class notes

Robert Wilder has taught students ranging in ages from six to sixty for almost twenty years. He has been teaching English and Creative Writing at Santa Fe Preparatory School since 1996 and a writer-in-the-schools since 1994. He has been a novel mentor with the London Arts Council, a guest lecturer in fiction and nonfiction, a writer-in-residence at Antioch College, and an instructor at the New York City Open Center, the Hollyhock Conference Center in Canada, the Institute of American Indian Arts, Kripalu, and the Taos Summer Writers Conference. He has been named an Influential Teacher from the Frederick Emmons Terman Engineering Scholastic Award from Stanford University, an Inspirational Teacher citation from Century Bank, and Outstanding Educator from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards; and was a winning coach in the New Mexico CultureNet Online Poetry WebSlam. His writing assignments and teaching methods have been featured in Classroom Notes Plus, published by the National Council of Teachers of English.

For more than ten years, Wilder has facilitated adult writing workshops by himself and with author Natalie Goldberg at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House in Taos, New Mexico, and elsewhere.

Wilder was the only individual named in the inaugural Innovations in Reading Prize from the National Book Foundation in 2009. For more information click here.

He has been a keynote, lunchtime, and commencement speaker all over the country for various schools, corporations, and workshops.

comments from former students

“I like it when you send us letters about letters.”—Sylvia, age 6, Santa Fe, NM

“I like when you put letter stickers on your face.”—Ivy, age 6, Santa Fe, NM

“I like your hair.”—Alejandro, age 5, Santa Fe, NM

“I like writing and I like that you help us write.”—Charlotte, age 7, Santa Fe, NM

“I like writing and when we’ve finished something, we have big parties.”—August, age 8, Santa Fe, NM

“From Rob I learned that my voice, my perspective, and my (mundane teenage) life were worth writing about. Suddenly writing wasn’t only about producing dry, regurgitated papers for class and reading no longer became a drag. Rob’s teaching opened up a whole new world for me to escape into. By capturing my experiences and conjuring up new, impossible ones, I could envision a broader life beyond Santa Fe and a better, funnier, far more talented version of myself. Rob was the first “real” writer I ever knew and remains a model of a true teacher-scholar I strive to be.”—Molly, age 29, Ph.D. Sociology, Lecturer, UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

“I don’t think it’s overly generous to say that Rob Wilder is ‘the’ reason I write professionally. In a sea of teachers who couldn’t care less, Robert stood out as a sane-ish, legitimately hilarious, (perhaps accidentally) hip mentor. He encouraged his students to write from themselves and their unique experiences and taught us to value our voice and the voice of our peers…however much our tiny judgmental minds wanted to resist. Had it not been for his Creative Writing class, I would have probably been a (cringe) musical theater major in college…instead, I became a creative writing concentration and now I spend six hours a day writing and thinking of every excuse to write more. For some unspeakable reason, Robert’s influence on my poetry made me accidentally win a youth slam poetry contest. I keep my journals from his creative writing class with me for every cross-country move. Rob introduced us to modern, honest writers and brought other amazing people to speak to us. I still look back fondly on those days which were otherwise soul-crushing, because while youth is full of lots of alleged suffering, now I have the power to craft those emotions into humorous, sometimes heart-wrenching stories. Which is kinda priceless.”—Olivia, age 25, Los Angeles, CA

“Rob made me want to write because he was maybe the fourth person to encourage me and take a real interest in my writing. He basically had to as my creative writing instructor, but still.  Rob validated my seventeen-year-old scribblings while keeping me from taking myself too seriously. Once, when discussing a story I’d written, Rob suggested a rewrite wherein one character asks another to the prom. I wrinkled my nose and said ‘Ew– that’s so high school.’ Rob came back with ‘I got news for you kid, you ARE in high school.’ Rob’s interest in my work as a young writer was instrumental in my pursuit of writing in college and beyond. Rob was the kind of teacher I needed: (the type of teacher most high schoolers need) someone to tell me I was a good writer, show me ways to get better, and to say ‘keep writing.’”—Adele, age 23, and currently of Oakland, CA.

“Rob has been guiding me though the writing process for about a year and a half as I undertake producing my first book.  In many ways he holds me accountable to forge onward and submit my drafts regularly, to delve into aspects of my stories that are particularly challenging for me, and to maintain an honest relationship with my reader.  I am grateful for his compassionate understanding and gentle criticisms as otherwise, I surely would have stopped writing.”—Diana, age 46, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“As both a student and co-teacher in Rob’s classroom, I was awed and inspired by his ability to draw out insights and surprisingly sophisticated opinions regarding literature.  He demands a level of intellectuality that his students are eager to live up to and chooses literature and teaches it in a way that expands the minds of his students.  Rob shaped my education and life and as teacher and mentor.”—Rachel, age 25, Davis, CA

“Rob simply taught me how to write an analytical essay. He showed me that a thesis was more than just a proof but that for great analysis it is necessary that I delve further in order to discover the author’s intention and ultimately what it is that they wanted to convey.”—Caroline, age 17, will be attending Columbia University Class of ‘13

“It is said that a teacher has the power to change a life. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Rob was a life-changing teacher to me. His passion for the written word, understanding of its mechanisms and devices, and more than anything his ability and willingness and great, great patience in explaining this sacred art form moved me and motivated me in ways that have fundamentally shaped my thinking and the arc of my career. I feel so fortunate and grateful to have had rob as a teacher, a friend and a powerful influence on the course of my life.”—Nora, 28, Senior Consultant, Verbal Identity, Interbrand NY

“Every student deserves to have at least one wonderful teacher who they will remember for their whole life as being the best teacher they ever had. For me that teacher was Rob. He was a true mentor, friend and inspiration for my fellow classmates and myself both academically and personally. More than any professor in college, Rob was the definition
of excellence in teaching. Now I myself am about to become a mother, and if my child can form a relationship with a teacher who cares half as much about him and his education as Rob cares for his students, I will be very happy.”—Mehera, 23, Brooklyn, New York