Center for Writing in College, Career and Community Blog

Middle School Camp – Final Week and Author’s Chair

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It’s hard to believe the middle school camp is already over! The second week flew by with a flurry of field trips and Writing Workshops. From writing inspired by works at the Springfield Art Museum to food reviews of desserts at Bambino’s Cafe to a Writing Marathon around downtown Springfield, the campers were out writing all over central Springfield this past week.

For our closing camp activity, campers shared some of the pieces they had worked on for the past two weeks to a crowd of family, friends and the community. Some of the pieces, including their Altered Books, were on display around the room for the audience to investigate and read on their own.  Each camper also chose 4-5 original pieces to read aloud to the audience, including found poems, short stories, parodies, and group writing projects. Below are a few of the pieces they shared:

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Why I Write: A Presenter Workshop for the Youth Writing Conference

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Today we met to prepare presentations for the Youth Writing Conference on May 8. Teacher-consultants Laurie Sullivan from Hillcrest High School and Tanya Hannaford from Mt. Vernon High School facilitated. The morning started with an excerpt from Terry Tempest Williams called “Why I Write.” After listening to the reading, the 25 teachers from areas schools shared why they write:

I write to encourage and cheer those that are young and old.

I write because any time we have freewrite time and I don’t write I feel the eyes of Debbie Jones burning into me.

Writing is a away of adjusting the BS meter.

I write to make music just for me.

I write to bring new things into existence because I am an inventor of imaginary worlds.

I write for the surprise at the end of a poem.

I write to clarify my thoughts and better understand my self and my books.

lI I write to capture a moment everlasting ever strong every moment.

I write because I don’t know how else to get my thoughts across.

I write to heal.

I write to singlehandedly keep the post office alive

I write to keep my mouth from getting me into trouble.

I write to make lists and plans that I may never get through but I feel better.

I write to let my inner child scream.

I write to remember and to forget.

I write to consider the beauty around me.

I write for future generations to hear my voice.

I write because I think when I don’t write I don’t know what I need to know.

I write to leave a record of my thoughts for myself and others.

I write my messages on the mirror when it is fogged up.

I write to belong to people who write.