E very summer, Emerson School of Palo Alto and Hacienda School of Pleasanton open their doors and offer their in- novative programs in a camp-like setting to outside students who want to share in the summer learning adventures. 2017 S UMMER W RITING C AMPS for grades 2-8 WRITE NOW! FEES 1 week: $500; 2 weeks: $950; add’l weeks @$400 All courses are directed by the distinguished faculty of Emerson School and Hacienda School. Breaks are taken for snacks, lunch, physical exercise, and social interaction. Parents are welcome at afternoon presentations. HOURS 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (care available 8:00 - 6:00) Creative Writing —concentrates on a variety of literary forms (e.g., stories, plays, poems, journals, autobiographies, letters) and authentic self-expression, with emphasis on descriptions of character, setting, and action, as well as writing mechanics. Emerson: 7/17-7/21; Hacienda: 7/31-8/4 Presentation Techniques —develops students' analytical and public speaking skills, with emphases on planning, outlining, and creating classroom communications using a variety of presentation tools. Emerson: 7/24-7/28; Hacienda: 7/17-7/21 Expository Writing —focuses on the four subjects of the California Writing Tests, prose forms used in school assignments, the processes of selecting a topic and outlining the content, and writing mechanics (word choice, sentence structure, variety, etc.). Emerson: 7/10-7/14; Hacienda: 7/24-7/28
Emerson School
Hacienda School
3800 Stoneridge Drive Pleasanton, CA 94588 925-485-5750
2800 W. Bayshore Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 650-424-1267
writenow@headsup.org
www.headsup.org
in their work by pointing out what is valuable about it and emphasizing how each draft represents an improvement on the previous one. That teacher guides students to understand that good writing requires the time to re-read, edit, and re-write their work, as contrasted with the “on-demand writing” that is taught in most schools.
self expression, which helps young people relieve the stresses of navigating a complex, difficult world. It would be best if, in addition to the other meanings, being a good writer meant enjoying the art and craft of writing, because that is essential to future success. Rarely, do parents conceive of their students as future authors of important, influential works— which is surprising, because some will be. It is far easier to imagine one’s child as a future football play- er in the National Football League, a star ballerina in the American Ballet Theatre, or a solo pianist at Carnegie Hall, though a child has a much higher probability of being a successful novelist, how-to author, journalist, or consultant as a result of out- standing writing skills. Writing is a skill-based activity that requires both specific skills and the motivation to improve them. In that sense, it is analogous to learning to play soccer, where everyone—from five-year-olds starting to play the game to World Cup-class players—must continue to practice dribbling, passing, and shooting. It is important for beginners to experience the pleasure of playing soccer games so that they enjoy what they are doing and have a desire to improve. Good players never stop wanting to be better. Rather than focus on the errors in student writing, a successful writing teacher helps students take pride
31 www.indiaparentmagazine.org
Summer Camp Special 2017
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker