Katrina in Their Own Words—Collecting, Creating, and Publishing Writing on the Storm

Beginning with the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the author, his students, fellow teachers, and Southeastern Louisiana, the article focuses on lessons learned about writing and teaching through the experience. The article tells the story of Katrina: In Their Own Words, an anthology of storm stories by local students and teachers that the author edited, and what he learned from this experience about the limits of academic writing and the value of voice. The final section focuses on a risky English 101 assignment on writing music that grew out of the storm, how this assignment led to a radio program and anthology, and what this assignment taught him about seizing the "teaching moment."