We have added a new, exciting program called Ace Academics. With particular emphasis on basic Language Arts concepts, Ace Academics takes the written and spoken word to a higher level. Our combination of ultra-small writing classes(less than 8students/class) promotes competent, confident self-expression across the curriculum. We coach students in all forms of writing, including narrative, expository, persuasive and responsive.
Students in all grade levels are expected to become proficient in four types of writing: narrative, expository, persuasive, and responding to literature. Narrative writing (also called descriptive writing) takes the form of stories, biographies, and autobiographies. Expository writing (also called explanatory or summary writing) is represented by analytical essays and research papers. Persuasive writing is meant to present and defend a claim. Responding to literature is a form of persuasive writing in which a thesis is presented for consideration and supported by detail from the text.
Writing tasks differ at each grade level. Younger students learn to express their ideas clearly and attend to paragraph structure. Upper elementary level students begin to craft multi-paragraph essays and provide supporting detail for well-developed topics. Middle and high school students master more complex and in-depth papers, writing at length on a particular topic and citing their sources carefully.
Tuition and Other Services
Each writing camp is 3 hours long and lasts one week, Monday through Friday (except the week of July 4th which is a four-day camp). There are two different writing camps offered each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Tuition is $300 per camp. Extended care is offered from 8:00 to 9:00, between 12:00 and 1:00, and from 4:00 until 6:00 at $15/per hour. Extended care between camps is FREE for campers who register for both morning and afternoon camps.
Families or groups who sign up for 6 writing camps or more will receive a $25 discount per camp per child. Families or groups who sign up for all 10 writing camps will receive a $50 discount per camp per child.
Daily Camp Schedule:
8:00 to 9:00 Extended care ($15/hour)
9:00 to 12:00 Morning Writing Camp
12:00 to 1:00 Extended care ($15/hour or FREE for campers enrolled all day)
1:00 to 4:00 Afternoon Writing Camp
4:00 to 6:00 Extended care ($15/hour)
Classes for Children Entering Grades 3 to 5
Fiction Writing: KidTales Grades 3 to 5
Learn to Express Yourself! in descriptive manuscripts on a variety of familiar topics from your personal experience and imagination! Discrete steps in the writing process will be identified and observed, including pre-writing, drafting, proofreading, editing, revising, and publishing. You’ll write manuscripts that use concrete sensory details to present and support a unified impression of people, places, things, and experiences. We’ll incorporate art and theatrics in a culminating presentation!
Writing and Speaking Word Games: WordPlay! Grades 3 to 5
Get ready to increase your vocabulary and practice Expressing Yourself! out loud as we rotate through an entertaining list of fun word games! Of course, some of your favorites like Charades and Scrabble await you, plus others you may not have played yet but are sure to enjoy. Some games will have you on your feet, while others will have you deep in thought. Meet new friends while engaging in some friendly competition!
Poetry Writing and Appreciation: Stanza Bonanza! Grades 3 to 5
Whether you are already a fan of poetry or just want to learn more about it, this class lets you explore some of the most beautiful, moving, and humorous words in the English language, while creating some of your own! You’ll learn about meter, rhyme, and figures of speech in poetry as diverse as sonnets and song lyrics. You’ll also enjoy Expressing Yourself! while reciting poetry aloud and listening to others share your own favorite poems for the enjoyment of all.
Fiction Writing: Exciting Writing! Grades 3 to 5
Do you like writing about Fantasy and Adventure? Then join us for a week of writing about exciting characters facing danger and exhilaration in places you’ve only dreamed about! Try space and time travel. Or perhaps you’d prefer super powers and secret weapons. We’ll combine art and theatrics with excellent writing to bring your wildest ideas to life. Express Yourself! in ways you’ve always wanted to or never even imagined before!
Persuasive Writing: That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It Grades 3 to 5
Would you like to know how to get our point across in ways that get people to listen? Then Express Yourself! persuasively this summer! Learn to state a claim and defend it with supporting arguments in writing and the spoken word. We’ll produce commercials that convince imaginary consumers to buy all sorts of crazy stuff they don’t need. How about conducting a mock trial in front of a jury of your peers? You’ll also write and deliver a convincing speech on the topic of your choice. It’s not only about getting people’s attention, but how to keep it!
Fiction Writing: FrightWrite! Grades 3 to 5
Do you like writing about Horror and Suspense? Then join us for a week of writing about exciting characters facing danger and exhilaration in circumstances you’ve only dreamed about! Try vampires and werewolves. Or perhaps you’d prefer the supernatural or paranormal. We’ll combine art and theatrics with excellent writing to bring your wildest ideas to life. Express Yourself! in ways you’ve always wanted to or never even imagined before!
Research Report Writing: Enquiring Minds Want to Write Grades 3 to 5
Are you curious?? Do you like exploring interesting, even weird subjects like, say, albino gorillas or two-headed snakes or black holes or voodoo dolls or…well, you get the idea. Even fun subjects like these require actual research and good writing and speaking skills in order for you to Express Yourself effectively! Satisfy your inquisitive nature this summer by investigating the subjects of your choice. We’ll combine art and theatrics with excellent writing and speaking to share your project for the enjoyment of all.
Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction Writing: Critter Twitter Grades 3 to 5
Do you like animals? We do, too! Join us for a week of writing and talking about animals, animals, animals. You may choose to produce a research project about any living or extinct animals you choose. Or you could write and share a project based on imaginary animals that behave the way you think they would. Either way, animal-lovers will Express Themselves! in entertaining and informative ways writing, art, and theatrics to their hearts content!
