What's included
12 live meetings
8 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. To get the most out of this class it is encouraged for learners to turn in their paragraphs if not finished in class. • Learner may need to complete their paragraph assignment outside of class. • OPTIONAL: Learner should turn in a "clean" paragraph via google docs or the classroom message center for evaluation. • OPTIONAL: Parents are responsible to making sure homework is turned in for assessment or an evaluation cannot be guaranteed.Assessment
Personal assessments are available on request. • All students are required to participate in class discussions verbally or via text box. • This class comes with one evaluation due several days after the class ends. Parents are responsible to making sure homework is turned in for assessment or an evaluation cannot be guaranteed.Class Experience
US Grade 2 - 5
Beginner - Intermediate Level
***This class is designed to build on the revising principle taught in "Building Perfectly Powerful Paragraphs," but can be taken by anyone who wants extra paragraph instruction, practice, and feedback. Each week will focus on a different paragraph as we practice revising and writing organized, clear, and powerful paragraphs.*** Class Description: Yoda had a green light saber. Darth Vader had a red light saber. Yoda fought Darth Vader. Darth Vader fought Yoda. They fought with light sabers. Yoda died. Darth Vader won. It was all a dream. BORING, right!!!!! In this ongoing weekly class, learners will take boring paragraphs and learn how to make them more exciting using descriptive revising techniques! We will practice revising powerful paragraphs first, through a short instruction time, and then through guided paragraph writing to improve on the story presented in class. Each week will focus on a new "boring" paragraph learners get to rewrite through revision techniques and their unique creativity. Class Details: • 15 minute Instruction Time & Discussion: Engaging, colorful images in a powerpoint presentation and videos will be used to introduce the "boring" paragraph we will revise. • We will review the writing process which includes prewriting, rough draft, revisions, editing, and publishing. • Using the strong sentence builder handouts, we will review writing strong sentences, using transitions, and subordinate conjunctions. • Through discussion and class participation, learners will learn to add more details and variety to their sentences using all the parts of speech. • Learners will have the opportunity to read their revised paragraph to the class. Writing • The last portion of the class will be spent drafting their paragraphs. • Students can ask for specific help in revising topic sentences and any other area they may have trouble with. • Students are not expected to finish their final copy of their paragraph in class. • OPTIONAL: If learners turn in their paragraph for review by the end of the week, a personal evaluation will be given. These personal evaluations completed by me outside of class is where your student will learn to improve his or her individual writing. • If more personal instruction is needed, one-on-one help is available in my "Tutoring session." Weekly Focus: Every week we will have a new story prompt and will focus on storytelling basics: introduction, middle, end. Week 4: August 21: Week 5: August 28: Week 6: September: Week 7: September: 5 Ws of story Week 8: September: 4 Types of sentences Week 9: September: Sentence starters and 5 Ws Week 10: October: Story conflict and sentence starters Course Requirements: • Learner may need homework assistance (typing and uploading to google docs) from parents. • All students are required to participate in class discussions with cameras on. • OPTIONAL: Parents are responsible for making sure homework is turned in for an assessment before the next class or an evaluation cannot be guaranteed. ***For extra help and practice look for my classes and workshops on Topic and Concluding Sentences, or my Perfectly Powerful Paragraph 9 lesson course. https://outschool.com/classes/perfectly-powerful-paragraphs-qRvTj2tA?usid=usvfOz63&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
Learning Goals
Course Objectives:
• Learn to vary sentence structure and length.
• Learn to write clear detailed sentences with adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions.
• Learn the different types of sentences: declarative, imperative, interrogative, exclamatory.
• Learn to use transitions and subordinate conjunctions effectively.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum13 Lessons
over 12 WeeksLesson 1:
May the Syntax be with You!
Parts of Speech review and the Power of Syntax
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Sentence Variety is Out of this World!
Students will learn to add variety to their strong sentence structure and use different sentence starters.
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Power of the Adverb!
Students learn how adverbs add details to your story.
40 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Power of the Preposition and Interjection!
Students learn how to start their stories with prepositions and emotion with interjections.
40 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Supply List
Pencil, eraser, lined notebook paper or writing journal, folder or binder Access to printer Worksheets will be handed out daily if used in class.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree from Oral Roberts University
My love of writing started when I was 8 years old and hasn't stopped.
I'm a published author (fiction and nonfiction,) writing teacher, and tutor who's worked with gifted and struggling kids for over 20 years. I saw a gap and a need when it came to writing because children didn't have a basic knowledge of sentence structure or paragraph writing. I developed a program with fun techniques to engage them to write powerful and sometimes silly sentences. The techniques seemed to work with kids who loved writing as well as those who didn't. I'm excited to bring my program online to an even bigger audience.
What parents are saying:
Gina is a phenomenal writing teacher! We have loved working with her. We have a range of ages and she is great at adapting to their ages and learning styles. She's very patient and good at helping them focus. My kids have learned so much and been stretched and challenged in the area of writing. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to advance in any area of writing! - Bethany mother of K, 1st, 3rd, 4th grade tutored students.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$18
weekly or $210 for 12 classes1x per week, 12 weeks
40 min
Completed by 22 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 7-11
3-12 learners per class