Third-grader Will Lawhead wrote a story in the Austin Public Library Monday morning on the first day of spring break.

“[It’s about] a teacher that doesn’t know how to teach math,” Will said.

Will and other children are getting the chance to work on their writing skills outside of the classroom this week through the Spring Story and Writing Week, presented by the Minnesota Reading Corps members who serve in Austin.

Though Will said he wants to be a football player when he grows up, he still hopes to write as a hobby. For now, he hopes to learn a few more skills through the writing workshops.

“Writing helps you become a better reader, and reading helps you become a better writer,” Will said.

His mom, Jennifer Lawhead, agreed and also hoped he would improve on his reading and writing skills.

“Any chance he has to write, improve his skills in reading and vice versa,” she said. “Have fun too, know that writing is a fun activity, not just something he has to do for school.”

The Lawheads learned about the spring break opportunity through an email from Will’s teacher. Jennifer didn’t hesitate to join in the writing fun, enrolling both her son and her daughter, fifth-grader Tammara Lawhead.

“We thought it’d be a great chance to have fun and keep learning over break,” she said.

Julie Shoars, one of several Minnesota Reading Corps tutors in the Austin area who started the program, said this is the first year they have put on this event. The writer’s workshop is geared toward fourth- through sixth-grade students, but with smaller groups of children, organizers are able to be more flexible with the age-range.

The afternoon workshops are geared toward first- through third-graders. Shoars said many of the students Monday morning didn’t even need help.

“They’re just so independent they don’t even need us,” she laughed. “They’re all so great at it.”

The tutors started the event to help students develop their writing skills further, and to emphasize that writing doesn’t have to be only in the classroom.

“I really hope that the kids come out and just have a good time,” Shoars said. “It’s spring break and a little break from the normal run-of-the-mill school day, but an opportunity to keep their creative juices flowing while they’re on break but also have fun with that.”

The week includes several writing and reading events, including writing prompts from pictures similar to graphic novels, lost and found stories where students must continue writing about a problem, a story that has a beginning but no middle or ending, and a final day focusing on any type of creative writing. The final day will also have an Easter theme.

“We’ll have some prompts that will help students get their creative juices flowing, but other than that it’s just completely free for all,” Shoars said. “Whatever they want to write about.”

The workshops are free and open to the public with no early registration required. Shoars invited anyone to join the workshops this week and get a chance to write for fun.

“Come out and join us,” she said. “Come have fun.”