Youth invited to create 'rl txt' at ASU summer writing camp
Young writers have an opportunity to develop and explore the power of writing this summer at Arizona State University.
The Central Arizona Writing Project within the Department of English at ASU offers a summer youth writing camp called “rl txt” for students in grades three through twelve. The two-week summer program starts June 1 on three ASU campuses: Polytechnic, Tempe and West.
Rl txt is staffed by Central Arizona Writing Project teacher-consultants. The Central Arizona Writing Project is an affiliate of the National Writing Project, where teachers are trained in leadership and best practices in writing pedagogy. The teachers are school and community leaders, award-winners, and have a wide range of experience working with K-12 youth.
Tracey Flores, a doctoral student in English education at ASU and a Central Arizona Writing Project teacher-consultant, directs the program.
“The rl txt instructional team members, writers themselves, are amazing teachers of writing,” said Flores. “They model their own writing for our writers and provide skills and strategies to overcome the obstacles and challenges that all writers face.”
At rl txt, writers begin their day with invitations to write on and explore a topic or theme. Then, students break off into grade level writing groups for more in-depth exploration of craft techniques and strategies.
“Through daily writing, rl txt creates a community where each writer is celebrated and supported in their writing journey,” said Flores.
All students in grades three through twelve can apply to the program.
Rl txt began in 2010 with a mission to give voice to “real” writers producing “real” texts. The program provides young writers a safe space to develop their craft while experimenting with writing in different genres – including poetry, narrative, informational and comic book writing – for a variety of purposes.
Two sessions will be held on the ASU Tempe campus, starting June 1 and June 15. ASU Polytechnic campus and West campus sessions both will begin on June 1. Sessions feature writing marathons, craft secrets, daily writing workshops, activities to promote creativity, nature/science observation and writing, interaction with guest writers, writing marathons and publishing opportunities.
If paid by May 13, tuition is $300, which includes a writer’s notebook and writing supplies. After the deadline, tuition is $350. Scholarships are not available. Each application for each location can be downloaded from the rl txt website or by contacting Tina Norgren at (480) 965-3224 or Tina.Norgren@asu.edu.
Applications are due by May 8.
The Department of English is an academic unit of ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Written by Paulina Iracka