Use technology in the context of hands-on projects.
Develop a strong, working understanding of English standards (reading, writing, grammar, and communication).
Learn what it means to strive for excellence in the quality of work turned in.
Learn to write with more sophistication.
Develop a curiosity that will drive life-long learning and skill development.

Mrs. Lemons, who developed this course, has a B.A. in English Literature, a minor in Education, and a Master's in Education Administration. She has her teaching certificate and principal's license, and she is certified to teach English / Language Arts and History / Social Studies. She has many years of experience at the middle and high school levels. Further, she is an adjunct faculty member at Colorado Christian University, supervising teacher candidates in their undergraduate and graduate programs. She is a teacher of teachers. All that being said, middle school is her jam! 

All teachers that teach this course also think middle school students are awesome! Further, they have English degrees and teaching certificates. They are qualified experts who love kids!

2 - 4 horas semanales fuera de clase
Tarea
Frecuencia: 1-2 por semana
Comentario: según sea necesario
Detalles: Students read 100 minutes per week. They also have 1-2 hours of homework per week. This level of in-class and at-home work means they finish an entire semester of ELA in just 13 weeks. 
Letra de calificación
Frecuencia: 7 o más durante toda la clase
Detalles: Letter grades can be controversial, so it is good to know how we approach grading ahead of time. As I (Karen Lemons) homeschooled my children without formal tests and grades, they had difficulty adjusting to college. I realized that as a teacher, I need to give tests! Further, students on Outschool are more likely to complete their work on time if there are grades. They need to learn to perform under a little pressure, and this will bring out the best in them! Therefore, all students are formally graded, and parents have access to those grades. We use the Outschool-approved, COPPA-compliant Google Classroom LMS for this. 
Calificación
Frecuencia: 7 o más durante toda la clase
Detalles: All students receive specific feedback on their work. We are intentional about putting a little pressure on them and teaching them how to handle that pressure. They will rise to the occasion with mental toughness and confidence because they will know what to do, how to do it, and are absolutely capable of pulling it off. We are building leaders who will take on the world as high achievers.

Students should know how to use Google products and be able to tackle extensive technology tools with perseverance as they learn new tools.