Four second graders from Oxford recently participated in the first ever “Write Stuff” Summer Writing Camp held by Jessica Cleland.
Emily Cleland, Mackenzie Crosson, Taylor Taraski and Jamie Winters enjoyed two weeks of learning about the writing process – everything from drafting and revising to editing and publishing.
The students learned how to keep a writer’s notebook, collect ideas and develop the bits into pieces of writing. The group wrote lists, journal entries, poems, stories and much more. They focused upon writing attention-grabbing beginnings, descriptive bodies, and even similes. Activities such as a nature walk, writer’s taste test and writer’s relay helped to spur on their talents and creativity.
The four Oxford youths ended the camp by producing their own publication and fulfilling their goal of getting published in a local newspaper.
Cleland said she will be holding the camp again next year for students in second through fifth grade. There will be two or three sessions offered lasting about two week each. The cost is $75. For more information, please contact Cleland at nitromag@aol.com.
Enjoy the poetry created by these Oxford youths:

Myself
I have blonde hair and blue eyes like the sky.
I have pink lips.
I have glasses that are cool.

My favorite color is blue.
My favorite sport is track.
My favorite food is pizza.

I like to play.
I like to run.
I like to fish.

– By Emily Cleland, 6
A second grader from Lakeville Elementary

The Nature Walk
Lots of furry flowers bursting in the air.
Ants crawling in the sand.
Trees blowing in the wind.
Worms wiggling in the dirt.
The sun keeps burning me.
I love being outdoors.

– By Mackenzie Crosson, 6
Second grader at Lakeville Elementary

Time for Bed
Time for bed sleepy head.
Not now!
My bed is not ready yet.
Pull up blankets.
Fluff up pillow.
Okay. That’s done.
Get in bed right now!
I did not brush my hair yet.
Don’t do that.
Do it in the morning.

– By Taylor Taraski, 7
Second grader at Daniel Axford Elementary
Flowers
Flowers are pretty.
I love them.
There is only one thing I do not like about flowers.
When I pick them…
There is a big fat bee waiting to sting me,
On my nose when I smell the flower.
When I see the bee,
I drop the flower,
Run back to my house as fast as I can.
The bee starts to fly and not fall.
When I shut the door,
I crush him.

– By Jamie Winters, 7
Second grader at Lakeville Elementary