The Summer Creative Writing Workshops-Where Words Fly

When asked how they spent their summer vacation, nearly 400 students from across Houston and Harris county will enthusiastically exclaim, Writing!" Beginning on June 7th, young people in grades K-12 gathered at Annunciation Orthodox School for the three week Summer Creative Writing Workshops.

(PRWEB) June 19, 2004 -- When asked how they spent their summer vacation, nearly 400 students from across Houston and Harris county will enthusiastically exclaim, Writing!" Beginning on June 7th, young people in grades K-12 gathered at Annunciation Orthodox School for the three week Summer Creative Writing Workshops. While working with professional authors and teachers, children have fun experimenting with language and trying new types of writing. Described as one of Houstons best summer programs for kids," the workshops offer a supportive environment where children engage in writing stories, poetry, non-fiction and plays, as well as simply reading for pleasure. Even the most hesitant child discovers the joy of writing, the intrigue of language, and the confidence of authorship.

Writers and teachers team-teach each workshop, keeping the student-teacher ratio low. Students participate in a writing tour of The Menil Collection. The art museum field trip lets the written word and visual arts nourish one another, often inspiring the students finest writing. At the end of the camp, students publish their work in bound anthologies. To celebrate their success, they also do performances and readings for their families and friends. This year the program is hosted by Annunciation Orthodox School.

The workshops are a collaborative project between Writers in the Schools (WITS) and Rice Universitys School Literacy and Culture Project. WITS (www.writersintheschools.org) was founded in 1983 in an effort to engage children in the pleasure and power of reading and writing. In this program professional writers lead year-long workshops in Houston schools, hospitals, museums, and other community centers. The Rice University School Literacy and Culture Project (www.rice.edu/education) is dedicated to helping teachers acquire and apply advanced knowledge in several areas related to literacy and schooling. These areas include early literacy, early childhood development, writing, and cultural differences.