Learners will build up their understanding of the writer's tools and their craft and apply this knowledge to their own stories.

The Week of March 31, 2024 - Characterization (Flaws and quirks)
The Week of April 7, 2024 - Syntax & Diction (Remove the dead weight) 
The Week of April 14, 2024 - Characterization (Dialogue and actions)
The Week of April 21, 2024 - Simile (Replace the cliché)
The Week of April 28, 2024 - Characterization (Emotional battles)
The Week of May 5, 2024 - Characterization (Show, don't tell)
The Week of May 12, 2024 - Situational Irony (Comic relief, shock & characterization)
The Week of May 19, 2024 - Flashback & Flash Forward (Framed narrative) 
The Week of May 26, 2024 - Syntax (Varied sentences) 
The Week of June 2, 2024 - Characterization (Dialogue - Colloquialism, Dialect & Anastrophe)
The Week of June 9, 2024 - Syntax & Diction (Remove the dead weight) 
The Week of June 16, 2024 - Symbolism (Meaningful objects)
The Week of June 23, 2024 - Story Organization (The Hero's Journey & more) 
The Week of June 23, 2024 - Paragraphs (Varied lengths for ultimate impact)
The Week of June 23, 2024 -  Characterization (Anthropomorphism & Zoomorphism) Simile (Solidifying the abstract)
The Week of August 4, 2024 - Hyperbole (Emphasis)
The Week of August 11, 2024 - Characterization (Show, don't tell)
The Week of August 18, 2024 - Suspense (Withholding information) 
The Week of August 24, 2024 - Characterization (Relationships and effect on others)
The Week of September 1, 2024 - Conflict (Five types and their purpose) 
The Week of September 8, 2024 - Plot (Climax)
The Week of September 15, 2024 - Diction (Congeries for emphasis)
The Week of September 22, 2024 - Characterization (Diction and malapropism)
The Week of September 29, 2024 - Active and Passive Voice (Their impact)
The Week of October 6, 2024 - Theme (Underlying ideas) 
The Week of October 13, 2024 - Anaphora (Powerful repetition)
The Week of October 20, 2024 - Syntax (Parallelism & harmony)
The Week of October 27, 2024 - Allusion (Giving clues to well-read readers)
The Week of November 3, 2024 - Plot (Falling Action)
The Week of November 10, 2024 - Characterization (Tone) 
The Week of November 17, 2024 - Syntax (Varied Sentences)
The Week of November 24, 2024 - Characterization (Juxtaposition)
The Week of December 1, 2024 - Motif (Developing a theme) 
The Week of December 8, 2024 - Plot (Conclusion/resolution)
The Week of December 15, 2024 - Theme (Conclusion)
Pacing (Short sentences and fragments)
Plot Episodes (Conflict)   

PAST

The Week of October 8 - Narration (A character with a purpose) 
The Week of October 15 - Audience (Diction & formatting choices)
The Week of October 22 - Atmosphere  (Using the setting) 
The Week of October 29 - Characterization (Diversity)
The Week of November 5 - Characterization (Weaving in appearance details)  
The Week of November 12 - Plot (The Story Mountain) 
The Week of November 19 - Conflict (Five types and their purpose) 
The Week of November 26 - Characterization (Actions)   
The Week of December 3 - Diction (Delicious details)
The Week of December 10 - Metaphor (Extended and useful) 
The Week of December 17 - Characterization (Dialogue and speech tags) 
The Week of December 31 - Pacing (Long sentences and description) 
The Week of January 7, 2024 - Foreshadowing (Tipping off the detective)
The Week of January 14, 2024 - Dramatic Irony (Get the reader involved)
The Week of January 21, 2024 - Imagery (Engage the senses) 
The Week of January 28, 2024 - Personification (Craft the imagery and mood) 
The Week of February 4, 2024 - Suspense (Withholding information) 
The Week of February 11, 2024 - Characterization (Thoughts) 
The Week of February 18, 2024 - Flashback (Background) 

Over the past seventeen years, I have been teaching middle school and high school literature and writing, but I also published a collection of short stories and nonfiction articles through Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. (This was while I was teaching in Beijing, after being approached by an editor after an essay reading!) 

Currently, I am working on a middle-school novel, several historical-fiction short stories, and weekly poetry (which I share in my Introduction to Poetry #4 class). You may have also had the pleasure of reading some of my short stories in my other creative writing classes. 

Additionally, I have released a textbook on project-based learning through Teacher's Discovery, which focuses on breaking down a large creative project into manageable steps, and several self-published books on ancient China with educational activities.

Homework Offered
Assessments Offered
If the learners share a Google Doc link with me or use the provided Doc, I will offer some suggestions during the writing time. Additionally, I will give some feedback on each story during the sharing time. This feedback will be given orally, and other learners will be encouraged to comment on the stories, too.
Grades Offered

I am neurodivergent (ADHD), so my classes are creative. I also cultivate a community so our classes include student interaction, laughter, and support. Each learner is met where they are with their writing skills.