Writing and Reading Workshop

Writing and Reading Workshop (WRDW) is a Baby CTY course where students read and write, where one part is dedicated to writing while the other half is dedicated to reading. This course is offered at Alexandria, Hong Kong, New York, Sandy Spring and the new Los Angeles site. It was previously offered at Alexandria, Bethesda, Brooklandville, La Jolla,Los Angeles (Windward), Owings Mills, Pasadena and Santa Monica.

Course Description

From the CTY Course Catalog (1999):

Gathering together a community of young writers and readers, this course helps students develop the vocabulary and critical thinking skills necessary to discuss writing and reading in sophisticated ways. Students work together and independently on a range of reading and writing assignments, many of which they choose themselves under the guidance of instructors who are themselves avid writers and readers.

Approximately half of each day is devoted to writing and half to reading. Short lessons in the writing workshops introduce important techniques and strategies, emphasizing invention, editing, effective use of imagery and dialogue, poetic devices, and mechanics. During reading workshops, students work together with their instructor to develop close reading skills and an appreciation for authors, genres, and works that may be new to them. Throughout the class, students share their works-in-progress and t heir thoughts about readings, both in class discussion and by completing dialogue journals. Constructive criticism is emphasized, and detailed responses from the instructor and peers are an essential part of each student’s growth as a reader and writer.