Once Upon a Creative Writing Course
A complete Twelve Week Course in Creative Writing for young budding creative writers.
Joseph Constantine
Average rating:
4.5
Number of reviews:(156)
What's included
24 live meetings
22 in-class hoursHomework
4+ hours per week. There will be a weekly assignment (with two parts) to be completed outside of the classroom. The assignment will be exhibited and reviewed in the following meeting. The first part of the assignment involves reading an assigned story/poem/article followed by an exploration of those concepts/themes that were discussed. The second part of the assignment will be to create your own piece of creative writing using the same concept/theme. There will also be a final assignment which will be longer and be weighted more in the final average. There will be a few short quizzes to ensure important vocabulary, grammar rules, and other tips are committed to memory.Assessment
The learner will assess their progress in three ways: peer-review; self-review; and instructor review. Assignments will often repeat every few weeks to allow for additional opportunities to deepen their understanding and to practice the writing techniques discussed in class.Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 9
We will meet twice a week for twelve weeks. The first meeting will be a multimedia lecture, discussion of a specific aspect of creative writing and/or the work of famous writers from the past and present. The weekly writing challenge will be assigned in this first meeting and will be based on the lecture. The second meeting will be 3-4 four days later for the purpose of participating in peer-review and discussion of completed assignments.
Learning Goals
Students will learn several key elements: how to read and analyze creative writing, how to think like a writer, the invention of ideas tools of the writer, the process of creative writing, how to peer-review in constructive and meaningful ways, and most importantly how to express themselves creatively in the medium of creative writing. Some of the types of writing we will cover are, but not limited to:
Autobiographical Essay
Fables
Fairy Tales
Poetry
Short Stories
Children's Stories
Descriptive Writing
Song Lyrics
Theater
Other Details
Supply List
The Student will also need standard supplies and will be required to keep a journal of their process as a growing writer and creator. There will be many in-class writing assignments so please come prepared with working writing utensils and lots of paper with which to write.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined October, 2019
4.5
156reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree from Ithaca College
I am a friendly, articulate, professional, college-educated teacher, and artist versed in a variety of disciplines, a "Renaissance Man" at heart. As Ben Franklin was quoted: "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest". I'm very patient and dedicated to finding innovative and creative ways to educate those I am teaching. I have both practical experience and theoretical training in the education of individuals with both Learning Disabilities & Developmental Disabilities.
I am an experienced educator with a bachelor's of science from Ithaca College. I'm currently working towards my Master's Degree in Education with over three years of study so far and my dissertation remaining. In addition to that work, as a graduate student, I consistently seek out workshops and webinars that provide additional certifications for educators.
My experience as an educator includes teaching at both public and private schools as well as tutoring students in STEAM subjects including SAT/GRE/ACT/ & AP prep, I have experience and training in teaching individuals with both Learning Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities. I have also volunteered my time in my local community library by organizing workshops on STEAM topics for children.
As an educator, it's my goal to stimulate my student's curiosity and to encourage persistence and determination in achieving their goals. I would like for my students to experience the empowerment of conquering ignorance and the joy in discovery and epiphany. In short, I want to open, stimulate, and expand young minds.
I teach comparative and interdisciplinary courses focused on literature, art, myth folklore, ecology, nature, science, philosophy, and history. These exciting courses will illustrate how these different areas of learning connect, inform, and influence each other. Additionally, I offer "hands-on" workshops in writing (academic/creative), photography, and cinema. This type of class environment consists of group work and active critique of their own work and the work of their peers. And as someone who is fluent in Conversational French (reading, speaking, and writing) I plan to create some simple yet immersive classes in the French Language. If there is sufficient interest I am willing and able to run weekly RPG clubs (not limited to D&D) focusing on learning life skills through roleplaying. Drama and the theater were, and still, are, a large part of both my public and collegiate career.
Outside the classroom, I am a single father of an eleven-year-old girl and our mini-menagerie which consists of "Rosie" the lab/Pitt, "Bill Murray" the Mini-Schnauzer, "Mary Shelly" an African Sideneck Turtle, "Shane Longfellow" the ball python, and "Fry" the dumbo rat. A pack of misfits much like the "Goonies"; odd, yet adventurous and loyal to the end!
Reviews
Live Group Class
$432
for 24 classes2x per week, 12 weeks
55 min
Completed by 6 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
2-18 learners per class
