What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
This is a course that is ongoing. Feel free to drop in and out as you would like. We will be using our imaginations, creativity and writing skills to engage a reader. This will be a prompt driven class with a mini lesson and lots of time to grow into your writing style. The teacher will be creating and sharing too, while offering feedback and support as students demand it. You can share, you don't have to share. You can talk, laugh and engage other students for their ideas and feedback. Very low stress course. I teach within the common core standards and incorporate writing standards into my minilessons. I offer minilessons that make sense to our writing task. After the minilesson, students begin the writing process. They can choose to utilize my prompt or just write within the creative idea of the day. Teacher and students will write together. Students can actively engage with the teacher and ask for suggestions or read sections they are excited about. The class is very laid back where creativity is sure to flourish. If you are looking for grammar, spelling, sentence structure lessons I can incorporate my 1-1-tutoring to make the transition seamless. Week of Dec 2nd Develop Characterization skills. Make up an imaginary friend. What does he or she look like? What does he or she like to do? Week of Dec 9th Continue Character work. Focus on elements of character development. Create a story about a person you know. Use as many details as possible. Week of Dec 23rd Elements of Plot. Personal narrative. Write a short story based on a true event in your life. Week of Dec 30th Learn elements of an antagonist and protagonist Rewrite a chapter of your favorite book from the antagonist’s point of view. Week of Jan 6 Learning past, present and future tense Write a letter to your future self. What do you want to make sure you remember? Week of Jan 13 Elements of Creativity Go on a five-senses scavenger hunt. Find three items for each sense. Create a story using the items you found. Week of Jan 20 Visualization through the senses. Create a story around an interesting picture. Week of Jan 27 Writing from background knowledge/Building background knowledge. Describe what school would be like if you lived on the moon. What would you be learning about? How would you be learning it? Feb 3 Continue Writing from background knowledge/Building background knowledge. Sequence writing. Describe a day in the life of a famous person in history. Include both mundane and exciting details of things they may have experienced on a normal day. Feb 10 Develop persuasive techniques. Pick up something on a bookshelf or end table nearby. Now write a commercial script for it to convince your audience that they absolutely must own this thing. Feb 17 Bringing ideas to life through vivid language Plan a birthday party for your best friend. Describe the decorations, food, and everything else. Feb 24 Developing perspective and POV Write a very short story about three siblings fighting over a toy. Now rewrite it twice, each time from a different character’s perspective. March 2nd Writing from an outside perspective, while building background knowledge. Tell a story from the point of view of a pigeon on a city street. March 30th Elements of a scary story, with a fun twist. Have you ever had a nightmare? Write what happened but with a new ending where everything turns out okay (perhaps the monster was your dad in a costume, preparing to surprise you at your birthday party). April 6 Understanding elements of News writing. Take an important event in your life or the life of someone in your family. Write one sentence answering each of the 6 journalistic questions: Who, What, When, Where, why, and how. Create a Newspaper article. April 13 Build background or develop creativity while understanding sequence. Pick something you use often (a toothbrush, your desk, etc). Then tell the story of how it was invented. If you don’t know, make something up. April 20 Understanding elements of fantasy writing Choose a princess or hero and write a one-page story about him or her traveling to a distant land. April 27 Characteristics of a quality speech Pretend you are a tour guide for a local attraction. It can be a library, a park, or a museum, but it could also be a place that wouldn’t normally hold tours (such as an arcade). Write a speech about what you tell your tour group as you walk around the attraction. May 4 Developing the senses in a funny way! Make a list of foods included in a dinner party catered by the world’s worst cook, describing how each course looks, smells, and tastes. Include your reactions while eating it. May 11 Qualities of effective instructions. Write out your own version of instructions for playing your favorite game (board game, video game, sports or more!) May 25 Developing your senses without utilizing sight (the most overused sense)! Pretend you’ve lost your sight for one night. Describe going out to eat at a restaurant, using smells, textures, and sounds to tell your story. Jun 1 Develop persuasive techniques. List your 3 least favorite chores. Pick one and write a one paragraph detailing why you can’t possibly complete that chore ever again. June 8 Qualities of journal writing and POV. Write an excerpt from your pet’s diary (pretend he keeps one). June 15 Qualities of a movie script Write the script for a movie trailer—real or imagined. June 29th Develop a scenario for a game utilizing vivid details Pretend you’re the master of a role-playing game, describing a sticky situation in which the other players now find themselves. Describe the scenario in writing. July 6 Learn elements of humor and drama. Compose a funny or dramatic story for a photo. Week 30 Qualities of a political speech Write an election speech with ludicrous and impossible campaign promises. Let's have some fun!
Other Details
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Iowa Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
Master's Degree in Science from Drake University
I have taught At-Risk English and English/Reading at the High School level for over 20 years. I am licensed to teach, English grades 6-12 and English/Reading grades k-12. I have a Masters in Science with a focus on mental health. I love all the arts, museums, learning and travel. I believe in being an active learner and want to see my students develop their passions.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$15
weekly1x per week
55 min
Completed by 13 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
3-6 learners per class