Middle School English Language Arts (ELA): Ongoing Vistas (Advanced Writing)

Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(50)

This ongoing course is for ages 12, 13, and 14 (or advanced ELA/ESL learners) to practice standardized test skills in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar rules, with additional emphasis on academic and creative writing.

Class Experience

US Grade 6 - 8

Advanced - Intermediate Level

This ongoing course is a space to demonstrate and practice ELA (English Language Arts) thinking skills that include: reading higher-level fiction, literature excerpts, and nonfiction, analyzing texts with ELA terminology for greater comprehension and standardized test practice, PSAT-SAT vocabulary expansion, and grammar rules with application. We will also practice verbal and written expression through class discussion and weekly writing prompts with individualized coaching.

This course is...

Students will learn and practice PSAT-SAT vocabulary.
Students will practice reading comprehension skills.
Students will analyze texts for conclusions and inferences, predictions, cause and effect, theme, main ideas, and other literary techniques or story elements.
Students will practice focused class discussion and task-oriented collaboration skills.
Students will review and learn grammar, spelling, capitalization and punctuation skills.
Students will learn to incorporate their skills in real-world applications such as editing texts and writing short pieces.
Students will practice standardized test style exercises in reading and English skills.
Students will answer reading comprehension questions with analytical writing.
Students will broaden their writing styles with a variety of nonfiction and creative writing prompts.

As the author of the "Emotebook" and a freelance writer for over 20 years, I have relied on language arts skills as the building blocks of a happy career. For three of those years, I also worked full-time as an associate editor, which helped me gain real-world expertise in the nuances of English language arts. I am walking the language arts journey with my three children while homeschooling them, as well as with several other students in various grades. I also bridged the gap between cultures by teaching English as a second language to hundreds of students online. I look forward to helping you strengthen your language arts skills!

All exercises and activities are given and completed in class. Learners are encouraged to complete and submit their writing assignments before leaving class. Please let me know if your learner would be better served by completing this assignment independently outside of class.

Please keep a pen and paper available for in-class writing exercises. 
Learners can purchase workbooks with additional extension activities if needed.

Learners are continually assessed on an informal basis by their participation in class exercises, either through verbal explanations, chatbox submissions of answers, or on-screen annotation work. Also, the weekly writing assignments are good demonstrations of learner skills and progress. Please let me know if you have expectations regarding assessment and feedback.

50 minutes per week in class, and maybe some time outside of class.

In my experience, each family uses this class in different ways to support their learning journey; please let me know if you have family expectations or needs that I should know about or if there is a way that I can help your individual learner better connect with the class content.

All reading passages are used with permission from The Critical Thinking Company workbooks. 

All classwork is contained within the zoom classroom.

Available times

Pacific

This class is in high demand!

Table of available sections

Meet the teacher

Genevieve Pollock

Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(50)

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I combine quality virtual education with uplifting, encouraging interaction to teach classes on language arts, basic and creative writing, emotional awareness and mindfulness, and art.

Connection defines my...