Course Objectives:
• Understand what syntax is and why we need to write right.
• Identify and use the 8 parts of speech: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, interjection, and conjunction in addition to subordinate conjunctions.
•  Understand the jobs of the 8 parts of speech and how they work in a sentence
• Write strong sentences and learn to vary their sentence structure
• Learn the 4-square and “Hamburger” method of planning and writing a paragraph.
• Learn to write clear, focused, and cohesive paragraphs: Students will narrow down an idea, choose a paragraph topic, and focus their paragraph on answer one question (topic sentence,) and write a detailed paragraph with a strong concluding sentence. 
• Write a perfectly powerful paragraph with a beginning topic sentence, a middle supporting sentence, and a concluding summary sentence.

My love of writing started when I was 8 years old and hasn't stopped. 

I'm a published author, 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, 1, 3, 4 tutored students.

Homework Offered
*Learners will be assigned weekly written homework and reinforcement videos outside of class. 
*Learners will be assigned to write sentences on homework handouts and paragraphs which need to be typed out and turned in via WORD. It is the parents responsibility to make sure assignments are completed and turned in before class each day if they want their child's work to be evaluated.
**In teaching a course like this, there will be students of different ages and abilities. It may be a review for some while at the same time being a challenge with an introduction of new concepts to others. It is the parent's responsibility to message me with any questions to see if this is the best level class for their learner. 
0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
**Individual and informal assessments are done when I edit each assignment outside of class and give feedback for each learner writing to improve their writing. This is best done if students turn in their assignments on time and via google docs. This service and time I spend outside of class is reflected in the price. 

**All students are encouraged to share in class for participation and assessment. The more a child shares in class, the better understanding of the material they will have.

**No formal report or written assessment will be given, but parents are encouraged to monitor the comments I make on each child's writing  so they can determine where their child needs to focus improving.
**To get the most out of this course, I suggest that each child attempts to complete the homework and turns it into me before the next class via the classroom Teacher’s private messaging section or preferable google docs. 
***I cannot guarantee I will give your child feedback if assignment is turned in late. You can take a photo and upload it, and I will give specific feedback during the paragraph portion of course. They can also share their stories on the class page if they wish others to read their stories. 
Grades Offered