The document summarizes kids' writing camps run by the Illinois Writing Project over multiple summers. It describes how the camps were inspired by the Project's teacher workshops and aimed to reduce summer learning loss. Initial camps invited teacher workshop participants' children. Later camps were held independently at various schools, focusing on writing skills and producing anthologies. Challenges included weather and student attendance issues, while celebrations included fostering students' writing joy and independence. Lessons learned were that kids enthusiastically write with choice and without assessment pressure.

1. Kids’ Writing Camps: Summer Stories
Presented by
Pat Braun, Illinois Writing Project Co-Director (pbraun09@yahoo.com)
Jen Reichardt, 5th Grade Teacher, Flossmoor Hills Elementary School
Mindi Rench, Literacy Coach, Northbrook Junior High
(mrench@northbrook 28.net or on Twitter: @mindi_r)
You can find this presentation at http://slideshare.net/mindi_r

2. Why Kids’ Camps
For the Illinois Writing Project, kids’ camps were a
logical progression from our Summer Leadership
institute for teachers
A good deal of time is spent writing during the
institute
We plan lessons and organize ideas for writing
workshops in schools
For students, summer writing camps are beneficial in
helping to reduce “summer slide.”

3. The Beginning
When we first began exploring the idea
of writing camps, we invited the adults in
our summer institute to bring their
children to participate in the
nontraditional camp.
When we saw the enthusiastic response,
we decided to set up more camps.

4. Jen’s Story: Year One
Northbrook Junior High
students in grades 5-8
focused on writing and
the power it gives the
individual
6-traits based lessons
Anthology of writing
produced at end of
camp.

5. Jen’s Story: Year Two
Hendricks Elementary School,
Chicago, IL
Offered free to students through
a grant from the IRC
Theme: Writing Colors Our
World
Each day focused on a
color of the rainbow
Students participated in
writing activities and were
served a snack in the color
of the day

6. Challenges:
Hottest week of the summer meant some students did
not attend for health reasons
High percentage of English Language Learners
Celebrations:
Instilling the joy of writing in participants
Moving students to independence in writing
Seeing students share their writing with participants
in the Summer Leadership Institute
The pride evident in both students and parents
Forging a future relationship with Hendricks
Linda Bailey, another IWP Leader, continues to
work with a group of Hendricks students during a
lunch time writing club!

8. Heather’s Story
Northbrook Junior
High
Built on Jen’s work the
previous year
Subsidized by a grant
from the IRC
Focus was on short
pieces, especially
poetry

9. Challenges
Hot weather pre-empted writing marathon
Students weren’t necessarily there by choice
Age range (incoming 5th-8th graders was too big
Not enough time to truly revise and polish writing
Celebrations
Camp built on the workshops taking place in District
28 literacy classes
Students were enthusiastic writers
Students were able to experiment with a variety of
short writing forms, including haiku and other poems,
they might not experience in their regular classrooms
Haiku Throwdown!

10. Lessons From Camp
Kids are enthusiastic writers when given VOICE and
CHOICE
Kids who never saw themselves as writers now have a
new lens through which to view their worlds.
Without the cloud of assessment hanging overhead,
kids have the freedom to explore their ideas and be
creative
It’s possible to put on a great camp even with limited
resources

11. About the Illinois Writing Project
“The Illinois Writing Project provides professional development on
teaching writing, reading, and the application of both skills for
learning across the curriculum and across whole schools.”
We offer a two-week summer leadership workshop as well as a one-
week Teaching Writing workshop each summer. For information,
visit
http://illinoiswritingproject.com/illinoiswritingproject.com/Home.ht
ml
In addition, we sponsor a fall program to celebrate the National
Day on Writing and a spring conference, both at minimal cost to
participants and open to any teacher who is interested in attending.