Learners will build up their understanding of the writer's tools and their craft and apply this knowledge to their own stories.

The Week of March 31, 2024 - Characterization (Flaws and quirks)
The Week of April 7, 2024 - Syntax & Diction (Remove the dead weight) 
The Week of April 14, 2024 - Characterization (Dialogue and actions)
The Week of April 21, 2024 - Simile (Replace the cliché)
The Week of April 28, 2024 - Characterization (Emotional battles)
The Week of May 5, 2024 - Characterization (Show, don't tell)
The Week of May 12, 2024 - Situational Irony (Comic relief, shock & characterization)
The Week of May 19, 2024 - Flashback & Flash Forward (Framed narrative) 
The Week of May 26, 2024 - Syntax (Varied sentences) 
The Week of June 2, 2024 - Characterization (Dialogue - Colloquialism, Dialect & Anastrophe)
The Week of June 9, 2024 - Syntax & Diction (Remove the dead weight) 
The Week of June 16, 2024 - Symbolism (Meaningful objects)
The Week of June 23, 2024 - Story Organization (The Hero's Journey & more) 
The Week of June 23, 2024 - Paragraphs (Varied lengths for ultimate impact)
The Week of June 23, 2024 -  Characterization (Anthropomorphism & Zoomorphism) Simile (Solidifying the abstract)
The Week of August 4, 2024 - Hyperbole (Emphasis)
The Week of August 11, 2024 - Characterization (Show, don't tell)
The Week of August 18, 2024 - Suspense (Withholding information) 
The Week of August 24, 2024 - Characterization (Relationships and effect on others)
The Week of September 1, 2024 - Conflict (Five types and their purpose) 
The Week of September 8, 2024 - Plot (Climax)
The Week of September 15, 2024 - Diction (Congeries for emphasis)
The Week of September 22, 2024 - Characterization (Diction and malapropism)
The Week of September 29, 2024 - Active and Passive Voice (Their impact)
The Week of October 6, 2024 - Theme (Underlying ideas) 
The Week of October 13, 2024 - Anaphora (Powerful repetition)
The Week of October 20, 2024 - Syntax (Parallelism & harmony)
The Week of October 27, 2024 - Allusion (Giving clues to well-read readers)
The Week of November 3, 2024 - Plot (Falling Action)
The Week of November 10, 2024 - Characterization (Tone) 
The Week of November 17, 2024 - Syntax (Varied Sentences)
The Week of November 24, 2024 - Characterization (Juxtaposition)
The Week of December 1, 2024 - Motif (Developing a theme) 
The Week of December 8, 2024 - Plot (Conclusion/resolution)
The Week of December 15, 2024 - Theme (Conclusion)
Pacing (Short sentences and fragments)
Plot Episodes (Conflict)   

PAST

The Week of October 8 - Narration (A character with a purpose) 
The Week of October 15 - Audience (Diction & formatting choices)
The Week of October 22 - Atmosphere  (Using the setting) 
The Week of October 29 - Characterization (Diversity)
The Week of November 5 - Characterization (Weaving in appearance details)  
The Week of November 12 - Plot (The Story Mountain) 
The Week of November 19 - Conflict (Five types and their purpose) 
The Week of November 26 - Characterization (Actions)   
The Week of December 3 - Diction (Delicious details)
The Week of December 10 - Metaphor (Extended and useful) 
The Week of December 17 - Characterization (Dialogue and speech tags) 
The Week of December 31 - Pacing (Long sentences and description) 
The Week of January 7, 2024 - Foreshadowing (Tipping off the detective)
The Week of January 14, 2024 - Dramatic Irony (Get the reader involved)
The Week of January 21, 2024 - Imagery (Engage the senses) 
The Week of January 28, 2024 - Personification (Craft the imagery and mood) 
The Week of February 4, 2024 - Suspense (Withholding information) 
The Week of February 11, 2024 - Characterization (Thoughts) 
The Week of February 18, 2024 - Flashback (Background) 

Over the past seventeen years, I have been teaching middle school and high school literature and writing, but I also published a collection of short stories and nonfiction articles through Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. (This was while I was teaching in Beijing, after being approached by an editor after an essay reading!) 

Currently, I am working on a middle-school novel, several historical-fiction short stories, and weekly poetry (which I share in my Introduction to Poetry #4 class). You may have also had the pleasure of reading some of my short stories in my other creative writing classes. 

Additionally, I have released a textbook on project-based learning through Teacher's Discovery, which focuses on breaking down a large creative project into manageable steps, and several self-published books on ancient China with educational activities.

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If the learners share a Google Doc link with me or use the provided Doc, I will offer some suggestions during the writing time. Additionally, I will give some feedback on each story during the sharing time. This feedback will be given orally, and other learners will be encouraged to comment on the stories, too.
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I am neurodivergent (ADHD), so my classes are creative. I also cultivate a community so our classes include student interaction, laughter, and support. Each learner is met where they are with their writing skills.