2019 Summer Young Writer's Camps
- Description: The weekly half day camps are designed for advanced elementary students to have fun with English learning during summer. The following topics are arranged for each week:
Letters About Literature is a nationwide essay writing contest sponsored by the Library of Congress. This camp combines
reading and analysis with writing instruction to assist each student in writing a letter to the author of a book, short story,
poem, or speech. Students will read their chosen work, research the author (including background and personal views),
describe how the work has been impactful, and write a letter to the author that expresses how the author's writing has been
personally meaningful. All letters will be correctly formatted and prepared for submission to the Library of Congress Letters
About Literature contest.
2. Creative Writing Camp, 1pm - 4pm, Week 4, 6/17 - 6/21
In this camp, we will explore the world of creative writing. We will learn how to grab the reader’s attention through the use
of words and tone. We will also learn the importance of character development, pacing, setting up your climax, and how to
adequately resolve your story’s ending. After the students have learned the fundamentals, they will begin on their own work
of creative writing. During the process, they will analyze famous works of creative writing to determine which tactics the
authors utilize and to use these pieces as inspiration while they finalize their stories.
3. Classic Literature Camp, 9am - 12pm, Week 5, 6/24 - 6/28
This camp will explore a different piece of classic literature everyday! Students will learn interesting background knowledge
about the book and author, main themes, new vocabulary, and the book’s cultural and academic importance in society.
Classic Literature camp exposes students to new books and authors as well as inspires them to read enduring and sometimes
challenging books. This year in camp we will examine: Peter Pan, Holes, James and the Giant Peach, Jumanji, and The Tale of
Despereaux.
4. Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking, 9am - 12pm, Week 6&7, 7/1 - 7/12
Public speaking is one of the most vital life skills students can learn. During camp, students will learn how to act with
confidence, how to adapt the speech for their audience, and various presentation skills such as body language, eye contact,
and tone. During the first week, students will practice their newly learned skills by presenting pre-written speeches to the
class. During the second week, students will create and practice presenting their own persuasive, demonstrative, and
informative speeches. This camp is a great way for returning students to hone their public speaking skills and enables new
students to enter the world of public speaking in a fun and friendly environment.
5. Usage, Structure, and Grammar, 9am - 12pm, Week 8, 7/15 - 7/19
This camp teaches students the importance of grammar for any type of writing. This year, we will focus on when and when
not to use a semicolon, how to structure a list within an essay, how to correctly use an apostrophe, when to use ‘y’s’ and
when to use ‘ies’, subject-verb agreement, and the importance of verb tense and how to stay consistent. Grammar camp
was a student favorite last summer and all students, both returning and new, will learn new skills and have a fun week!
6. Kids Are Authors Camp, 9am - 12pm, Week 9 & 10, 7/22 - 8/2
This camp combines writing practice with teamwork and communications skills. Students will form groups of three or more
and work together to plan, write, and illustrate a fiction or nonfiction book. Participants will learn to collaborate and utilize
the strengths of group members. The illustration component provides an opportunity for students to represent text through
various mediums. At the conclusion of the camp, students will have a fully written book with complementary illustrations
for submission to the Scholastic Kids Are Authors competition.
7. Spelling Bee and Word Origins, 9am - 12pm, Week 11, 8/5 - 8/9
This camp will teach winning spelling bee skills such as how to review the words and what to practice. Understanding and
knowing root words and common suffixes will allow students to concentrate their studying in order to be more efficient and
effective spellers. Additionally, students will learn the most common spelling mistakes and how to avoid making them. The
camp with culminate in our own spelling bee contest!
Note: Materials and activities are arranged with both new students and returning students in mind and all students will have a
lot to learn in the fun environment.
- Date, Time, and Subjects/Activities for each week:
- Main Instructor: Laurra Sperry
moved to Vilnius, Lithuania to become an English teaching trainer. There, she worked as the Head Teacher and American liaison
for the International English Program run by a U.S. non-governmental organization. Directly after her time in Lithuania, she moved
to Phitsanulok, Thailand to help teach and train new English teachers at the Imperial International Bilingual School of Thailand.
Miss Sperry moved to Texas last May to pursue her graduate degree at the University of Texas, in Health Literacy, a discipline
combining the English language and public health awareness. Miss Sperry is our beloved English teacher! Every child in our learning
center loves her!
- Maximum Number of students each camp: 10
- Fees, discounts and refund policies
• Weekly camp tuition: $200
• Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking Camp: $380
• Kids Are Authors Camp: $400
Refund policy:
Full refund: if you withdraw your student one week before the workshop.
Half refund: if you withdraw your student within a week before the camp.
No refund: Once camp is started.