After School Writing Clubs

Sarah started Pencil Box Workshop with a hope of creating communities of young writers. Using the Writing Workshop model, Pencil Box blends structure – an emphasis on the writing process – with the freedom to explore and try.

Come join Pencil Box for a six-week after school workshop!

Our workshop will involve:

  • reading together

  • writing

  • brainstorming, drafting, revising, and publishing

  • illustration (if you like!)

  • games

Come write with us. This workshop welcomes all 1st-5th graders!

Cost: $120 for a six-week session*. The price includes a light snack and all materials.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations made 7 days (or more) prior to the first day of class will receive a full refund minus a $20 administration fee. Cancellations made less than 7 days prior to the start of class will receive a 50% refund. Cancellations made after the first day will not receive a refund. We cannot offer full refunds because the class has a limited number of slots available. The administration fee helps cover costs of materials procured for your student and for the time needed to manage the waitlist and process refunds.

Why Writing?

At our heart, we are narrative creatures. Stories are intrinsic to our survival. In The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human, Jonathan Gotschall writes, “We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories”. Stories are truly a part of our DNA, and reading, writing, and sharing stories not only builds our brains but our kindness and empathy too. 

Of course, there’s a practical reason to practice writing: we need to write clearly and think creatively in a world that is increasingly complex and global. Writing is, in fact, a practice and a process. We must engage in the process of writing, from brainstorming to revision and re-writing, in order to develop as writers. We must practice it in order to get better at it.

Spring 2026 Dates

Dunn Elementary, Mondays from 3:30-445: Epilogues ( 3rd-5th graders)

Workshop III, Characterization: January 12th, 26th, February 2nd, February 9th, February 23rd, March 2nd, $120/6 sessions

Workshop IV: March 9th, March 23rd, 30th, April 6th, April 13th, April 20th $120/6 sessions

Workshop V, Nature Writing and Poetry (a short course!): April 27th, May 11th, May 18th $60/3 classes

***Note, there is no workshop on May 4th

Dunn Elementary, Thursdays from 3:30-445): Prologues (all-levels 1-5th and kinder by permission!)

Workshop III, Characterization (continued from December): January 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, $120/6 sessions

Workshop IV: February 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, March 5th, 12th, $120/6 sessions

Workshop V***: March 26th, April 2nd, April 9th. April 16th, April 30th, May 14th, May 21st, $140/7 sessions

***Please note that we will not host workshop on May 7th.

Registration

To register, please email pencilboxworkshop@gmail.com and include the name of your student, grade, and session preference. Sessions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.