By Kelsey Dadey, Literacy Interventionist at Redwood Day School

Summer is just around the corner, and the excitement is palpable as the days get longer, the weather gets warmer, and our favorite parks begin to buzz with activity. One of my favorite things about this time of year is, that as students emerge from their cozy winter routines, they get out into the world to explore a little more each day. The stories I’m regaled with each morning run the gamut from shocking to heartwarming, and I’m reminded through my students’ storytelling, just how much they have to say.

Writing for the dyslexic mind

Redwood’s Immersive Structured Literacy Summer Camp has been designed to keep that spark of excitement in writing through oral storytelling and civic engagement. Designed for the neurodivergent brain, our summer programming cashes in on the amazing stories students have to tell while supporting them to organize and develop their ideas effectively.

The writing process

The Writing Our World™ curriculum meets each writer where they are according to their strengths and needs. Working through sentence development and elaboration helps students understand the power their words can have when concise and well-organized. The Composition of larger pieces prepares kids to flesh out their ideas and provide evidence.

Assistive Technology Support

Since writing is particularly demanding, Assistive Technology and handwriting instruction are provided systematically to help students with dysgraphia, dyslexia, and executive functioning needs. Despite the cognitive load of spelling or organizing ideas, we want all kids to feel empowered to use their voices to entertain, persuade, or teach.

WRITING INSPIRATION

To keep the excitement up, students will be out, exploring their schools’ neighborhoods, and envisioning what could be in the future. We will take walks and digital tours to discover hidden gems, gather data, and develop plans to keep the neighborhood engaging for kids.

We cannot wait to hear the stories, feel the excitement, and share the knowledge through Writing Our World™ at Redwood’s Immersive Structured Literacy Camp this summer.