Hearing good writing helps develop good writers.  In this 12-week online class, students will listen to amazing stories and learn to write 4 types of essays:  narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive.  We will spend 3 weeks developing skills for each type of essay. The  Class will begin with a discussion of the type of essay for that week. Specific grammar concepts related to the type of writing will be included in this portion of the class.  Then students will listen to part of an engaging picture book biography related to the type of writing being discussed. Students will focus on interesting wording and phrases that are used, as well as the way information is organized and presented.  Students will then work together to brainstorm ideas, complete graphic organizers, and outline their essays.  

After each class, I will provide notes, assignments, and graphic organizers related to the essay for the week.  Students may submit their essays for my edits and work to create a polished essay each week.  They are welcome to ask for feedback and help as much as needed between classes. 
  
The 12 weeks will be broken down as follows:
Week 1: Narrative Paragraph; Introducing the class and using transition words
Week 2:  Narrative Essay; writing an introductory and concluding paragraph
Week 3:  Descriptive Essay #1: Describing a Scene
Week 4:  Descriptive Essay #2: Describing a Person
Week 5:  Descriptive Essay #3: Describing Emotions
Week 6:  Expository Essay #1: Giving Directions in a How To Essay
Week 7:  Expository Essay #2: Comparing and Contrasting
Week 8:  Expository Essay #3: Cause and Effect
Week 9:  Narrative Essay:  Creating a story
Week 10:  Persuasive Essay:  Using factual arguments to persuade
Week 11:  Persuasive Essay:  Using emotional and moral arguments to persuade
Week 12:  Tying It  All Together:  Presenting a Persuasive Speech 
We will learn about John Newbery (publisher of children's books), Dorothy Lange (photographer), James Audubon (ornithologist), Edwin Binney (inventor of crayons), Roget Thesaurus (words master), Katherine Johnson (NASA mathematician), Sophie Germain (Scientist and Mathematician), Paul Erdos (Mathematician), Michelangelo (artist), Peter the Great (Russian Leader). My teaching style is interactive, with emphasis on giving all students a voice and a safe place to share ideas. I have taught excellent writers, struggling writers, and reluctant writers.  I will take students where they are at and help them move toward being confident essay writers.