Are you looking for a way for your child to practice and learn about writing? Perhaps you have a child who loves writing or is a reluctant writer? Either way this class is a great way to help your child develop and strengthen their skills as we focus on sentences and grammar in a fun and engaging way!

This class is designed as an ongoing course, which means your child can join in every week or the weeks that work best for your schedule.  A consistent writing block each week will allow your child to focus on writing and my goal is your child will love coming to write each week with us!

 The course has 15 lessons to allow for consistent writing instruction and to help families who may be looking for a semester long class. The good news is with an ongoing course, you can join in at any time as well as drop whenever you need to so there is flexibility for families too! If you are looking for a way to have a year long writing course, I have designed Pencil Pack, Part 2 with new topics to continue the writing instruction.  

Aimed at students in 1st and 2nd grade, we will work to build writing stamina through writing lessons centered around a weekly topic. Much like reading, writing is a skill that takes practice and repetition to strengthen a child's writing "muscles." Often times students are tasked with writing a paragraph or story; yet lack the rudimentary basics of sentence writing.  

Each week, we will focus on what makes a "good sentence" and your child will have lots of opportunity to write and share during the class. Your child will engage in a weekly topic and have time to interact with other learners as we brainstorm ideas connected to our theme. Encouraging your child to be an active listener and utilize social skills will be important during this part of this class. I love to foster social skills and oral language as kids express themselves first verbally.

 Then we will work together to put our ideas onto paper. I will provide a weekly graphic organizer/planning sheet for your child to use should you wish to print it. Otherwise, they are welcome to use their own paper. Afterwards, they will use their ideas to craft their own sentences about the topic. During writing time, breakout rooms may be utilized to allow for 1:1 time with the teacher. At the end of the class, should your child wish to share, we will have a time to share what they wrote during our class.  We will conclude with a quick stretch a sentence game to help your child practice the importance of details in sentence writing! 

 Your child will need paper and pencil/pen to participate but if you have a whiteboard and dry erase marker that is always a fun way to write and is less intimating for students who feel like sometimes they have nothing to write. 

Schedule of Class Topics: If you take all 1 topics, the section will end and you can join in again with the same topics or explore Pencil Pack Part 2. Each section begins with the same weekly schedule of topics. If you are joining after a section has begun, no problem as topics aren't connected to the previous week. 
Please message me if you'd like to know which week we are on in that section. Thanks!

Week 1 Topic: A Wish

Week 2 Topic: A Special Person
 
Week 3 Topic: Best Place
  
Week 4 Topic: Favorite Hobby

Week 5 Topic Nonfiction (student choice: select a nonfiction topic your child knows about)

Week 6 Topic: Animals 

Week 7: School Subject

Week 8: Season favorites (things you enjoy about winter or your favorite season)

Week 9: Would you rather-picking an choice between two things and writing your opinion

Week 10:  My Teacher

Week 11: Nonfiction - writing informational text on a topic of their choice

Week 12: A celebration - sharing about a celebration they have had (birthday, trip, holiday, etc)

Week 13: Favorite toy/stuffed animal - descriptive writing

Week 14: Creative Writing - Backyard Discovery

Week 15: Poem - writing an acrostic poem


If you are looking for a particular focus for writing, please reach out to me as I can work with you to plan something more focused on your needs. 
Additionally, if you prefer your child to be with other friends/family members or perhaps you have a homeschool group or school group, please let me know as I can set up a private class at no additional charge. This means only your group will be admitted into the class.

If you don't see a time that works for your child's schedule, please contact me.

If you are looking for a class geared toward beginning writing, see my Little Learners class: 
 https://outschool.com/classes/87d189f4-159e-468f-91e1-bf6ce1b80e8e?sectionUid=a4892852-fe98-4677-8514-8806c2bf3bc6#usfLya0wn1
If you prefer a class focused on creative writing see my class focused on picture writing that helps students construct simple stories. https://outschool.com/classes/creative-writing-class-picture-prompt-creations-level-2-t874tpR5