English Language Arts: Stress-Free Way to Master Essay Writing: Middle School

Learners will master the fundamentals of essay writing, learning how to structure their thoughts, develop strong arguments, and express their ideas clearly. They will gain the confidence to approach various types of essays, preparing them for academic success in high school and beyond.
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This course aligns with various educational standards that benefit both traditional and homeschool learners:

1)  Homeschool Educational Guidelines: Supports individualized learning approaches, allowing parents to tailor the curriculum to meet their child's needs while ensuring academic rigor.

2) National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Standards: Emphasizes effective communication and critical thinking in writing, which is essential for all learners.
State Writing Standards: Complies with local educational requirements for writing proficiency, applicable to both classroom and homeschool settings.

3) College and Career Readiness Standards: Prepares learners for higher education and future professional writing demands.

4) Common Core State Standards (CCSS): Addresses writing skills, including argumentation, informative/explanatory texts, and narrative writing, focusing on structure and clarity.

These standards ensure that all learners, regardless of their educational setting, gain essential writing skills for success.
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**If the class times listed do not fit your schedule, please email me with 2-3 specific times in the Eastern time zone that you are available. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule and find a class time that works for you.**
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HOMEWORK

Each week, students will complete tasks related to the lesson, such as outlining essays, drafting paragraphs, or conducting research.

Feedback-Driven: Teacher feedback will play a significant role in the course. Students will receive constructive comments on their work, guiding their improvements and fostering their writing skills.
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CLASS ENVIRONMENT

Our classrooms are guided by a Socratic teaching approach, fostering critical thinking and encouraging open dialogue among learners. By facilitating engaging discussions and posing thought-provoking questions, students are able to explore topics more deeply and gain a comprehensive understanding of the material. 

Our class size does not exceed 5 learners. This allows for more personalized attention from the educator, ensuring that each learner's individual needs and learning styles are met. With a smaller group size, there is also more opportunity for discussion and collaboration among classmates, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment. Additionally, students may feel more comfortable and confident participating in discussions and activities in a smaller group setting.

We incorporate a mix of traditional methods such as videos and limited PowerPoint presentations to accommodate various learning styles as well. 

In addition, we gamify our lessons, as much as possible, to make learning fun and interactive for students. By adding elements of games and competition, we are able to keep learners engaged and motivated to participate in their education.

We also incorporate hands-on projects, wherever possible, to provide students with real-world application of their learning. Through these projects, students are able to apply their knowledge in practical ways and further enhance their understanding of the subject matter.

By designing this type of diverse classroom environment, utilizing multiple teaching methods, we effectively address the diverse learning styles of our learners.

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IMPORTANT DATES

Please note we value mental health and want to prevent teacher burnout. With that said, we do take company wide breaks where there will not be any classes taught nor will we be answering emails. 

Please expect a delay in responses the following dates: 

2024:

August 19-August 25 (Summer Break)
November 27-29 (Thanksgiving Break)
December 23 - December 31 (Winter Break)

2025

January 1 - Jan 5 (Winter Break)
March 17 - March 23 (Spring Break)
April 19 - April 20 (Easter Break)
August 25-31st (Summer Break)

If you are enrolled, you will not be charged!

We will be returning all emails the day or two after we return. 

In addition, teachers may need time off outside of these breaks as emergencies do happen. We always try our best to give ample notice when we can. You will never be charged for a day that we cancel classes.

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CLASS POLICIES

Refund Policy:

We strictly adhere to Outschool's refund/reschedule policy for all of our classes. This means that once a class has been paid for, there will be no deviation from Outschool's guidelines. We do not offer refunds or rescheduling outside of what Outschool allows. 

Camera Policy:

All students are required to keep their camera turned on during the entire class. The only exception is those that have been verified by Outschool and have the verification badge.  

Contact info:

In compliance with Outschool's policies, we do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former families on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). We also do not provide or ask for any personal information such as email address or phone numbers.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with these policies.