inspires GT Students

Unleashing creativity was the order of the day.  Peter Nevland, performer and writer and entrepreneur, entertained, instructed, and inspired Bowie Junior High students attending his “Life with Sort of Read Hair” seminar in Wichita Falls, November 4. 

 

The Region 9 Educational Service Center Gifted and Talented Cooperative, under the direction of Missy Mayfield, sponsored the performance and writing workshop which featured Nevland’s animated performances of some of his own “spoken groove” poetry with titles such as “Rashi and Me” and “Skrickawocka.” 

 

Students were mesmerized as Nevland drove an imaginary car, peddled an imaginary tricycle, leapt, spun, shouted, and supplied sound effects to emphasize the power of the written and spoken word.

 

Nevland compared the power of writing and speaking to a fire hydrant and a fire hose.  He said thoughtful writing allows writers to harness and direct their thinking much as the fire hose allows a fireman to control and direct water as opposed to the fire hydrant that allows water to burst forth with no meaning or benefit to others.  He encouraged the students to, “Put your power on paper.”

 

Interweaving visual, written, and performance art, Nevland discussed the creation of “In Flanders Fields”, a traditional historical poem from the World War I era, and its basis in the life experience and simple observations of its author.  Art slides and writing illustrated contemporary views of warfare and other social issues.

 

Students participated in the creative process as they wrote their own pieces and voluntarily performed them, guided by Nevland’s encouraging feedback about the most powerful aspects of the students’ writing. Working through segments of the writing process, Nevland modeled intriguing openings, effective transitions, and conclusions with a universal appeal. 

 

Individually and cooperatively, the students learned communication skills and received inspiration to utilize their abilities and creativity not only to entertain, but also to communicate meaningful messages to others through writing.  After the seminar, the students enjoyed a picnic and relaxation at Lucy Park.

 

Peter Nevland encourages students to follow their dreams and appreciate their unique abilities as he has done in his own life.  He received a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1999 and began a promising career as a process engineer for the Motorola Corporation before leaving the engineering field to follow his dreams.  He presently offers speaking and training seminars, commercials, graphic design, CD’s and videos to the educational and business worlds and has clients and contacts on several continents. 

 

Bowie student participants were Nellie Buchanon, Jackson Gwilliam, Robert Jordan, Hailey Mothershead, Tilghman Parr, Jared Roberts, Ralie Sutton, Kevin Stallcup, Hannah Woolf, Cheyenna Grottie, Pierce Lancaster, Logan McMurray, Alyssa Osheim, Harly Betts, P. J. Caparelli, Rachel Greenlee, Hunter Howell, Zachary, McCaig, Sheridan Nelson, Hannah Rhoades, and Madison Wallace. 

 

Parent and BJH sponsors were Debbie Grottie, Michellie Gwilliam, Kathy McCaig, Rhonda Parr, Tracey Stallcup, Judy Barry, bus driver, Kelly Williams, and BJHS principal, Kelly Shackelford.

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