Let's Write WELL!

If no time slots match your schedule, please feel free to contact me without hesitation.

In order to become a successful writer, it is essential to have a strong command of constructing effective sentences. This class is designed to provide students with instruction on how to craft well-written sentences so that they can write good paragraphs on a weekly basis for 10 weeks. Whether it's for responding to a prompt, writing an essay, creating a report, composing a paper, or conducting research, a single sentence can significantly impact the overall quality of the writing. The course is tailored to meet the needs of students at all levels of writing ability, from those requiring additional support to those seeking to achieve advanced writing goals.

Throughout the course, students will learn how to write different types of sentences such as simple, compound, complex, preparation, and preposition phrases. They will also learn how to expand and combine sentences and write topic and conclusion sentences to create a good framework for a paragraph. Additionally, students will learn about the parts of speech and punctuation necessary to complement and complete a sentence.

The ultimate goal of this course is to enable students to construct well-developed sentences, regardless of the type, and enhance their overall writing skills. By the end of the class, students will have understood how to format each type of sentence, diagram it, and use punctuation and grammar correctly. They will also have an interactive notebook that will serve as a portfolio, which they can refer to in the future.
The class will meet twice a week for 55 minutes. The students are also welcome to email me via Outschool with any questions.

Weeks 1-3 In these classes, students will learn about the essential components of a properly structured sentence and their significance. They will have the aid of a useful graphic organizer that contains all the required elements for creating a basic sentence. Moreover, students will learn about the function of punctuation in a sentence, the types of sentences, and the different parts of speech used in them. These consist of the subject, verb, predicate, and end marks, such as periods, question marks, and exclamation marks.

Furthermore, students will also explore more advanced grammatical concepts, such as complex and compound sentences and the corresponding parts of speech and punctuation rules that apply. They will understand how to correctly identify and use nouns and adjectives within a sentence and use a graphic organizer to diagram a sentence. Finally, students will put their newfound knowledge to the test by submitting correct penalties (including fragments and run-on sentences) for review during the following week.

Weeks 4-6: In these classes, students will practice identifying the four main characteristics of prepositions, using prepositions correctly in a sentence, utilizing correct punctuation, understanding verbs and adverbs, and introducing preparation phrases. They will submit copies of correct sentences during the following week.

weeks 7-8: The student will identify the parts of a paragraph in order to develop and write a good 3-5 sentence paragraph.

In weeks 8-12, students will practice previously learned skills and develop proficiency in writing various paragraph formats.

weeks 13-18 The students will focus on improving their writing skills by writing paragraphs based on writing prompts.

weeks 18-22 Students will review and improve their work by practicing editing and revisions  skills

The classes will also cover expanding sentences, reviewing simple sentences, understanding the difference between boring and wow sentences, learning the rules and examples of the eight parts of speech, comparing sentences, and recognizing the difference between colorful words that enhance sentences and useless words. Students will also submit copies of correct sentences during the following week.

Additionally, the classes will teach students how to reduce sentences, use short sentences for effect, understand the difference between short sentences and phrases, and use a graphic organizer to outline their sentences. Final copies of their work will be due at the beginning of week six.

At the start of every class, I will present a completed example of the objective for the "sentence of the week." Students will also review a graphic organizer outlining the necessary elements for constructing the sentence/sentences. Occasionally, there will be a mini grammar lesson to address areas where students may be struggling, in addition to the week's study.

Towards the end of each class, students draft their sentences or choose the correct answer from a multiple-choice review. After class, students will have one week to submit their final drafts of the sentences in .doc or .pdf format or as a shared document on Google Docs, along with a completed graphical diagram of the sentence. I will provide written feedback to all students, and students can use it to enhance their sentences and resubmit them. Students must apply their new skills and receive feedback on their performance. Please be aware that due dates will be assigned.

A typical class will follow this structure:

1. Warm Up for 3  minutes
2. Lesson Introduction 2 minutes
3. Direct Instruction with Active Class Participation – 10 minutes
4. Guided Practice - 15 minutes
5. Independent Writing Practice – 20 minutes
6. Review/Exit Activity - 5 minutes

For learners that need differentiation, I offer shorter writing assignments, sentence stems, and guided assistance with outlines to assist the students with writing the sentence. I will scaffold the lesson to address their individual needs. I will also teach this class if only one student enrolls or if a student prefers a one-on-one environment to learn. 
I look forward to having your learner in my class! I offer a warm, engaging learning environment!

CLASS EXPECTATIONS
 As the teacher, I anticipate that all students will respectfully engage with their peers and me. Participation is mandatory, and students must display their work via webcam, allowing me to monitor their progress. While I won't force students to read or share, I expect interaction as the class progresses.

In the resources section, students will find graphic organizers and other materials necessary for class. At the end of each class, students will be allocated time to share their activities.

My classes are interactive and incorporate movement, allowing for open discussions. Please ensure your learner has adequate space to move around. I enjoy engaging with each student by asking questions or seeking their opinion on the subject matter. Above all, I aim to make learning enjoyable for every student.

LESSON PRESENTATION
During the course, the class will be held twice a week for 55 minutes. Each lesson will be presented via a shared screen and PowerPoint presentation. Occasionally, I will use videos from YouTube, which will also be shared on the screen with the students. The students don't need to have their own Google Docs account or YouTube subscription, as I will provide them with a private link to their Google Docs. During the course, the class will be held twice a week for 55 minutes. Each lesson will be presented via a shared screen and PowerPoint presentation. Occasionally, I will use videos from YouTube, which will also be shared on the screen with the students. The students don't need to have their own Google Docs account or YouTube subscription, as I will provide them with a private link to their Google Docs.
I will screen share the materials that the students need to read because the primary goal is that they write the sentences using their voices. We will go over how to use grammar and punctuation in sentences correctly, but the students will write what they want to use in their graphic organizers. 
I will attach the graphic organizers in the resource sections, which must be downloaded before class. In addition, the students will need a college-ruled spiral notebook, which will be turned into an interactive notebook. The notebook will serve as a way to keep records of the rules  (grammar and sentences) to apply to the next level of sentence construction as they learn them throughout the class. The first page of the notebook will be set up as a table of contents so that the students can quickly locate the information in their notebooks.   

MUTING:
To promote active learning among my students, I strive to keep them unmuted during my classes. However, I understand that unavoidable background noise may sometimes require you to mute your child. Therefore, as a parent, I encourage you to exercise discretion in quelling your child whenever necessary.

Additionally, I may have to utilize the mute function in some cases. This ensures that other students in the class do not get distracted by any background noise. I will inform the students that they will be muted temporarily to minimize distractions.

RECORDINGS:
At the start of every class, students must indicate their attendance. They can turn off their camera afterward, except when presenting their work. Some students may only be visible through Outschool to ensure safety and security. Recordings are not publicly displayed in the classroom, as I aim to foster a safe and welcoming environment where students can freely express themselves and engage with each other. However, the recordings are automatically generated and saved for my class. Please inform me if you encounter issues accessing them, and I will assist.