The Write Stuff: CMT Preparation
“The Write Stuff: CMT Preparation” is a 2 week summer academic/fun program for students that has demonstrated success for the past 13 years. Students entering grades 1 through 4 in schools with Open Choice students are eligible to apply. Students are enrolled from New Haven schools and suburban schools whose towns participate in the Open Choice program. Applications are distributed to participating schools in April. Campers are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Students focus on writing through thematic based literature. They use computers to compose, edit and publish their writing in several forms. Music, dance and other artistic expressions are part of the Morning Meeting and the rest of the students’ experiences. They are given the Diagnostic Reading Assessment as well as scored pre- and post- narrative writing tasks. The results of these assessments are shared with their families and with the schools they will attend in the fall. “The Write Stuff” brings students from multiple districts together for structured, fun experiences before they actually attend school together. In this way it is an introduction and transition for both the urban and suburban students. Its yearly waiting list of students attests to the high quality of educational and fun experience that “The Write Stuff” provides for its participants. The camp serves 200 students.
Goals of “The Write Stuff” Summer Program are:
- To improve narrative writing and reading skills.
- To build relationships among students from New Haven and the suburban districts, and ease the transition for both urban and suburban students in Open Choice classrooms.
Activities include:
“The implementation of reading and writing curriculum built around the theme of diversity.- A variety of experiences to enhance literacy and appreciation of diversity, and a variety of instructional approaches to facilitate learning, including team / character building strategies to encourage friendship and trust, music, art and drama.
- Integration of technology as a writing tool to publish a student generated literary magazine, story telling, peer editing and one-to-one instruction with students.
- Assessment of students using the Diagnostic Reading Assessment. This provides the classroom teacher with strategies to help students develop reading competencies when they return to their classrooms in September.”
Curriculum:
“The Write Stuff” curriculum was developed to integrate the following themes:
Just Me, Friendship, Families, Diversity, Jobs, Careers and Community. These themes allow staff members to plan activities in the classroom to reflect and celebrate various cultures within the program.
Students learn and practice narrative writing. They incorporate, music, drama, technology, and visual arts to make their newly acquired and refined skills more vivid.
Student Surveys:
Students are given surveys every year to help us determine how well they enjoyed the program. The student surveys were extremely positive. Students enjoyed:
- Making new friends
- Reading, Writing
- Making arts and crafts
- Singing and dancing
Family Surveys:
Parents/Guardians are given a survey to ascertain if the program is meeting its goals. Some parent/guardian responses from past surveys:
- “Great teacher. Keep children interested
- This was a wonderful program. I hope we are lucky enough to get in next year.
- I wish the camp was at least 6 weeks. He would benefit more from the program if it were longer.
- My child has come home very excited about the things he has done at camp.”
Staff Surveys:
Staff is also given an opportunity to reflect on strengths and weaknesses of the program. Sample comments:
- “The cooperation-friendliness-and enthusiasm of the whole staff.
- I focused on the needs of my students and I worked to improve those areas.
- The wealth of materials and multi-cultural literature available to the staff and students.
- I felt that being as actively involved as possible and helping the students with hands-on projects contributed to the programs success.”
For more information regarding “The Write Stuff: CMT Preparation," please contact:
Lynn Bailey
350 State Street
North Haven, CT 06473
(203) 498-6843
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