Tag Archives: KIDS

Meet Elsa.

Meet Elsa.  She’s our summer intern this year for the Summer Writing Camp and we think she’s the perfect fit!  So, if you’ve registered your 4th-8th grader for summer camp this year, meet their instructor.

EGuentherPhoto

Elsa Guenther, Creative Writing Specialist

This fall, Elsa Guenther (Wheaton, Illinois) enters her final year at DePaul University majoring in English, Creative Writing with a Minor in Theatre Studies and Psychology.  She’s been on the Dean’s List all quarters in attendance and in 2010 she was accepted through audition as 1 of 40 actors for The Theatre School at DePaul.

During her time at DePaul, Elsa was a Chicago Mentor, a teaching position that introduces Freshman to college life and the city of Chicago.  But her studies have taken her beyond Chicago.  Last winter she studied Travel Writing, Religion and Politics while she lived with a host family in Morocco.  But one of her most rewarding experiences came this spring semester in the National Outdoor Leadership School in New Zealand.  A small group of students and 2 instructors backpacked off-trail, sea kayaked, and sailed; all while taking classes with assignments and exams in ecology, first aid and leadership.  Elsa admits it was “physically, mentally and emotionally challenging.” Elsa has published poetry, judged speech tournaments and enjoys camping and yoga.  We’re excited to have Elsa join TT Patton.

Octopus ImageSummer writing camps are for students grades 4th – 8th.  This year we’ve included Cursive Writing and  Calligraphy.  Register today!

She’s a natural!

It’s our fourth year of the summer writing camps. So we launched a search for just the right person to lead our 4th – 7th graders this summer.  Why not Molly Koeneman you ask?  Well, during the day she’s working for a “hot-shot” publishing company in Chicago.  But don’t fret, she will lead writing workshops on two summer Saturdays, so register early.

Our summer candidate search led us to a great new addition to TT Patton.  Let me introduce you to Brittany Walk, aka Britt.  She’s a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Secondary Education: Language Arts/English.  She’s a natural fit with teaching experience in Indiana and New Zealand with a passion for creative writing.  Britt also enjoys bicycling (long rides!) and is a Water Polo Assistant Coach.

Britt is very comfortable in the classroom.  She spent 2 days this week teaching the art of writing a letter to the 5th graders at Rose Elementary School in South Barrington.  (I can tell you some South Barrington moms are going to be in tears walking from the mailbox this week.)

So when you see this new face at TT Patton, just say Hi Britt!  Her energy is infectious and you’ll enjoy your chat!

Our summer classes begin June 18th.  Click here for more information.

3 things to do before Spring Break

It’s almost spring break.  But there is no reason to travel to a warm climate because it’s 78 degrees here in Chicagoland!  But here are few things for you to do before you take a nice week off from your everyday life.

1.  Copy down this address.
Theresa Patton • c/o TT Patton • 123 East Station Street • Barrington, IL 60010
You’ll need it to send me a post card.  Please.  Even if you don’t plan to travel, could you simply write me a quick note on an index card, back of a photo or anything and drop it in the mail? It gets lonely around here when everyone leaves town.

2.  Pack your March Madness brackets.

I really hope you are near a television during the next week.  This is one of the best seasons of college basketball that I can remember.  As you can see I have a lot of crossed out brackets.  Not sure what my sheet will look like after today and tomorrow.  Exciting time to be a college student at a school headed to the Final Four.  Unfortunately my alma maters Boston University and Northwestern University didn’t make the cut…too busy studying I’m sure.

3.  Register for the Summer Writing Camp!
Yes, it’s back for the 4th straight year and we have some exciting classes offered throughout the summer.  Classes include creative writing, short stories, writings of other cultures, the use of fountain pens, and you will even earn a yellow belt in one of the classes.  No kidding.  But don’t get left out. Complete your registration before you pack a single pair of flip-flops!  You can download the form or register online.  We’re excited and hope that your 4th-7th graders will write with us this summer!  Watch this video to see what they can expect during the classes.


Now you go back to enjoying this 78 degree weather.  I’m just rearranging things at TT Patton to make room for new pens and stationery…