4Th and 5 Th Grade Writing (Creative and Academic)
In this ongoing class, students can attend all weeks or drop in on any single week. We cover a separate topic each week, such as short stories, essays, poetry, plays, and more!
Lisa Rohloff
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(347)
What's included
3 live meetings
2 hrs 15 mins in-class hours per weekHomework
1-2 hours per week. Homework will vary each week, depending on the topic explored. There will be activities and worksheets that we will plan to finish in class. If a student doesn't finish during class, they can finish it for homework. Most weeks, there will be a writing assignment that will be due on the last day of class for that week. The length of these writing assignments will vary depending on the type of writing. For example, Cinquain and Haiku poems are only a few words, while their short story will be 300 to 700 words.Assessment
After each weekly writing assignment, students will receive a written review. This review includes what they did well and any suggestions I have for how they can improve.Class Experience
US Grade 4 - 6
This is an amazing writing class! Classes include worksheets (attached in the Outschool classroom), classroom discussion, and writing assignments. I like to create an atmosphere where all students can appreciate and enjoy one another's writing. This is a very positive and encouraging class. For each weekly writing assignment, I give students written feedback on what they did well and how they can improve. Students will gain confidence and writing skills as they progress through this course. **Please note that all times are in Pacific Time** Week of January 3-5: Editing Your Own Writing Kids will learn about the writing process (planning, writing, editing, getting feedback, rewriting). Then they will learn how to add editing marks to their own handwritten drafts. Finally, they will rewrite or type a final draft. Jan 3-5 (Please note that this week's classes will be on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) Week of Jan 8: Writing Paragraphs Kids will learn to write paragraphs that have a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a conclusion sentence. They will learn how to make sure all the sentences work together to support the main idea. After this we’ll talk about different kinds of topic and concluding sentences. Jan 9-12 Week of Jan 15: The 5 Paragraph Essay Kids will learn the basic structure of a 5-paragraph essay, use a graphic organizer to plan it, and write one. Jan 16-19 Week of Jan 22: Writing a Reflective Essay Students will plan, write, and edit an essay in which they reflect on their own lives. Week of Jan 29: Writing a Blog Post Students will learn the unique structure and characteristics of a blog post and write one. Times Offered: Week of February 5: Writing Acrostic Poems, Concrete Poems, and Limericks Students will learn how these poems are structured, and they will write each of these kinds of poetry. Week of February 12: Writing a Narrative Essay Students will plan and write a narrative essay. We will use a graphic organizer. Week of Feb 19: Free Form and Journal Writing Students will learn about free form and journal writing as they practice both. Week of Feb 26: Writing in 1st, 2nd, 3rd Person, All Knowing Narrator, and Limited Narrator Students will learn how and when it is appropriate to write in different "voices." They will read some examples and practice the different types. Week of March 4: Sonnets, Ballads, and Free Verse Students will read Sonnets, Ballads, and Free Verse poems, learn about their history and some famous poets, understand how these poems are structured, and practice writing them. Week of March 11: Epic Poetry Students will read Epic poetry, learn about its history and some famous Epic poets, create their own epic hero, learn about the 12 steps in a hero's journey, understand how these poems are structured, and write an Epic Poem. Week of March 18: Writing a Speech Students will learn how to plan, outline, and write a speech. They will learn various aspects of speech writing. They will have an opportunity to read their speech to the class. Week of March 25: Writing a Play Students will learn the structure of a play, and they will write one. We will read a play in class to help them see and understand how one is written. Week of April 1: Impromptu Writing Students will learn to express their thoughts through several impromptu writing exercises. Week of April 8: Writing a Review for a Movie, Book, or Video Game Kids will list what they liked and didn't like about a book, movie, or video game, and write an article in which they give their opinion and recommendations. Week of April 15: Using Sensory Words to Be Descriptive Kids will learn to use words that engage the reader's senses in various types of writing. Week of April 22: Writing a Short Story Students will learn about the elements of a plot, use a worksheet to plot out their own story, and then write a their own 300 to 700 word short story. Week of April 29: Creating a Character for a Story Students will learn the importance of developing realistic characters as they go through several exercises to create their own, unique character. The exercises include creating their characters physical traits, developing their character's motivation and backstory, and writing a monologue. They will also have the opportunity to draw their character, its environment, and its family tree. Week of May 6: Writing a Graphic Short Story Students will learn the key parts of a graphic story. Then they will plan, write and edit their own. They do not need to be good at drawing to do this. Week of May 13: Write, Cite, and Explain Your Evidence Students will learn to write a text that has a citation. They will explain the evidence withing the text. Week of May 20: Writing an Opinion Essay Students will learn the key elements of an opinion essay. They will plan, write and edit their own. Special Notes: - When students complete this class, I recommend taking either my Essay Writing class or my 6th and 7th Grade Writing class as a next step. - Students should be able to read and write in English at a 4th grade level or higher to be successful in this class.
Learning Goals
Students will become familiar with some examples of different types of creative writing. They will put what they've learned into practice as they write the following:
Narrative Essays
Character Descriptions
Character Monologues
Hooks
Story Beginnings
Story Endings
Short Stories
Poetry (Acrostic, Concrete, Limerick, Free Verse, Epic, Sonnet, Ballad)
Speeches
Plays
Free From and Journal Writing
Opinion Writing
Citing and Explaining Evidence
Reflective Writing
Writing in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Person, All-Knowing Narrator, and Limited Narrator
Writing a Short Graphic Story
Writing a Review
Impromptu Writing
Grammar and spelling
The writing process (plan, organize, write, get feedback, rewrite)
In addition, students will gain confidence in their own ability to write, and enjoy one another's writing.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Kids can either handwrite their assignments, or they can use One of the following word processing tools:
Google Docs
Microsoft Word
Apple Pages
**Please note that kids can choose to handwrite. If they type, they only need one of the above tools.
Supply List
Each week, worksheets and other materials will be attached in Outschool for students to print out. There are no special items students need to purchase. Students should come to each class with a pen or pencil, paper, and any worksheets that I have made available in Outschool for that week. The Outschool Classroom should be checked for worksheets and classroom materials within 24 hours before the first day of class each week.
Language of Instruction
English
Joined April, 2020
4.8
347reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree from University of Wisconsin-Stout
Bachelor's Degree from Ashford University
I love working with kids! I have 14 years of teaching experience, and I have taught in both traditional school settings and as a homeschool parent. I am passionate about helping kids at all levels of their reading and writing journey. It's so exciting when I see a student gain confidence as a reader/writer or when I can help a young aspiring writer achieve their dreams.
My writing experience includes writing copy for marketing materials, ghost writing for corporate executives, technical writing, writing newspaper articles, and writing instructions for digital technology applications. Managing a corporate internal newsletter was one of my favorite projects. I created the newsletter design, interviewed and wrote articles about team members, and managed the editing and submission process for all the contributors. As a hobby, I love to write short stories, poetry, and songs. I can't imagine my life without writing.
My education includes a BA in Communications and a Master of Science in Technical and Professional Communication (MSTPC). Because I have completed 2 years of my BA and all of my MS classes online, I am skilled with the various aspects of online learning. I love using what I have learned to help kids become better at reading and writing.Reviews
Live Group Class
$25
weekly ($9 per class)3x per week
45 min
Completed by 175 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-12
2-9 learners per class
