Creative Writing Mini Course: Create Frightening, Suspenseful Stories

Students will need paper and a writing utensil. Students may type their story if they choose.

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

- Kind speech is a must in my classroom at all times. My classroom is a safe space for learners to share their writing. I can not help learners improve if I do not hear or see their writing. If at any time a learner is negative towards another student they will immediately be removed from that days lesson and their parent/ guardian emailed. If the behavior continues they will be removed from the course entirely. My class must remain a safe place for all learners at all times.

-Each day learners will participate in a mini lesson intended to help improve their writing. This lessons will last approximately 10-20 minutes depending on the day. Students will then use the remainder of class to put the mini lesson into use by creating a frightening story of their choice. The last 10 minutes of class students will have the opportunity to share their stories. 

- While the students are writing they are muted to allow all learners time to focus. During this time I am messaging privately with learners helping those who need extra assistance or those who ask for extra help. I also take this time to send feedback to any learner who shares their story with the class or with me privately during class time. 

- Learners are not required to share their writing but it is how I can help them improve on a one on one basis. They have many options on ways to share if they choose. They can share their story out loud with the class, they can send it to me privately in the chat box, or they can send it to me after class in Outschool. 

- If at any time a learner is stuck and does not know what to write about they are asked to reach out to me via chat box or by simply asking. I do not want them just sitting there stuck and not writing. This is what I am here for, to help, but I can not read minds (especially if their camera is off) and can not see their papers to know when they are stuck so communication is key. 

- During the learners very first class with me, I try my best to encourage them but not give them step by steps instructions on how to write their papers so I can truly gauge where they are and where I can assist them.