For our first lesson, students will be encouraged to generate a story idea, including a main character and possible villain. We will look at the reading list for this class and guess what they think the story might be about and who the characters might be. It is wonderful if a student comes to class with an idea already! We will use the lesson to deepen their idea and make it even stronger.

Students will learn about the most important part of the beginning of a story. They will read the beginning of three picture books and examine how those authors wrote their beginnings. 

Students will learn how to create obstacles for their characters and possible villains to challenge their characters! They will read the middle of the three previous books and examine the obstacles and challenges those authors used in their stories. 

Students will learn how to solve the obstacles they created for their character to create a satisfying ending for their story. They will finish the three books to see how they feel about the authors' endings. 

It's sharing time! Students can post a story that includes a beginning, middle, and satisfying ending to share for constructive feedback. Students can also share any illustrations that go with their story. 

I have an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. I was a substitute teacher before teaching for Outschool. I also teach English Composition at my local community college. Writing short stories is hard work, so I'm happy to talk about this challenging task with your student. My goal is to encourage them to be creative while also helping them learn the fundamentals of good storytelling. 

Homework Offered
Students are given a worksheet with questions and spots for note taking regarding the video lesson and three short reading exercises. By the end of class, students are then given a writing assignment: generating ideas, writing the beginning, middle, and ending of their stories. 
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
The more a student posts in the classroom and shares their writing, the more I will be able to comment on their comprehension of the material. 
Grades Offered
Please let me know if you would like to receive a grade for this class. 

Links to videos and/or PowerPoint slides will be provided for all reading requirements. You are welcome to use physical copies of the books if you'd prefer: 
CAN I BE YOUR DOG? by Troy Cummings 
READ THE BOOK, LEMMINGS! by Ame Dyckman
and LADY PANCAKE AND SIR FRENCH TOAST by Josh Funk