UCLA Writing Project Summer Camp
June 25 – July 9, 2021 – No class Monday, July 5
9:00AM – 12:00PM (PT) online
Instructors:
Melissa Berlant
Jesenia Chávez
Our young writers have stories to tell about themselves and about the world. In this workshop, we’ll use a variety of multi-media tools to help students develop their voices and their craft. We will develop our expository, narrative, and poetic skills through a collection of playful exercises designed to inspire students to think deeply and express themselves clearly and creatively. Students will give and receive feedback that will lead to meaningful revisions. They will also have time to share and celebrate their work with one another. In the virtual environment, students will also have the special opportunity to develop new friendships with children from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Fee: $450
Melissa Berlant teaches English, Social Studies, and Creative Writing at Porter Middle School Gifted Magnet. She loves sharing the joy of writing with her students and is passionate about helping them discover their unique voices. In her teaching, Ms. Berlant loves harnessing a variety of tools available online to connect with students and enhance their creativity. She has worked with training teachers at home and abroad on a variety of teaching techniques. When she’s not teaching or developing her own writing, you can find her out exploring the city with her friends and family or traveling around the world.
Josie Torres is an award-winning, National Board Certified teacher with a Master’s Degree in Teaching Secondary English who has taught middle school students for over twenty years. She insists students learn to read and write the world in order to understand their place in it. She loves to share her passion for words and storytelling through creative activities. In her free time, she enjoys a strenuous hike with her family.
Alana Manzer is an elementary school teacher with experience in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura County. She has her Masters degree in Education from UCLA and her Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies with a Minor in Dance from Cal Poly SLO. In her classroom, she puts an emphasis on creative expression through writing and the arts to create passionate students and foster a love of learning. In her spare time, Alana enjoys staying active outdoors and relaxing with her family and dogs. 
Jesenia Chávez is currently a Kindergarten and First grade teacher at UCLA Community School finishing up her 15th year as an educator. You can find her sharing stories and poems both in the community and with her students. She is passionate about social justice and honoring students’ whole selves. As a lead teacher for the past three years, she has had the great privilege of working with K-12 educators in planning and developing thoughtful professional development, as well as opportunities for reflection and lesson planning. She has also worked with teachers from all over the United States with the National Writing Project grading both 5th grade and middle school papers. Writing is a powerful tool for change and reflection and students at all levels have a story to tell.