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Fun and Easy Autobiography Writing | Learn How to Write About Yourself | Flex Class

Let's write an autobiography, backpack style! A fun, creative paragraph writing project for the budding author ready to learn more about the writing process. Create six pages for your backpack that covers the entire writing process!
Tammy Wenhame, Certified Educator
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(1,555)
Popular
Rising Star
Class

What's included

Class Experience

Students write a unique autobiography backpack by breaking down the writing process into small, easily worked-on "layers."  This backpack-shaped autobiography writing project class utilizes the fives stages of writing through interactive class presentations, unique writing layers, and a dash of individual creativity.  This is a flexible schedule class—no live meetings.

Using a flipped classroom model that features fun, hands-on writing lessons, games, and interactive learning elements to serve as a cross-curricular approach to mastering the writing process. This class employs the use of Modeling* writing. A proven writing process that builds learners' confidence and lowers writing barriers.

Students will watch the teacher-created video lessons, complete interactive learning elements, view supplemental videos, participate in class discussions, post finished layers each week. We return to the Outschool classroom page to collectively brainstorm, write, and design our backpack layers. Learners are free to work at the pace which best suits their learning styles.  Creativity is always supported and encouraged!

Week One
‣ Introduction to Autobiographies
‣ Video instruction and moderated Outschool class discussion on:
      Biographies -vs- Autobiographies
      First Writing Step: Brainstorming
‣ Introduction to our class structure, discussion, and interactive activity

Week Two
‣ Introduction to Writing a Paragraph
‣ Video instruction and moderated Outschool class discussion on:
      Parts of a Paragraph
      How to use the Hamburger Paragraph Organizer
      Second Writing Step: Write a Hamburger Rough Draft
‣ Introduction to writing a hamburger outline draft, class discussion, and interactive activity

Week Three:
‣ Introduction to Writing a Draft
‣ Video instruction and moderated Outschool class discussion on:
      Developing Ideas into Words
      Thrid Writing Step: Write a Draft
‣ Introduction to writing our draft, class discussion, and interactive games activity

Week Four
‣ Introduction to Revisions and Writing a Final Draft
‣ Video instruction and moderated Outschool class discussion on:
      Forth Writing Step: How to and When to Revise
      Crafting a Personalized Cover
      Fifth Writing Step: Final Draft
‣ Introduction to our final draft, class discussion, and backpack assembly
‣ Outschool Classroom Gallary Walk: Posting our final drafts and backpack cover designs

This autobiography writing class is full of engagement! Outschoolers will:
•Complete interactive quizzes to extend learning knowledge
•Collaborate in Group Brainstorming, Discussions and Model Writing Activities* 
•Post weekly completed writing projects (Videos, PDF, or Photo)
•Enjoy and share surprise-themed projects (sharing ideas generates ideas!)
•Join in the Final Week Flex Class Virtual Paragraph Gallery Walk** where we will show off our amazing hands-on paragraph projects!

Students are guided individually on improving their work and are expected to submit their revised writing for review. This allows for one-on-one instructor feedback to the student. Prior knowledge of paragraph writing is helpful but unnecessary, as these are skills we will be working on within our sessions.

*Model writing refers to the process through which teachers demonstrate a new skill before having students practice it on their own. The teacher models what they expect, which gives students a starting point and provides them with access to the ideas that will help them begin the writing process. This process allows the instructor to show students the steps to get to a finished product.  

** Students will use our classroom "Record Video" or submit a photo montage of their final backpacks. Students are required to submit their presentations in one of these or other approved formats.

Learning Goals

Mastering the basic writing process allows students to become strong, confident writers and readers. Outschoolers will benefit the most from this class if they have a limited understanding of writing rules. Students who have a basic knowledge of grammar, spelling, and sentence structure are welcome.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Outschool respects your learners' Personal Identifiable Information (PII), and so do I. When writing their autobiographies, please do not share any information that identifies a learner by the last name, address, geographical location, or other PII. This autobiography will feature general knowledge such as a favorite book, color, movie, etc. This fact is stressed to your learner during the instructional videos. The use of a first name is acceptable. Please note that writing, grammar, and spelling errors will occur, which is expected as your student masters the writing process. This class will not correct grammar or spelling.
Supply List
This class will use standard writing, coloring, and gluing supplies. Writing PDFs supplied weekly by the educator.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
The backpack project was created by the educator. Sources for use in writing standards are from Scholastic.com
Joined December, 2018
5.0
1555reviews
Popular
Rising Star
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Wisconsin Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Master's Degree in Education from American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence
Bachelor's Degree in English from University of Mount Union
My educational goal is to enable your student to become engaged in writing with excitement and hands-on activities.  By tapping into your learner's learning enthusiasm, they are active and engaged in their learning process. I have taught over 4,000 Outschool students, and logged more than 999+ Outschool teaching hours, in engaging, educational, and inspiring English Language courses. I am a certified Tennessee K-8th grade teacher. My educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in English, Communications, and Print Media. You will find more about my Outschool teaching journey on various media outlets, including CBS New York, Business Insider, and the American Board for Teacher Excellence. I am proud to be one of Outschool's first 2020 EPIC and 2019 Exemplar Teachers! 

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Live Group Class
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$19

for 4 weeks
4 weeks

Completed by 30 learners
No live video meetings
Ages: 6-11

This class is no longer offered
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