In this class, students write simple short stories or short picture books each week. Below I answer common questions and then I provide a weekly schedule. 

----What will my child learn?----
They will learn how to write a basic story in English, using correct grammar. They'll also expand their imagination and storytelling skills. If they do the additional lessons on their own, they will learn spelling and sight words. 

----Is this a drawing class?--- 
No. Though they can write picture books, this is not a drawing class. Picture books have simple stories with pictures. They can draw before or after class. In the class itself, they will write the story. I will help them improve their writing and storytelling skills.

----Is this the right level class for my child?----
For this class, they need to know how to write at least fifty basic words in English, or it may be frustrating for them. (Words such as I, am, dog, red) However, most kids can easily learn twenty words a week, so you can get them up to this basic level before they start. They can also be higher-level speakers/writers who want to create a picture book. This is also great for kids in Asia who want to enter Asia's Scholastic Storytelling Contest. Advanced students who want to write a book should join my chapter book class.

----Do kids write by hand or type?----
Kids can write by hand or type, whatever makes them more enthusiastic. If your child is 8, I recommend typing. This will improve their confidence because they can fix their mistakes, and they don't need to worry about messy handwriting. Also, they will be ready to take my chapter book class next. 

----What extra materials do you provide?----
For this beginner class, I provide an eight week set of bonus videos and lessons that kids can do on their own to improve their basic writing skills. If your child speaks English as a Second Language, I can also give you the ESL bonus lessons to help with pronunciation and speaking skills. 

----What is the energy or vibe of this class? ----
My style is gentle and kind, and I like to laugh a lot with the kids. We play games, draw, and talk, but at least half of the class, they will be writing. 

----What does my child need to bring to class?----
Students bring objects, toys, food, stuffed animals, or dolls to include in their writing and to help with conversation. This is a lot of fun and makes them excited to come to class. They add these toys and objects to their stories to practice adding details and multi-sensory elements. They also need to bring paper and markers to every class, even if they plan on typing their stories because we use this to brainstorm. If they are writing by hand, I recommend buying a special notebook for them with a space on top to draw and an area below to write. When you sign up, I give you examples of this. It really helps with their skill development. 

----What kinds of stories will they write?----
Look at the schedule below for the weekly stories and grammar focus. We will have a different type of story for every class, but it's always your child's choice about what they will write. 

----Do I give corrections or feedback?---- 
I give feedback on one story a week. Yes, please send their stories. This is part of what you're paying for in the weekly fee. I tell them what I like about the story and give them one key grammar correction to focus on for their next story. My feedback is positive. I'm always focused on making them feel good about themselves. This improves writing skills faster than anything else. 

In the class, I guide them from the beginning to the end of their stories, giving them ideas along the way. If they struggle with grammar or spelling, they can tell me what they want to write, and I type it out in the chat, but in this case, I recommend practicing their writing with them for at least ten minutes a day to help them improve. You can follow the bonus videos to help with this. I also recommend getting them to practice with a basic phonics app. I'll give you lots of ways to help your kid outside of class, and they'll improve very quickly. 

BASIC STRUCTURE AND SCHEDULE FOR EACH CLASS: 

5 Minutes: Show their object or toy or funny clothing item or costume. They will include this in their story. 
10 Minutes: I teach a basic skill, and the kids brainstorm ideas in a fun way (For example, they might draw their character or spin an idea wheel.)
5 Minutes: They write the beginning of their story.
2 Minutes: I give them more ideas to guide them through their story.
5 Minutes: They continue writing. 
5 Minutes: I give them a basic grammar skill. (See below.)
5 Minutes: They continue writing. 
2 minutes: I give the entire class a "creativity gift"—one word or an object that everyone will try to draw or include in their story. It's funny, and they'll laugh. Some kids will include it, and some won't. Sometimes, I'll ask if any of them have a creativity gift idea and we'll use their ideas. 
5 Minutes: They finish their stories. If they don't finish, they can finish on their own, but the next week, we start a new one. 
5 Minutes: They read their stories if they want. 

June 17-23
Fun Story Idea - Toy stories
Writing skill - Story structure: a character with a problem. 
Grammar Focus - What is a sentence? Subjects and verbs.

June 24-30
Fun Story Idea - Mermaid, Alicorn, Dinosaur or Dragon stories
Writing skills - Descriptions: people
Grammar Focus -  Capitals and periods

July 1-7
Fun story idea - Food or Object Stories
Writing skills - Descriptions: place
Grammar Focus - Adding to a sentence: adjectives and adjective phrases

July 8-14
Fun story idea - Strange and silly stories
Writing Focus - Talking, dialogue
Grammar Focus - Punctuation for Dialogue (Talking in a story)

July 15-21
Fun story idea - Scary or action stories 
Writing Focus - Characters: Thoughts and Feelings
Grammar Focus - Possessives: Your or You're? Its or It's? They're or Their

July 22-28
Fun story idea - Animal or creature stories
Writing Focus - Descriptions: Similes and Metaphors
Grammar Focus - Adding to a Sentence: adverbs and adverb phrases

July 29 - August 4
NO CLASS

August 5 - 11
Fun story idea - Video game or outer space stories
Writing Focus - What do they want? What will stop them?
Grammar Focus - What is a paragraph?

Aug 12 - 18
Fun story idea - Magical or fantasy stories
Writing Focus - Imaginative details about the world
Grammar Focus - Verbs - present or past? 

This pattern repeats after eight weeks, but of course, if they continue, their stories will be different and their skills will continue to progress. If they're eight years old, I recommend continuing on to my book writing class after this. In that popular class, they write a book of short stories or a chapter book and publish it at the end.