❤️ This class fosters a love for languages, in this case the English language. Through games and collaborative writing, students will improve their vocabulary, spelling and ability to write creatively. 

🤹 MOVEMENT 
At the start of every class, we will recite dynamic verses and poetry which we, with the help of a bouncing ball or bean bag, will link to rhythms found in language.

👓 WORD PLAY & THINKING "OUTSIDE THE BOX"
Each class, students will be solving riddles and having fun with puns (a play on words). Riddles and puns encourage us to develop multiple perspectives and to develop flexible thinking. Students will identify double meanings and metaphoric language. Playing with language opens up new thought processes and associations (not to mention that it's such a fun way to learn)! 

💡 CREATIVE WRITING
Students will have many opportunities to write creatively. Once they have played with concepts such as alliteration, rhythm, compound words, palindromes and figurative language, they will be ready to create their own writing. This class looks to inspire children to write with joy and spontaneity. If young writers can learn to trust their ideas and enjoy the uncertainty of a blank page, their creative process will be nurtured. Some weeks, we might step away from predefined structures as we prioritize fluidity in expression.

✍️ SPELLING & HANDWRITING
Students will notice the repeating patterns in word sounds (pail, tail, detail, sail) and pay special attention to rhyming words with different spellings (ate, eight, bait)
The teacher will write in cursive script and students will be encouraged to do the same. They can still participate if they haven’t learned cursive but it is recommended that they join the course “Forming Cursive.”


📅 TOPICS
September 
                    - Word families and spelling; 🤡 writing funny rhyming stories
                    - Prefixes and root words; 🌱 deciphering definitions; writing to make connections
October
                     - Searching for palindromes; 🔎🔍 playing with parts of speech
                     - Homonyms, double meanings; 🐝 homophone riddles
                     - Compound words and combinations 🗝️
                     - Writing riddles; 🌷 figurative language 
November
                     - Tongue twisters; ➰ Alliteration; Acrostic poems 
                     - Creating stories using prompts and story dice; 🎲 writing with adjectives
                     - Rhythm in language: 🥁 Limerick poems, syllables and word stress



🖐 SCHEDULING & PARTICIPATION
This is an “ongoing” class where each week’s activities stand alone and students can participate week by week. They can join the course at any point.

This is a highly interactive class. Students are encouraged to keep their video on. Each student will work to their potential. The format of the class invites students with differing reading levels to participate and have fun.