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Telling My Story: Memoir Writing Workshop

In this class, kids will turn personal experiences into stories by focusing on special "small moments." They'll learn strategies to bring stories to life. By the end, they'll write a memoir and gain confidence in sharing their voice.
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What's included

12 live meetings
11 in-class hours
Assignments
1-2 hours per week. There will be writing assignments. Learners will build upon what they have written during class.
Certificate of Completion
included
Grading
The memoirs written in class will be published online, accessible through Canva. Parental consent is required for a child's story to be included in this class publication. To protect privacy, pen names may be used.

Class Experience

US Grade 4 - 7
Beginner Level
This engaging writing class, designed for 10-12-year-olds, invites young writers to explore the art of writing a memoir, a special kind of storytelling where they get to share their own personal experiences. A memoir is a true story about a meaningful moment in the writer's life. We focus on "small moments"—those memorable experiences that leave a big impact and are easy to write about because they mean so much to us.

In this class, students will learn to think deeply about their own lives, pick out those special moments, and turn them into stories they can share with others. Through fun activities and guided writing, they'll discover how to add detail and dialogue to their writing so their stories come to life on the page.

Each session is structured as a writing workshop. Students will learn new writing skills through fun and easy steps, making the learning process enjoyable and stress-free. We start with a mini-lesson using a mentor text, which shows them an example of great writing. This helps learners see how they can use similar techniques in their own stories.

Next, they'll enjoy independent writing time where they can work on their own writing, try out new ideas, and even freewrite for fun. During this time, they can get help from the teacher or chat with friends about their stories.

Finally, we end with sharing, where learners proudly share their work with others. And at the end of the program, we'll have a special celebration to show off all they've accomplished! This routine helps learners build writing skills, confidence, and creativity, and gives them something to look forward to.

This class helps learners develop not only their writing skills but also a deeper understanding of themselves and others. Parents will see growth in their child's ability to express thoughts and emotions clearly and confidently. By the end of the course, students will have written their own memoirs and learned valuable skills that will improve both their reading and writing success, setting them up for academic achievement in the future!
Learning Goals
Primary Goal: To share about a special moment by writing a memoir.
Begin with an attention-grabbing lead.
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
12 Lessons
over 12 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Capturing Memories
 Engage in freewriting and brainstorming to bring up special memories. 
55 mins online live lesson
1 assignment
Lesson 2:
Zooming in to a Small Moment
 Small moments stories tell a true story from your life.  In this lesson, you'll zero in on a special small moment. 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Fuzzy versus Vivid
 Let's get rid of the fuzzy monster!  Sensory details help our readers imagine our story.  In this lesson, you'll learn how to add sensory details to turn fuzzy writing into vivid writing. 
55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Grabbing the Reader's Attention
 The beginning of a story can have quite an impact on the reader and can help someone decide if they want to keep reading.  Learn the different ways you can grab your reader's attention. 
55 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Learning Needs
Accommodations may be made for students with dyslexia.
Parental Guidance
When we reach the revising stage of writing, learners may use artificial intelligence to assist with proofreading their stories. There will be a classroom on MagicAI that students may join. There are tools in the classroom for student use. Your child do NOT need to have an account. I will give each student a link to access the classroom. Since this is a third-party tool, parental guidance is important. Magic AI is FERPA and COPPA compliant. (https://www.magicschool.ai/privacy#:~:text=Compliant%20with%20FERPA%2C%20COPPA%2C%20and%20State%20Privacy%20Laws&text=Our%20safeguards%20are%20aimed%20at,personal%20information%20entrusted%20to%20us.)
Supply List
1. Writer's Notebook - any composition notebook will do.
2. Worksheets - optional, for download.
Joined May, 2024
New on Outschool
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Doctoral Degree in Education from University of Cincinnati
Master's Degree in Education from University of the Philippines
Dr. M is an experienced educator and author with 30 years in the field. She holds a master’s in Reading Education and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. Having taught everyone from preschoolers to graduate students, she loves watching young learners grow and thrive in her classroom.

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Live Group Course
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$15

weekly or $180 for 12 classes
1x per week, 12 weeks
55 min

Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
1-6 learners per class

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