OGDEN -- Mercedes Baca dreams of writing a novel before she is 16. It is her passion, but the 14-year-old Highland Junior High School student knows she has to start somewhere, so she signed up for Ogden School District's summer writing workshop, "An Expedition into the World of Words."
The two-week course is a partnership between Weber State University and Ogden School District. The class runs 2 1âÑ2 hours four days a week for two weeks and is funded through a Gear Up grant given to the district's junior high schools to promote higher education.
Grant administrators Kate Bi deaux and Carrie Maxson approached WSU professors Sarah Vause-Snow and her dad, Mike Vause, to teach the course, which is based loosely on Henry David Thoreau's writings.
Vause-Snow jumped at the chance, not only to teach the course with her dad, but to work with junior high students, something new for her. She teaches at WSU and at the district's adult high school.
She and her dad co-wrote the curriculum for the course to make it unique.
"We wanted it to be an adventure," Vause-Snow said.
The students were feeling adventurous recently as they walked along the Ogden River Parkway in a windstorm and took a break to record some of their thoughts on the walk.
"It's just awesome to explore nature. It's interesting the things you don't notice when you get too busy with your life," Mercedes said as she quickly filled a page with her thoughts while sitting under a pavilion in the parkway.
Other students walked around the area and walked up to the trees, examining them closely.
"I like learning outside instead of inside," said London Johnson, 14. She is in ninth grade at Mount Ogden Junior High School.
The class is relatively small, but Vause-Snow likes the size, because she and her dad can give the students more individual attention.
"I have been really impressed," Vause-Snow said of the junior high students. She talked about an essay the students wrote. "They are getting things that some of my college students don't get a grip on."
Ogden School District puts great emphasis on students writing and talking to the text, meaning that they really analyze and write their thoughts on things they are reading.
"They really understand writing. It is unbelievable," Vause-Snow said.
Students were given a journal at the beginning of the course to use over the two-week period. Sessions start off in a classroom in the district offices, but take off on foot to explore the area around them.
Vause-Snow said students also would walk around Ogden Cemetery to create a story using information found on headstones there.
"Are we really doing that?" Mercedes exclaimed when she heard Vause-Snow talking about it. "That will be so awesome! I can't wait!" Other students applauded the idea as well.
Vause-Snow likes that the kids enjoy the challenge.
"I'm a firm believer that if you hold the standard high, they will reach it," she said. She and Vause intended for the class to be set up in an honors setting, and that's what's been happening so far.
Micah Maxson, 13, has felt as though he always had to write certain things when he was in school, so he likes the idea of writing what he wants to write.
"I just have to say that I love this class," Micah said.
Vause-Snow smiled as her students discussed their positive experiences so far, and hopes they continue to grow through the course of the class.
"There is so much they can learn."
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