Writing Workshop for Middle School - Poetry
In this 6 week class students will learn how to write several forms of poetry, and publish their work digitally.
Phyllis Bixler - Just Help Me Learn, LLC
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(346)
What's included
12 live meetings
10 in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. Students will write, revise and edit their work outside of class, and in the final 2 weeks prepare poetry to be posted to the class blog. Class preparation time will be approximately 2 hours a week on average.Assessment
Learner progress is assessed informally by completing assignments and sharing each week, participating in writing workshops, and providing constructive feedback to others. Formal progress is assessed by learner completion of published work, and final week poetry presentations.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Calling all reluctant writers!! Does the idea of writing strike fear in your heart? Do you freeze when asked to write a poem? Are you afraid to show your finished work to others? If you said "yes" to any of these questions, then this is the class for you!! Experienced English teachers use the format created by Newbury author Kwame Alexander to ease learners into writing poetry, and lead them to publishing their collective work by the end of the class. Mr. Alexander's The Write Thing workshop has been used by institutions around the world, and focuses on poetry first because it does not have the same demands as prose, and it offers students the freedom of creativity while instilling confidence. Week 1: Poem in your Pocket, Free Writing Week 2: Preparing to Write - Emotions and Rules Week 3: Writing a Draft - Form, Structure, Words, and a Topic Week 4: Revising and Editing - Purposeful Revision and Excellence Week 5: Publish our Collective Works - Giving Students a Voice Week 6: Presentation - Read it Loud and Proud! The first 4 weeks focus on the writing process. Students will learn how to write, rhyme and structure a poem while learning about different types of poetry. They will also work with partners in class to revise and edit work, thus learning to receive constructive feedback on their work. Week 5 is devoted to publishing. In this case publishing will be to a class specific blog site. Students will work together to develop a title, select the poems, and format. The teacher will set up the private blog and place student work, then provide the completed link to students for them to share their work with family and friends. Student identification of their work will be limited to first name in the blog for safety purposes. The blog will be available to students and their adults, but may be shared with trusted loved ones. Week 6 focuses on the Joy of Writing! Presenting their own work is the purpose of this class. Creating confidence so that students will read their work to classmates during our final week is the ultimate learning goal of this class. This class requires at minimum FOUR learners to run. Any class with fewer than 4 students cannot effectively complete the class objective, and thus will be canceled or postponed. Students should be able to read, write and converse in English, and should be at minimum a 5th grade reading and writing level. Cameras and microphones will be REQUIRED to be turned on because interaction and comradery are crucial to developing trust with one another.
Learning Goals
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.3.C
Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.3.D
Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.
Craft and Structure:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.5
Analyze how a drama's or poem's form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning
Range of Writing:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Comprehension and Collaboration:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1.A
Come to discussions prepared, having read or researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1.B
Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1.C
Pose questions that elicit elaboration and respond to others' questions and comments with relevant observations and ideas that bring the discussion back on topic as needed.
Production and Distribution of Writing:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.5
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1-3 up to and including grade 7 here.)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.6
Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Poetry by nature can be personal, thus some students may share personal life experiences through their work in class. Any topics that raise concern about safety will be promptly addressed with a referral to Outschool's Safety and Security Team.
Third party sources will be used for publishing student work. While the teacher and admin will do the uploading, students will need to access the third party site to share their published work with family and friends. We plan to use FREE third party sources which are commonly used in education, but a family, parent or student account may be necessary for full participation in the class.
Supply List
Kwame Alexander's Free Write: A Poetry Notebook - approximately $12 US This book will be used as a supplement and practice for students outside of class.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined September, 2020
4.8
346reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
1 teacher has a teaching certificate
Ohio Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
1 teacher has a Graduate degree
Master's Degree in Education from Lourdes College
1 teacher has a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's Degree in Education from Auburn University
The teacher teaching this class has decades of experience teaching English Language Arts to students of various ages from middle school into college. Reviews
Live Group Class
$175
for 12 classes2x per week, 6 weeks
50 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-14
4-10 learners per class
Financial Assistance
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