PUC camp hones student writers' skills

HAMMOND | An acclaimed children's author told a group of Northwest Indiana students and teachers she always has loved to read and write, and she loves the very taste of words in her mouth.

Candace Fleming, of Oak Park, Ill., was the featured speaker at the Summer Writing Adventures camp for middle school students at Purdue University Calumet. 

Students engaged in unique writing experiences, including investigating the scene of a would-be crime, developing a mystery story and creating stories from the perspective of an insect at the camp which recently concluded. Nineteen students received advanced instruction in creative writing and the process professional writers use to write stories, poems and plays.

Program administrator Connie Farrell said the skills students learned in the class also will help them with the writing portion of the ISTEP-Plus test. Fleming led students through an exercise to brainstorm details when writing fiction and nonfiction stories. She called it CLAPS, with C meaning to develop the characters, L standing for location/setting, A meaning action, P for problem, and S for solution.

In addition to the camp, the Northwest Indiana Writing Project, one of six in the state, also hosts a summer institute for teachers, who were able to sit in on Fleming's session as well.

On the last day of class, the youngsters read their stories to classmates, family members and friends during the Author's Chair Celebration.

Ronni Allen and Li'Yonna McCallum, both 14, who finished eighth grade at Banneker Achievement Center in Gary, said they learned a lot in the program.

"I love to write and it allowed me to really blossom with my writing," Allen said. "It's another avenue for me to express my feelings and emotions in a positive manner."

McCallum said she loves to read, and she likes the ability to "use detail and description" that writing gives her.