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Paragraph Writing (Ages 8-11)
AJ Crocker
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(23)
Over the course of 4 sessions, students will be introduced to the basics for writing a strong, organized paragraph! This course will give students, especially those who struggle to organize their thoughts, an framework and lots of practice!
Class Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Aligned with State-Specific Standards
This class will introduce students ages 8-11 to the art of paragraph writing for informational or argumentative paragraphs. Students will learn about the RACES format and spend each session mastering the art of making claims, answering prompts, citing evidence, explaining evidence, and summarizing their claims. Students will write on a wide array of topics, often driven by students' interests. By the end of class, students should be able to answer any paragraph prompt in at least 6 sentences!
4 lessons//1 Week
Week 1Lesson 1The RACES paragraph outlineStudents will be introduced to the RACES paragraph outline. They will read a series of paragraphs and dissect the author's use of evidence, explanation, and summary. They will be given several opportunities to write strong outlines using the RACES outline. Homework: outlining 2 paragraphs.Lesson 2Making statements and answering promptsStudents will practice the first part of any strong paragraph - a clear statement. They will be shown how the first statement can answer a given prompt OR make a statement based on their own claim for any given paragraph. Homework: Writing 4 introduction sentences that restate and answer 4 different prompts.Lesson 3Citing & explaining evidenceStudents will use a variety of tools to cite and explain evidence that supports their claim. Through a series of activities, students will practice finding meaningful evidence and explaining it in ways that make their claim stronger. Homework: Finding and explaining evidence to support 2 different claims.Lesson 4Summarizing & writing strong paragraphsOn the last day of class, students will learn how to write a summarizing statement to end their paragraphs. Then, students will practice outlining, researching, and writing a full paragraph on their own. No homework!
- Students will be able to answer any paragraph prompt in at least 6 sentences, providing a clear claim, strong evidence, meaningful explanation, and a summarizing sentence.
Ms. AJ teaches in elementary classrooms and has been a teacher since 2007! She has extensive experience supporting writers - both those who are reluctant and those who are eager.
1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Homework
Frequency: Available upon requestFeedback: Available upon requestDetails: For sessions 1, 2, and 3, students will be given homework that extends their class time learning and provides extra practice for each skill we are learning.Assessment
Frequency: Available upon requestDetails: On the last day, students will be given an opportunity to write multiple paragraphs. These paragraphs will be assessed on a rubric, and grades will be offered.Grading
Frequency: Available upon requestDetails: The grades offered for this class will be based on a rubric for the RACES format. Students will be assessed on their ability to write a clear and organized paragraph that restates and answers a given prompt, cites meaningful evidence, explains evidence thoroughly, and summarizes the claim.
This class is designed to support all learners. It can be especially helpful for those with executive function difficulties related to ADHD, ASD, and other neurodiverse profiles.
Students will be most successful if they are able to construct a simple sentence and write it by hand. Accommodations for those who require speech-to-text or typed responses can be made.
Please print out each linked handout prior to the session.
Joined April, 2023
4.9
23reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Colorado Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University
Master's Degree in Education from Colorado State University
Hi! My name is AJ! I am passionate about teaching reading, writing, music, and art. I am an experienced educator - 8 years in public school classrooms, and another 5 years teaching art, theater, and music for various organizations. I hold a...
Group Class
$60
for 4 classes4x per week, 1 week
55 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-11
2-10 learners per class
