Book Hooks: Amazing People and Three Paragraph Essays
During class, students will learn about amazing people, brainstorm ideas, use graphic organizers, and develop a three paragraph essay each week.
Lara Aston
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(34)
What's included
12 live meetings
12 in-class hoursClass Experience
Hearing good writing helps develop good writers. In this 12-week online class, students will listen to amazing stories and learn to write 4 types of essays: narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive. We will spend 3 weeks developing skills for each type of essay. The Class will begin with a discussion of the type of essay for that week. Specific grammar concepts related to the type of writing will be included in this portion of the class. Then students will listen to part of an engaging picture book biography related to the type of writing being discussed. Students will focus on interesting wording and phrases that are used, as well as the way information is organized and presented. Students will then work together to brainstorm ideas, complete graphic organizers, and outline their essays. After each class, I will provide notes, assignments, and graphic organizers related to the essay for the week. Students may submit their essays for my edits and work to create a polished essay each week. They are welcome to ask for feedback and help as much as needed between classes. The 12 weeks will be broken down as follows: Week 1: Narrative Paragraph; Introducing the class and using transition words Week 2: Narrative Essay; writing an introductory and concluding paragraph Week 3: Descriptive Essay #1: Describing a Scene Week 4: Descriptive Essay #2: Describing a Person Week 5: Descriptive Essay #3: Describing Emotions Week 6: Expository Essay #1: Giving Directions in a How To Essay Week 7: Expository Essay #2: Comparing and Contrasting Week 8: Expository Essay #3: Cause and Effect Week 9: Narrative Essay: Creating a story Week 10: Persuasive Essay: Using factual arguments to persuade Week 11: Persuasive Essay: Using emotional and moral arguments to persuade Week 12: Tying It All Together: Presenting a Persuasive Speech We will learn about John Newbery (publisher of children's books), Dorothy Lange (photographer), James Audubon (ornithologist), Edwin Binney (inventor of crayons), Roget Thesaurus (words master), Katherine Johnson (NASA mathematician), Sophie Germain (Scientist and Mathematician), Paul Erdos (Mathematician), Michelangelo (artist), Peter the Great (Russian Leader). My teaching style is interactive, with emphasis on giving all students a voice and a safe place to share ideas. I have taught excellent writers, struggling writers, and reluctant writers. I will take students where they are at and help them move toward being confident essay writers.
Learning Goals
1. Students will be able to identify 4 types of writing: narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive.
2. Students will hear well written reading passages and be able to discuss them.
3. Students will learn to effectively use a hook in their writing.
4. Students will learn to write clear, concise thesis statements for essays.
5. Students will learn to create introductory and concluding paragraphs that mirror each other using a wide range of vocabulary.
6. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of amazing people.
7. Students will learn to listen to others' ideas and contribute their own ideas in a safe environment.
8. Students will build confidence in their ability to construct a well-written essay.
Other Details
Supply List
I will provide graphic organizers, detailed assignments, and notes following each class.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Various picture book biographies will be discussed in class, including Balderdash! John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books, Dorothea's Eyes, Nothing Stopped Sophie, The Boy Who Drew Birds, The Crayon Man, The Right Word, and Counting on Katherine.
Joined June, 2020
5.0
34reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have 30 years of teaching experience with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education and a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. My 30 years of teaching experience include public and private classrooms, homeschool co-ops, schooling my own 4 children, and teaching English classes online to students in China. I have the ability to adapt lessons to the needs of the students and to engage students in a virtual environment. I love to teach using books as a launching point for many different topics! Reviews
Live Group Class
$100
for 12 classes1x per week, 12 weeks
60 min
Completed by 8 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-12
4-6 learners per class
