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UCI Writing Project
  • Programs for Youth
    • Summer Youth Program >
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    • Virtual Programs for Youth >
      • Summer Courses & Schedules >
        • Creative Writing, Grades 3-4
        • Informative Writing, Grades 3-4
        • Creative Writing, Grades 5-6
        • Writing Strategies for Coherence, Grades 5-6
        • Unleash Your Inner Storyteller, Grades 6-8
        • Understanding Argument through Cartoon and Film, Grades 7-8
        • Elevate Your Craft, Grades 9-11
        • College Essay Workshop, Grades 9-11
        • College Essay Workshop, Grade 12
      • Spring Courses & Schedules >
        • Your Opinion Matters: The Road to Argument Writing, Grades 3-4
        • A Journey Through Narrative Writing, Grades 5-6
        • Rhetoric as a Tool for Your Voice: Argumentative Writing, Grades 6-8
        • Reflective Writing: Introduction to the Personal Essay, Grades 6-8
        • Learning How to Manage AI in Writing, Grades 9-11
      • Winter Courses & Schedules >
        • Adventures in Narrative Writing, Grades 3-4
        • Think Like a Lawyer: Argumentative Writing, Grades 5-6
        • Reflective Writing: Introduction to the Personal Essay, Grades 6-8
        • Preparing for the AP Language Exam, Grades 9-11
        • Preparing for the AP Literature Exam, Grades 11-12
      • Fall Courses & Schedules >
        • Creative Writing Class, Grades 3-4
        • Exploring Animal Worlds: Informative Writing, Grades 3-4
        • Personal Narrative: Telling Your Story, Grades 5-6
        • “Really?” “Yeah; Here’s Why”: Argumentative Critical Thinking and Composition, Grades 5-6
        • Taylor Swift: Informative and Argumentative Writing, Grades 6-8
        • College Essay Writing Workshop, Grades 10-12
      • FAQ
  • Programs for Teachers
    • Summer Institute
    • Annual Literacy Conference
    • Youth Instructors
  • WordPlay Newsletter

Virtual Programs for Youth

Virtual Programs ​for Youth ​
2024-2025

Grades 3-12

Fall Session

September - November
Winter Session
January - March
Spring Session
April - May
Summer Session
July


​​Registration for Summer 2025 is now live.

Register
Summer Courses
FAQ
Waitlist

Empowering Young Writers:
Unlock Your Child's Potential with
​Virtual Writing Experiences

Our credentialed instructors provide high-quality instruction using research-based best practices to support the development of young readers and writers.

Would you like to build your child’s confidence in writing? Would you like them to experience high academic rigor along with creative exploration? Would you like them to see writing beyond the classroom boundaries as a vital skill in life?
​

With the UCI Writing Project Virtual Program for Youth, we are doing just that -  creating a balance that ensures your child is learning impactful techniques while realizing that writing is a vehicle for their voice.

Quality
  • Intentional lesson development based on best practices
  • Personal and meaningful feedback
  • Empowering writing moments to strengthen students' voice through:
    • Agency - having the right skills
    • Efficacy - believing in one’s skills​
Integrity 
  • Opportunity for one-on-one teacher-student interactions
  • Passionate instructors who inspire and challenge
  • Small classes (max 12 students) for personalized attention

Credibility
  • 46+ Years of Excellence: Established in 1978, we're the 13th site of the California Writing Project and the oldest Subject Matter Project at UCI.
  • National Recognition: We're one of 200 elite sites of the National Writing Project.
  • Unparalleled Expertise: We've trained over 800 teachers from 85 school districts and 12 colleges or universities.
  • Proven Track Record: Our summer youth program has grown from 35 students in 1984 to over 2,500 in recent years!

We are offering sessions in Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer.

8 power-packed classes, 1.5 hours each = 12 hours of writing enrichment and exploration!
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
UCI is part of both the state and national networks of Writing Projects, which have as their central mission: to improve student writing and learning by improving the teaching of writing. In 1978, UCI established a Writing Project in the then Department of Education and launched its first Summer Institute focusing on professional development for teachers. Then in 1980, UCI became the first California and National Writing Project to expand its outreach directly to students through the creation of a Summer Youth Program (SYP) in which teacher-experts in reading and writing instruction offered a variety of literacy classes to students going into grades 1-12. Over the years, the UCI Writing Project has served over 35,000 students globally.

In 2020, the Summer Youth Program went virtual in order to continue its literacy support to students during the pandemic. Over 600 students participated in this online program, which received outstanding reviews from both students and parents. Based on this feedback and at the request of many parents, the UCI Writing Project is now extending its literacy support to students during the school year through a newly created Virtual Program for Youth (VPY). VPY is now in its fifth year with the 2024-2025 academic year.

The next session of VPY courses are listed at the link below. We encourage you to review these courses and, if interested, register your student as early as possible as space is very limited. Enrollment is currently limited to 12 students for each class. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have questions.

Join our Programs for Youth Marketing List to stay up to date!

Join
Spring 2025 Courses
Winter 2025 Courses
fall 2024 Courses

Contact Us

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 8 am-5:00 pm
(closed 12-1PM for lunch)

​
Education Building
401 East Peltason, Suite 3100
Irvine, CA 92697-5500

Email: [email protected]

Links

Research
Programs For Teachers
Virtual Programs for Youth

Copyright © 2020
  • Programs for Youth
    • Summer Youth Program >
      • Program Information
      • Courses
      • FAQ
    • Virtual Programs for Youth >
      • Summer Courses & Schedules >
        • Creative Writing, Grades 3-4
        • Informative Writing, Grades 3-4
        • Creative Writing, Grades 5-6
        • Writing Strategies for Coherence, Grades 5-6
        • Unleash Your Inner Storyteller, Grades 6-8
        • Understanding Argument through Cartoon and Film, Grades 7-8
        • Elevate Your Craft, Grades 9-11
        • College Essay Workshop, Grades 9-11
        • College Essay Workshop, Grade 12
      • Spring Courses & Schedules >
        • Your Opinion Matters: The Road to Argument Writing, Grades 3-4
        • A Journey Through Narrative Writing, Grades 5-6
        • Rhetoric as a Tool for Your Voice: Argumentative Writing, Grades 6-8
        • Reflective Writing: Introduction to the Personal Essay, Grades 6-8
        • Learning How to Manage AI in Writing, Grades 9-11
      • Winter Courses & Schedules >
        • Adventures in Narrative Writing, Grades 3-4
        • Think Like a Lawyer: Argumentative Writing, Grades 5-6
        • Reflective Writing: Introduction to the Personal Essay, Grades 6-8
        • Preparing for the AP Language Exam, Grades 9-11
        • Preparing for the AP Literature Exam, Grades 11-12
      • Fall Courses & Schedules >
        • Creative Writing Class, Grades 3-4
        • Exploring Animal Worlds: Informative Writing, Grades 3-4
        • Personal Narrative: Telling Your Story, Grades 5-6
        • “Really?” “Yeah; Here’s Why”: Argumentative Critical Thinking and Composition, Grades 5-6
        • Taylor Swift: Informative and Argumentative Writing, Grades 6-8
        • College Essay Writing Workshop, Grades 10-12
      • FAQ
  • Programs for Teachers
    • Summer Institute
    • Annual Literacy Conference
    • Youth Instructors
  • WordPlay Newsletter
  • Resources For:
  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff

  • Directory
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