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$16

weekly
Class

Master the Paragraph: Writing Made Easy Using the Simple Four-Square Method!

Completed by 6 learners
Ages 7-11
Live Group Class
In this weekly ongoing class, students in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades will become confident in writing quality paragraphs using the simple four-square method.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(371 reviews)
Popular

Live video meetings
1x per week
2-5 learners per class
40 min

What's included

1 live meeting
40 mins in-class hours per week

Class Experience

US Grade 2 - 5
In this ongoing class, we will meet each week to write a paragraph using the simple four-square method.  The four-square formula for writing is a step-by-step approach using a simple graphic organizer that first shows students how to collect ideas and then helps them use those ideas to create clear and polished compositions. This formula takes the overwhelm out of writing and enables students to enjoy the process. 

This class is an ongoing class, meaning your learner can jump in at any time and will not be "lost" or "behind." I will start each class by teaching or reviewing the four-square method, giving examples, and informally assessing students' knowledge. We will then begin writing our own paragraphs. If for any reason your learner does not complete their paragraph in class, they may bring it to the next class to complete OR they may complete it outside of class and upload it to the classroom or in a private message to me and I will provide them with feedback. This class pairs well with my fluency classes for students in first, second, and third grades. 

**Only FOUR student spots will be open for this class to ensure each student gets one-on-one help and attention in writing their paragraphs. 

**IMPORTANT NOTE** This class will run for 30-40 minutes, depending on the number of students. If there are only 1-2 students, we may only run 30 minutes. 

Week of June 14th: Introduction to the 4 Square Method and Group Paragraph Writing
Week of June 21st: Writing a Descriptive Paragraph 
Week of 28th: Writing a Narrative Paragraph
Week of July 5th: Writing an Informative (Expository) Paragraph
Week of July 12th: Writing a Persuasive Paragraph 

Every week, I will give a writing topic. The student may write about that topic or write about a topic of their own choosing. We will cycle through the four paragraph types every four weeks, each time writing about a different topic.

Learning Goals

Students will gain confidence and lay the foundation for future essay writing by learning the four-square method, which can be repeated for every paragraph and essay writing task!

Other Details

External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

Offered by

4.9
371reviews
Popular
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Mississippi Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Mary Ann Byrd
Iowa Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Trisha Barnett
Master's Degree from Texas Tech
Atadre Hutton
Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature from Prairie View A&M University
Atadre Hutton
Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from University of Southern MS
Mary Ann Byrd
Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Samford University
Jennifer Dodge
Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Clark College
Ms. Anna
***Get $20 off our PreK/Kinder class, or try another class for free with code MaryAnn2020***

Hello! I am so happy to tell you a little about Little Learners Big League! This organization comprises teachers who bring decades of experience, education, and genuine care to your learners. We are certified teachers and reading specialists who greatly enjoy teaching our courses that are fun for the students, packed with value, and super engaging! We are kind and encouraging teachers who love celebrating the successes of every learner-big or small! Let's meet the teachers, and then you can keep reading to learn about all the classes we teach and the order in which we recommend them!

MEET THE TEACHERS:

Ms. Mary Ann says, "Hello! I am a certified teacher and the owner of this organization, Little Learners Big League. I come to you with over 20 years of experience as a public school, private school, homeschool, and online teacher! I also spent a decade traveling the U.S. as an educational consultant training teachers in beginning reading skills and classroom management. My husband of 20 years and I have a college-age daughter and a son in elementary school, along with two dogs and a cat. In my spare time, I love to go on long walks while listening to audiobooks and spend time with my husband and children. Outschool has been one of my biggest blessings and I am so grateful for this platform!"

Ms. Anna says, "Hello! I'm Anna Kravanh. I’ve been an educator for over 20 years, with experience as a reading tutor, homeschool teacher, and homeschool mom of four. I have my Associate Degree in Early Education. Since 2020, I’ve been teaching at Outschool, and I love the opportunity it gives me to work with students in a way that truly meets their individual needs. I’m passionate about fostering a love of learning and building confidence in every child. Whether I’m helping a student improve their reading skills or guiding my own kids through homeschooling, my goal is always to create a positive, supportive learning environment. I’m currently working toward my Bachelor’s in Education, which I’ll finish in the summer of 2025. Outside of teaching, I love traveling, spending time at the beach, and, of course, being with my family. Teaching is more than just a career for me – it’s a passion. I’m excited to continue working with students on Outschool and sharing my love for learning with my students!"

