How to Write a Story
In this 8 week course, we will deep dive into the mechanics of how to write a good narrative story. This includes both personal and fictional narratives. We discuss all aspects to make the writing piece a rich text that readers love!
Megan Zimdars
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(4)
What's included
8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentMastery Evaluation
2-4 hours per week. Students will be writing 1-2 pieces (dependent on entering skill level) and will be evaluated on a grading rubric for each.Progress Report
This will come in the form of a rubric. Students and parents will be able to see which areas the student is succeeding in, and which they are lacking in.Class Experience
US Grade 3 - 5
Intermediate Level
Students will learn how to create, draft, edit, and publish a narrative story that other readers will want to read and be invested in. We will discuss how stories take shape, plot, characters, setting, including sensory details, hooking your reader, introductions, how to correctly use and punctuate dialogue, using figurative language, and how sentence structure affects the reader's ability to connect with the writing piece. I teach writing in an I do, we do, you do type setting. I believe students function better with an example to go off of. Students will interact with me 3-4 times per class. This will mostly be to go over their writing so far and give them feedback. Feedback at this developmental stage, as a writer, is crucial. I will also be available through messages for questions as the class progresses. I am a very upbeat person and truly enjoy writing and teaching writing!
Learning Goals
Students will write a narrative that effectively develops a real or imagined experience using a logical sequence of events.Students will orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing at least one character while organizing events logically.
Syllabus
Standards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)1 Unit
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksUnit 1: How to Write a Story
Lesson 1:
Shapes of Stories
This lesson discusses the shape in which a writer's story takes. Does it start on a high note and end low? Or maybe, quite the opposite? Either way, we will discuss just how the shape of your story is important to document and how it helps drive the writing of your story. Lesson 2:
Character Development
In this lesson, we take a deep dive into just exactly who your characters are? What do they like to do? What kind of personality do they have? How do you display these things within your writing? Lesson 3:
Setting Development
In this lesson, we discuss how to include things like the weather, the time period, and other things into what your setting is. Again, we will practice showing and not telling with your writing. Lesson 4:
Stretching Your Writing
In this lesson, we hone in on the details in the in between of your story. What else happened within the character during that intense moment? Other Details
Learning Needs
As a certified public school teacher (B.S. Elementary Education with emphasis in Writing, M.A. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) as well as a Trauma Informed Educator, I am sensitive to the unique learner.
Pre-Requisites
Students need to be able to write a complete sentence.
Supply List
1 Wide Ruled Notebook Pencils
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
I will reference some techniques used in the Mrs. Wordsmith's "How to Write a Story" book.
Joined December, 2020
4.8
4reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree from Western Governor's University
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Missouri Western State University
I am a public school teacher who teaches 4th grade. I am in my 9th year of teaching. I teach this specific skill to my students every single year. I am also a published author. Both my degrees are in reading and writing. I have a BSE in Elementary Education with emphasis in writing, and a MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other LanguagesReviews
Self-Paced Course
$13
weekly or $100 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
Choose your start date
Ages: 8-12
