Younger Writers Camp college students not too long ago interviewed U of A Police Division K9s Faye and Oakley.
Faculty could also be out for the summer season, however U of A alumnae Anne Minton and Rebecca Webb are nonetheless in trainer mode.
They’re main Younger Writers Camps on the U of A. The first targets for college students: have enjoyable and enhance their writing expertise. That has been straightforward to do with small class sizes and a relaxed camp surroundings, stated Minton, who teaches eighth grade at Prairie Grove Junior Excessive.
The scholars’ creativity conjures up her.
“This has been rejuvenating, particularly after COVID,” Minton stated. “I really like to jot down and assist others who love to jot down.”
She works proper alongside along with her college students, who vary from sixth to ninth grades.
Webb, a Fayetteville Excessive Faculty librarian who beforehand taught in numerous district elementary faculties, is working with college students within the third via fifth grades. Regardless that they’re the youngest of the younger writers, they’ve huge desires. One pupil is an aspiring kids’s writer. One other is severe about changing into a graphic novelist.
“My group has been very energetic and engaged,” Webb stated. “They bonded on the primary day of camp.”
She stated they’ve particularly loved being free to jot down about any matter — within the style they like. They have been most enthusiastic about creating comedian books.
Minton’s older college students additionally used the phrase “freedom to jot down” when describing what they most appreciated in regards to the camp. And creatively collaborating with fellow writers who have been simply as invested as them was refreshing.
“It is an incredible alternative to be in a secure house with people who find themselves keen about what you are keen about,” one pupil clarified.
Artistic writing prompts, video games, deep dives into the craft and discipline journeys rounded out the camp, which ends right this moment.
That is Minton’s second yr instructing secondary college students on campus, however she’s been concerned within the U of A younger writers program since 2017.
“I am an alum of the Northwest Arkansas Writing Mission and was a four-year fellow of the college’s ARTeacher arts-integrated program with Hung Pham and Dr. Chris Goering,” she stated.
Minton stated she repeatedly learns one thing new about instructing or writing from her college students in the course of the camps.
She and Webb are additionally studying from fellow Younger Writers Camp instructors instructing at further websites throughout Northwest Arkansas. Each day after pick-up, camp lecturers meet just about to check notes and deal with bettering their writing instruction. Skilled studying experiences are an important a part of the venture, stated Vicki Collet, an affiliate professor on the U of A and camp program director.
“Not solely are college students studying throughout Younger Writers Camp, however lecturers are additionally taking away methods they are going to use of their lecture rooms,” she stated.
The Northwest Arkansas Writing Mission has sponsored Younger Writers Camp experiences for greater than 20 years. The skilled group focuses on bettering writing in space faculties. As one in all about 200 nationwide Writing Mission websites, it offers skilled improvement for educators and instantly reaches younger writers via summer season camps and different actions. For extra details about writing venture occasions, contact Collet at collet@uark.edu or go to nwawp.uark.edu.
