What's included
Meets on Demand
schedule meetings as needed40 mins
per sessionTeacher support
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be expected to work independently on tasks such as identifying parts of speech, sentence types, or structures; analysing sentences; and completing short creative writing assignments. Independent work between classes should take 1.5-2 hours a week. Additional handouts/exercises in punctuation or spelling may be given out if the student needs help in these areas. These assignments will be supplied with mark sheets to allow self-evaluation. Any questions may be brought to the tutorials so we can discuss any issues which arise.Assessment
Students are assessed on graded tasks throughout the course. Creative writing assignments are assessed based on an objective check list shared with students at the start of the section dealing with this.Grading
includedClass Experience
US Grade 4 - 7
A twelve-week course taught 1:1 which covers: Session 1: The nine parts of speech Learn why you can sit on a chair, but you can't sit on a noun! Session 2: Words - phrases - clauses - and ... ? Words get lonely by themselves. Sometimes they like to pair up. Sometimes they like to pose puzzles. Let's see if we can solve them - if we're able to, then we'll delight words. And that means they'll work better for us. Session 3: Sentences What's a sentence? Can a sentence be one word long? What's the longest sentence you can create? Is it really one sentence, or several sentences stuck together, like the carriages of a train? Session 4: Sentence analysis Writers can be mysterious. Let's figure out what a bunch of mysterious writers are trying to say - can you spot the basic ideas in the sentences? Can you beat them at their own game? What's the most intelligent two-word sentence you can create? Session 5: Sentence analysis Let's extend our sentences. Birds can fly - but can they fly planes? What's the difference? What's going on here? Session 6: Sentence analysis Padding - it makes great cushions, and it can cushion the way we use language. Let's learn about modifiers and how they work. Session 7: Sentence analysis A chance to catch up, to review, to reflect - and to compose work based on everything we've covered so far. Session 8: Sentence analysis Modifiers of modifiers and the secret to their magic. You're about to enter the magic circle of word wizards - you must swear to never reveal the secrets, though. Can I trust you? Session 9: Literary analysis We'll be looking at some simple and intermediate texts. How are the writers of these texts using words to express their thoughts and ideas? Can you do better with the tools you've acquired? Session 10: Literary analysis We'll be looking at some intermediate and advanced texts. How are the writers of these texts using words to express their thoughts and ideas? Can you do better with the tools you've acquired? Session 11: Creative writing How about you give it a try - write something and analyse something. Show off your skills! Session 12: A final chance to catch up, to review, to reflect - and to compose further work based on everything we've covered so far.
Learning Goals
Students will improve their command of the nine parts of speech in English.
They will be able to use this knowledge to analyse simple, compound, and complex sentences.
Other Details
Supply List
Participants will need a standard stationery kit (writing implements, ruler, paper, eraser). An over-ear gaming-type set of headphones with built-on microphone and a noise-cancelling feature is recommended for best audio quality for communication in classes. Please note that unless students have a very good reason not to have their video on during class, I expect students to be visible and participate actively in classes I teach. The digital classroom is a social space shaped by our intentions and our activity - and I encourage participants to actively build the kind of space they feel comfortable in, and to actively work on creating a space in which others can also feel comfortable being and acting in. Outschool does provide a 'verification' system for those who have good reasons not to participate visually, and I will respect and support that fully. Please consult https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/4063624-learner-verification for further information and contact 'verification@outschool.com' at least a week before the start of your first class to allow time for the verification process to be completed. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Original source material will be provided, or we will draw on material from the public domain.
Examples will be drawn from both UK and US sources and cover 19th, 20th and 21st century writers' works.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Leon Conrad, LRAM, LTCL, GTCL has over 20 years' teaching experience with a strong track record in supporting gifted and talented, 2E and profoundly gifted students. He has published on the liberal arts-based tradition of education. His books include 'Aesop the Storyteller' (Aladdin's Cave Publishing, 2008); 'Odyssey: Dynamic Learning System' (co-authored with David Pinto) (Liberalis Books, 2015); 'History Riddles' (Liberalis Books, 2015); and 'Story and Structure: A complete guide' winner of 10 literary awards include the IPNE Book of the Year Award 2022, Nautilus Silver Award, Storytelling World Award. The book was a finalist in The People's Book Prize in 2023.
Reviews
Live 1-on-1 Lessons
$57
per sessionMeets on demand
40 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-13