Ms. Hutton says, "Hi! My name is Ms. Hutton. I hold a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, providing a strong foundation in both content knowledge and effective teaching strategies. With six years of experience teaching 2nd through 4th-grade students, I have developed a deep understanding of the developmental stages and learning needs of younger learners. Additionally, I have worked with special education students, tailoring lessons to accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities. My experience in both in-person and virtual tutoring has further enhanced my ability to support students in various learning environments, ensuring all students can succeed!"

Ms. Trisha says, "Hi. I am Trisha! I have had a dream to be a teacher ever since I was a little girl. It all started with me lining up my dolls in my Dad's classroom and teaching them. I graduated with a B.A. in elementary education with endorsements in reading and language arts. I had the opportunity to teach fourth grade and got all of my students at our grade level by the end of the year, so I was asked to teach our Title One reading program. As a reading specialist, I had over 90 percent of my students doubling their reading fluency by the end of the year. I was blessed to help so many kids find the missing puzzle piece they needed to become confident readers who loved reading. I have also taught second grade and I ran an after-school reading program. For the last three years, I have been beyond blessed to stay home with our four girls and homeschool them. It is such a joy to hear them say, "I love reading now, Mom." Or for them to beg me to do school. I believe that learning should be fun and that every student can learn if a teacher takes the time to find the missing puzzle piece. I look forward to helping find that missing piece for your child so they can experience success and a love of learning! Thanks for letting me help make a difference in your child's life and for letting your child brighten my life!"

We recommend taking our classes in the following order starting with the first class (Feel free to copy and paste or scroll down past this profile to go directly to the class links). For those learners who do not need a full PreK experience, we recommend starting with class 2. 

1. Pre-K & Kinder: Complete Curriculum & Circle Time (Meets 4 Times per Week). This is an ongoing, YEAR-ROUND course where we will cover all standards for PreK and most Kinder standards as well. Your learner can jump in at any time and not be behind.  
 https://bit.ly/3DjtjX2

2. Let's Learn to Read (Beginners): Blending and Reading CVC Words in Word Families (eighteen-week content rotation cycle) This course is also available as a FLEXible 10-week course option for those that would like to take this class but can't find the class time you need.
https://bit.ly/3dBap5d

3. Beginning Reading Skills: Blend, Read, Spell, and Write CVC and Silent E Words (fifteen-week content rotation cycle)
https://bit.ly/3SfOO1m

4. Sight Word Science: A Better Way! Learning Tricky Parts by Heart (Kinder/First)   (16-week content rotation cycle) This class can be taken in conjunction with my Bossy E class if your learner has a good grasp of CVC words, letters, and sounds. 
https://bit.ly/3LHecuq

5.  First Grade Reading Skills: (Beyond CVC and Silent E) Diphthongs, Digraphs, Vowel Teams, and Blends (20-week content rotation cycle). This class can be taken in conjunction with Sight Word Science if students have a good grasp of CVC and CVCe words. 
https://bit.ly/3C4QTr5

6. Reading Fluency Practice: Increasing Fluency with Fun Timed Challenges Using First and Second-Grade Fiction and Nonfiction Passages: This class can be taken in conjunction with Sight Words Made Easy if your child has a good foundation of CVC and CVCe words. It is ideal for students in first and second grade or very strong readers in kindergarten. This is an ongoing class that meets once a week. 
https://bit.ly/3UM31or

7. Book Club For Beginners: Gaining Confidence in Fluency & Comprehension: Level 1 
In this ongoing class, we will meet twice per week to read aloud, have discussions, play games, and complete extension activities to increase learners' reading confidence. 
https://bit.ly/3C5E5ke

8.  2nd Grade Reading Comprehension: This class is for students in first grade who are strong readers, students on second-grade reading level, or students in third grade who may need a little extra help.  This class focuses heavily on comprehension, so if your child needs fluency practice, see my previous three classes on this list! This is an ongoing class that meets once per week covering the five big comprehension skills (direct recall, inferences/predictions, unfamiliar vocabulary using context clues, main idea and details, and sequencing) using second-grade fiction and nonfiction passages.
https://bit.ly/3UyIsLW

9.  Reading Fluency: Fun Timed Reading Challenges With 3rd Grade Passages. This class is ideal for students who are reading at a higher 2nd-grade level or a lower 3rd-grade level, or those who have taken my first fluency class using first and second-grade passages. 
https://bit.ly/3rlaOvX

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