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IEW: People and Places in Our Community (Part 2/2)

In the second half of this two-part series, young writers in grades 1-3 will have fun exploring the world of storytelling, summarizing, and using exciting words to make their writing sparkle.
Mrs. Lanza
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:
(5)
Class

What's included

24 live meetings
10 in-class hours
Homework
1 hour per week. 1-2 per week
Assessment
included

Class Experience

US Grade 1 - 3
Welcome to my class!
I’m a third-generation teacher who was homeschooled with the IEW method from kindergarten through 12th grade. Growing up surrounded by educators, I was inspired to pursue the same path. After earning my BA from NCSU in 2023, I became a registered instructor with the Institute for Excellence in Writing in 2024. Since then, I’ve been teaching both English Language Arts and Spanish. I’d love to help your children discover the magic of the IEW method and Spanish!

Class Experience
This course provides a comprehensive and interactive learning environment where students will build essential writing skills through structured lessons, engaging exercises, and ongoing feedback. The course is designed to be both informative and supportive, ensuring each student gains the confidence to improve their writing abilities.

What Will Be Taught?

Summarizing Techniques: Learn to condense complex information from sources into clear, concise summaries using key word outlines and focused paragraphs.
Writing Stylistic Techniques: Explore tools such as the "because" clause, the www.asia clause, and quality adjectives to enrich and sophisticate writing.
Narrative Writing: Develop storytelling skills through retelling stories and crafting two-paragraph narratives inspired by picture prompts.
Vocabulary and Verb Selection: Expand vocabulary and replace weak verbs to enhance writing quality, making prose more powerful and vivid.
Organizing and Outlining Ideas: Master creating logical outlines for reports and stories to structure ideas effectively.
Summarizing Multiple References: Combine information from different sources into cohesive outlines and paragraphs for well-rounded writing.
How Is Your Class Structured?

Two Sessions per Week (30 Minutes Each): Classes focus on new content, practicing skills, and providing feedback.
Weekly Lessons: Clear objectives guide each lesson, including lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises.
Interactive Writing Exercises: Students practice writing in real-time, with instant feedback from the instructor.
Assessments and Quizzes: Vocabulary quizzes and writing assessments help track progress and reinforce learning.
How Will You Teach?

Direct Instruction: Each lesson starts with a brief lecture introducing new concepts, followed by examples and demonstrations.
Guided Writing Practice: Students apply new skills step-by-step with personalized feedback.
Interactive Discussions: Collaborative discussions refine understanding and encourage idea sharing.
Quizzes and Review Sessions: Reinforce vocabulary and stylistic techniques through periodic assessments.
What’s Your Teaching Style?
My teaching style is interactive, supportive, and structured. I create an encouraging environment where students feel comfortable exploring concepts and taking risks with their writing. Lessons are well-paced to ensure mastery of each topic before advancing.

How Much Will Learners Get to Interact with You?

Interactive Writing Exercises: Real-time feedback during class.
Group Discussions: Opportunities to share work and ideas, fostering a community of writers.
Quizzes and Games: Fun, low-pressure activities to reinforce learning.
Peer Feedback: Constructive review sessions to learn from classmates.
By the end of the course, learners will improve their writing and analytical skills and gain the confidence to tackle more complex writing tasks independently. This class provides a strong foundation for both academic and creative writing.

Learning Goals

Summarizing Simple Information: Students will learn how to pick out the most important ideas from a short text or story and retell them in their own words using simple sentences.
Writing with Descriptive Words: Learners will practice using fun and interesting words to make their writing more exciting. They will learn how to use words that describe actions (strong verbs) and things (adjectives).
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with Advanced Placement (AP) Standards
24 Lessons
over 12 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Discovering Firefighters
 Develop storytelling skills with an emphasis on characters and plot. 
25 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Firefighters in Action (Summary Writing)
 Learn how to extract key information and summarize it in a clear, concise way. 
25 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Fire Safety and Teamwork
 Students will write a creative story about a fire department's team responding to an emergency. They'll develop problem-solving skills as they create their plot.
Goal: Foster teamwork and problem-solving through creative writing. 
25 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Plumbing Essentials
 Strengthen summarizing skills and the ability to focus on essential details. 
25 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Pre-Requisites
IEW: People and Places in Our Community (Part 1/2)
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined February, 2024
4.8
5reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from North Carolina State University
Welcome to my page! I’m a third-generation teacher who was homeschooled from kindergarten through 12th grade. Growing up surrounded by educators, I was inspired to pursue the same path. After earning my BA from NCSU in 2023, I became a registered instructor with the Institute for Excellence in Writing in 2024. Since then, I’ve been teaching both English Language Arts and Spanish. I’d love to help your children discover the magic of the IEW method and Spanish!

Reviews

Live Group Course
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$149

for 24 classes
2x per week, 12 weeks
25 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 7-11
3-5 learners per class

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