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Conquering Writing for Teens

In this ongoing class high school learners will practice writing and share their work with classmates.
Phyllis Bixler - Just Help Me Learn, LLC
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:
(346)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours per week
Homework
Apply skills covered in class throughout the week.
Assessment
Informal assessment via participation and discussion/sharing

Class Experience

US Grade 9 - 12
Each week high school students will be provided with a writing prompt and mini lesson centered on the theme for the week, then draft a reply during class that will then be shared with classmates and the teacher.  Educational focus will be placed upon students overcoming "writers block" and becoming confident with extemporaneous writing and how to compose a cohesive response in a limited amount of time.  Students will be asked to practice new skills over the coming week. 

Writing Topics for each week:

June 5 - 11               Persuasive Essay
June 12 - 18             Descriptive Writing/Creative Writing
June 19 - 25            The Writing Process - Prewriting
June 26 - July 2      The Writing Process - Rough Draft
July 3 - 9                 The Writing Process - Revision and Editing
July 10 - 16              The Writing Process - Final Drafts
July 17 - 23              The Writing Process - Bibliographies/Works Cited
July 24 - 30             Narrative Essay
July 31 - Aug 6        Compare/Contrast Essay
August 7 - 13           Expository Writing
August 14 - 20         Argumentative Essay  Part 1
August 21 - 29         Argumentative Essay  Part 2
Aug 30 - Sept 3       Descriptive Essay
September 4 - 10    Short Story Writing
September 11 - 17    Short Story Writing - Continue the Process
September 18 - 24  Short Story Writing - Complete and Share
Sept. 25 - Oct. 1      Persuasive Essay
October 2 - 8          Descriptive Writing/Creative Writing
October 9 - 15        The Writing Process - Prewriting
October 16 - 22      The Writing Process - Rough Draft
October 23 - 29      The Writing Process - Revision and Editing
Oct 30 - Nov 5        The Writing Process - Final Drafts
November 6 - 12     The Writing Process - Bibliographies/Works Cited
November 13 - 19   Narrative Essay
November 20 - 26  Compare/Contrast Essay
Nov 27 - Dec 3        Expository Writing
December 4 - 10     Argumentative Essay  Part 1
December 11 - 17    Argumentative Essay  Part 2
December 18 - 24  Descriptive Essay



**********PLEASE READ*************
Outschool has recently changed its policy regarding class cancellations. We know how disappointing canceled classes can be for learners, so we too are amending our policy.  In the past we have waited for late enrollees, of which we have had MANY!  Unfortunately we can no longer do that. 

Instead we will evaluate class enrollment for ongoing classes on teach Sunday at 5pm Eastern.  IF enrollment falls below 3 students, we will push the class back a week.  When other sections are available students will have the option to transfer to another class.  Full refunds will be provided for learners who cannot attend the newly scheduled class time. Partial refunds for missed classes are NOT available. If a student must miss class, the recording is available to view at their convenience. All other refunds will be provided as per the Outschool Limited Refund policy (see below).  If for any reason the class does not meet your expectation, you have the confidence of knowing that Outschool has a Happiness Guarantee and will provide a refund upon request via their Customer Support. 

Transfer requests within 24 hours of a scheduled class will NOT be approved.  At that point it is too late to reschedule the class, and it is unfair to other families who may have enrolled thinking there were multiple learners enrolled. Instead students will be encouraged to watch the video of the class.
 
Thank you for understanding, and for your loyalty.
Learning Goals
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Introduce claim(s), acknowledge alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.

Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.

Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.

Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.
learning goal

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined September, 2020
4.8
346reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Ohio Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Phyllis Bixler, M.Ed., NBCT
Master's Degree in Education from Lourdes College
Phyllis Bixler, M.Ed., NBCT
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Auburn University
Tina Kaye Houston
Just Help Me Learn empower and educates learners from around the globe with a focus on English literature, writing and grammar, study skills and history.  However the variety of classes will grow as our organization evolves, with the intention to bring STEM classes, foreign languages and more in the coming months!

Just Help Me Learn was established during the global pandemic of 2020-21, in direct reaction to the changes in which children and families sought primary and supplemental sources for education.  Initially Mrs. Bixler envisioned using her education and experience as an English teacher to help learners who struggled with reading and writing.  But with the challenges created by the pandemic she discovered the Outschool and chose to share her talents and passions with their global community.  Six months later the demand for grammar, study skills and mythology classes became more than one teacher could teach while still leading a balanced life with her family, and Just Help Me Learn was repurposed!  

When you enroll your learner in a class offered by Just Help Me Learn, you can be assured that a teacher is assigned to the entire section.  What does this mean?  If your learner is in an ongoing, multi-day, or camp class they will see the same teacher for every class, except in cases of emergency, illness or vacation for ongoing classes.  Your learner will have the opportunity to bond with a teacher, just as they would in a traditional classroom. 

Our teachers are compassionate professionals who LOVE the learning process. We have sought out educators who believe that all students can learn, and that it is our job to facilitate the learning process. Students are the future leaders of our world, and as teachers it is our role to help empower and educate those future leaders through critical thinking/writing, experiencing literature, culture, history, and more, and providing a well-rounded educational experience via our classes where learners collaborate as equals and learn from one another.  

Today we are a collaborative cohort of educators who support one another in the education of your students. 

Meet our teachers:

Mrs. Phyllis Bixler brings  20 years of teaching experience from middle school to university, a National Board Certification, multiple graduate degrees, and a passion for helping academically challenged learners discover the joys of learning. Her experience and passion for literature, grammar, writing, history and the acquisition of study skills stems from a learning disabled father who only completed grade 9 of school, a sibling who struggled with undiagnosed learning challenges, and a dyslexic daughter who completed her college education with degrees in Spanish, Hospitality/Tourism, and International Business.  Her life experience lends to the core belief that EVERY student is capable of learning.  Thus, Phyllis seeks educators who have similar beliefs about learning to help her reach as many learners as possible with Just Help Me Learn. 

Mrs. Tina Kaye Houston acquired her undergraduate degree in elementary education, and has used that knowledge in the home school education of her own children.  She teaches several art classes and camps on Outschool as "Teacher Tina" and has been a member of the Outschool community for more than 3 years.  Mrs. Houston joins our team to work with our struggling learners on their study skills, as well as  grammar classes. Welcome Teacher Tina!


Ms Gabi Houston is a passionate college student who loves literature and learning.  While attending university, she has also been working multiple jobs that involve serving others...mostly students, youth and children.  As a student who learns differently, Gabi understands the challenges that come with academia.  She has personally worked to overcome those challenges.  Gabi recently joined our team of teachers to support our struggling learners, and to guide them with some of the strategies she has found most helpful on her academic journey. Gabi will also share her love of literature via novel discussions with guided notes created by the English teachers on our team, and supplement or substitute in the other classes as needed.  We are excited about all that Gabi has to offer our team, and the learners in the Outschool community!!

Mrs. Diane Sullivan has 40+ years of classroom and virtual teaching experience with English and Theater.  She has taught via Outschool and VIP Kid for several years, and is extremely skilled at one-on-one instruction.  Mrs. Sullivan is an incredible literature instructor, our resident Percy Jackson and mythology expert, and a regular substitute teacher when necessary. 
 
While Just Help Me Learn offers academic classes, we are excited to encourage our educators to create FUN classes that reflect their interests and hobbies too!  Keep checking back for new classes, new teachers, and share your class suggestions with us too!

Reviews

Live Group Class
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$20

weekly
1x per week
45 min

Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
3-7 learners per class

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