Meet Our Instructors: Sophia Berkey

What is your favorite lesson you’ve taught?  Why?

My favorite lesson I taught was one about olfactory senses. We passed around cups with mystery contents and asked each student to describe what he or she smelled. When they smelled all of the cups, the students made guesses about the mystery contents based on the adjectives and other descriptions they had noted throughout the activity. The guessing game was a lot of fun, and it also prompted students to think about descriptive language and what words might be evocative or powerful in their creative writing.

What has teaching writing taught you about your own writing?

Teaching writing reminds me how important a writing community is. It can be easy to think of writing—creative or otherwise—as an independent practice. However, receiving support and inspiration is necessary at each step of the process. Working with my writing group, I have been able to witness the foundation of a writing community, and it is such a joy to observe and accompany students as they receive each other’s work. This has pushed me to seek greater writing communities in my life so that I, too, can experience such instrumental support.

What are some things you love?

Chili oil, brown cats, lemonade, limeade, Father John Misty, memoirs, tulips, my trivia team, and bookshelves

What is something you taught yourself to do?

While it is certainly a work in progress, I am learning how to garden. I have four cayenne pepper sprouts that I adore, I can’t wait to turn them into a delicious hot sauce.

What would a perfect morning look like for you?

My ideal morning would have crossword puzzles, open windows, and hot tea. Of course, I would fill out the puzzle perfectly and in dark blue pen.