This once-a-week, semester-long course will focus on learners' specific writing needs.  Areas of focus will include punctuating sentences correctly, using a variety of sentence structures, employing transition words and logical connectors, expanding writing through descriptive vocabulary and examples, and formatting paragraphs and essays correctly.   Class time will involve approximately 20 minutes of instruction, 30 minutes of writing, and 10 minutes of guided editing.

Class 1: Introduction and Assessment
Class 2: Foundational grammar concepts (parts of speech) & writing (descriptive)
Class 3: Foundational grammar concepts (functions) & writing (narrative)
Class 4:  Foundational grammar concepts (sentence structures) & writing (letter)
Class 5:  Foundational grammar concepts (review) & writing (journal)
Class 6:  Improving vocabulary level & writing (reflective)
Class 7:  Organization and structure in writing (expository)
Class 8:  Organization and structure in writing (compare and contrast)
Class 9:  Organization and structure in writing (persuasive)
Class 10: Summary writing 
Class 11: Opinion writing 
Class 12:  Timed writing 

Our class time will involve working together to discover errors in learners' writing along with working through how to correct these.  The teacher will guide learners in identifying problem areas and encourage the use of appropriate strategies and patterns in order that learners can begin to to self-correct and self-edit.  We will also note what learners are doing well and celebrate these victories in order to encourage and solidify good writing patterns and habits.  

Learners must have a good command of the English language and be able to write basic paragraphs (minimally).  Learners must also be willing to share their writing, speak up, and ask questions.  By the nature of this personalized class, a low-stress, positive environment is created, where the learner will be encouraged to take risks in his/her writing.  This type of environment is often ideal for teens who may be struggling with writing in a classroom setting or who may benefit greatly from more direct interaction with a teacher in order to stay focused and on track.