Paragraph Writing: A Recipe for Writing Grades 3 to 5
Paragraphs are like sandwiches layered with yummy information and slices of knowledge. Once you create a paragraph that you really enjoy, learn to prepare it the same way every time! Most paragraphs look pretty similar, but you want yours to have the flavor of “you.” Express Yourself! in paragraphs this summer and return to school knowing how to whip one up whenever it’s needed.
Creative Non-Fiction: Write About Math? Totally! Grades 3 to 5
Writing and Math have more in common than you may think! You could call this combination “Mathing” and be right on target. Mathing helps you solve Word Problems and Express Yourself! when you need to explain how you arrived at the correct answer. We’ll write about numbers and their properties and explore the beauty of numbers by writing and talking about classic patterns like fractals and The Golden Ratio. We’ll combine art and theatrics with excellent writing and speaking to deliver biographical presentations on the lives of famous mathematicians from the past and present. And let’s not forget to enjoy fun math games and puzzles, too!
Classes for Children Entering Grades 6 to 8
Fiction Writing: The Inner Writer Grades 6 to 8
Learn to Express Yourself! in descriptive manuscripts on a variety of familiar topics from your personal experience and imagination! Discrete steps in the writing process will be identified and observed, including pre-writing, drafting, proofreading, editing, revising, and publishing. You’ll write manuscripts that use concrete sensory details to present and support a unified impression of people, places, things, and experiences. Enjoy the pleasure of an audience as you share your stories with the class in a non-critical, supportive setting.
Poetry Writing and Appreciation: Stanza Extravaganza! Grades 6 to 8
Whether you are already a fan of poetry or just want to learn more about it, this class lets you explore some of the most beautiful, moving, and humorous words in the English language, while creating some of your own! You’ll learn about meter, rhyme, and figures of speech in poetry as diverse as sonnets and song lyrics. You’ll also enjoy Expressing Yourself! while reciting poetry aloud and listening to others share your own favorite poems for the enjoyment of all.
Persuasive Writing: That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to It Grades 6 to 8
Would you like to know how to get our point across in ways that get people to listen? Then Express Yourself! persuasively this summer! Learn to state a claim and defend it with supporting arguments in writing and the spoken word. We’ll produce commercials that convince imaginary consumers to buy all sorts of crazy stuff they don’t need. How about conducting a mock trial in front of a jury of your peers? You’ll also write and deliver a convincing speech on the topic of your choice. It’s not only about getting people’s attention, but how to keep it!
Writing for the Stage: Class Act Grades 6 to 8
Calling all playwrights! Including students who have never written a play, but would like to try! We’ll study dialog and delivery, staging and blocking, and dramatic irony. You’ll write a three-act play, set an imaginative stage, design costumes, perform for the camera, and receive a tape recording of your masterpiece. Ready, set, Express Yourself! on stage!
Research Report Writing: Enquiring Minds Want to Write Grades 6 to 8
Are you curious? Do you like exploring interesting, even weird subjects like, say, paranormal activity or alternative fuels or tornadoes or naked mole rats or…well, you get the idea. Even fun subjects like these require actual research and good writing and speaking skills in order for you to Express Yourself effectively! Satisfy your inquisitive nature this summer by investigating the subjects of your choice. We’ll combine art and theatrics with excellent writing and speaking to share your project for the enjoyment of all.
Writing and Speaking Word Games: WordPlay! Grades 6 to 8
Get ready to increase your vocabulary and practice Expressing Yourself! out loud as we rotate through an entertaining list of fun word games! Of course, some of your favorites like Charades and Scrabble await you, plus others you may not have played yet but are sure to enjoy. Some games will have you on your feet, while others will have you deep in thought. Meet new friends while engaging in some friendly competition!
Essay Writing: The 5 Paragraph Essay – Become the Boss of It Grades 6 to 8
The Five-Paragraph Essay is a classic. It’s among the most important ways by students are measured. It is nothing to be afraid of, yet it strikes fear into many young hearts. We’ll deconstruct, and then reconstruct this paper tiger in order to master its classic format. Once you recognize the bones of this beast, you’ll know how to write it the same way every time in your own, unique voice. Express Yourself! in essays this summer and return to school knowing how to whip one up whenever it’s needed.
Creative Non-Fiction Writing: Writing for Real Grades 6 to 8
Be the first to experience this new, leading edge writing genre! It’s prominently featured in such prestigious publications as “The New Yorker” and “Discover” and is finding its way into young people’s periodicals such as “Stone Soup” and “Teen Ink. Part Journalism, and part Science and Humanities narration, this fun format allows you to use literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate prose in the first person. What better way to Express Yourself! than learn more about the subjects that interest you and then entertain others with what you know by writing and sharing an interesting, humorous, insightful article about it? Finished articles will be submitted for publication!
Report Writing Format: exCiting Writing Grades 6 to 8
MLA format is the preferred format for virtually all writing that draws upon the research and reporting of others. MLA formatting was established by the Modern Language Association in 1985 and has been used ever since for the purpose of citing sources in research papers in a standardized fashion. We’ll practice proper citation of the most commonly-used sources using real-world examples and brief research tasks. Practice MLA style formatting this summer and return to school with a copy of the official guide and the savvy and confidence to use it!
Creative Non-Fiction: Write About Math? Totally! Grades 6 to 8
Writing and Math have more in common than you may think! You could call this combination “Mathing” and be right on target. Mathing helps you solve Word Problems and Express Yourself! when you need to explain how you arrived at the correct answer. We’ll write about numbers and their properties and explore the beauty of numbers by writing and talking about classic patterns like fractals and The Golden Ratio. We’ll combine art and theatrics with excellent writing and speaking to deliver biographical presentations on the lives of famous mathematicians from the past and present. And let’s not forget to enjoy fun math games and puzzles, too!
