This is a perfect class to give kids a weekly writing assignment and feedback on their writing, while only meeting once a week. During our class meeting, they will learn the writing concept and work on some material (worksheets, graphic organizers, outlines, etc.). Then they have one week to complete their writing assignment. I am available via Outschool if kids have any questions. Once a writing assignment is turned in, I will send written feedback to help each student continuously improve. 

Students should be able to read and write English at a 4th grade level or higher to succeed in this class. 
All homework and worksheets will be posted weekly in the Outshcool Classroom.

Below you can find a list of weekly topics.

Week of September 11: Narrative Essay
Students will learn about narrative essays and write one. They will have a graphic organizer to work on in class that will help them plan their essay.



Week of September 18: Poetry: Cinquain and Haiku
Students will learn about haiku and cinquain poetry and write some poetry of their own.



Week of September 25: Short Story
Students will plot their story on a graphic organizer that helps them learn about exposition, rising actions, climax, falling actions, and resolution. Then they will write a short story for homework.


Week of October 2: Comparison and Contrast Essay
Students will learn about comparison and contrast essays and write one. They will have a graphic organizer to work on in class that will help them plan their essay.



Week of October 9: Summarizing an Academic Text
Students will learn to highlight key details in an academic text and write a summary. We do one in class together where kids help identify the main ideas and key details. Then they help me write a summary. Their homework is to write a summary of an essay that I will provide them with.



Week of October 16: Summarizing a Story
This week, kids will learn 3 different methods for summarizing a story. We will summarize a short story together in class. Their homework will be to choose one of the 3 methods to summarize a story of their choice. It can be any story (short or long) they have read from beginning to end.


Week of October 23: Poetry: Writing a Sonnet
Students will learn about the characteristics of sonnets. They will read some examples from famous poets and a bit about the history of sonnets. Then they will write an Italian Sonnet and a Shakespearean Sonnet.
 


Week of October 30: Writing an Observational Essay
Students will choose a topic, observe it, take notes, and write an observational essay.



Week of November 6: Writing an Outline
Students will learn how to identify the key details in a text and write an outline to remember the main points.



Week of November 13: Poetry: Free Verse 
Students will learn the characteristics of free verse poetry, read some free verse poems, and write a free verse poem.



Week of November 20: Writing a Review
Students will learn how to write a review for a product or service.



Week of December 4: Writing a Speech
Students will plan and write a speech. They'll read an example and use a graphic organizer to plan theirs. For this lesson, kids will need to find one source (website, book, or other) to support their claims.


Week of December 11: Writing a Play
Students will learn the format of a play, read an example, and write a short play.


Week of December 18: Descriptive Essay
Students will write an essay describing their favorite fictional story. 



Week of January 8: Journal Writing
Students will learn some of the benefits and tips for journal writing. They will have a list of prompts and will write 5 entries in their journal over the course of a week. They will pick one entry to edit, finalize, and post in Outschool for my review and feedback.


Week of January 15: Using Figurative Language 
Kids will read examples and then write paragraphs using different kinds of figurative language. These include hyperbole, simile, metaphor, idiom, allusion, alliteration, personification, and onomatopoeia.