Writing is a powerful learning tool. It forces thought organization and creates avenues of self-expression and imagination. When kids learn to write, they build skills that will open doors for them throughout their lives. If college is the goal, writing is a must. But even if a young person doesn’t want to go to college, communication skills are important. Writing is the key.
Courses are available for middle and high school age groups. The courses take place over the school year.
Middle: students that have completed Fifth Grade
High: students that have completed Eighth Grade
Students will write under a pseudonym of their choosing.
Location
Classes will be held over Zoom.
High School English
High school English for the 2022-2023 year will begin in September. Kids will write poems, short stories, essays, and a research paper. This course will include enough work to be counted as a high school Writing credit.
Tier 1: 10:00 A.M. Thursdays starting September 8th.
Students will join class by Zoom and receive all handouts and weekly assignments. Students will turn in all assignments by email. I will read and respond to their work and offer assignment/class grades.
$250/Semester
Tier 2: 10:00 A.M. Thursdays starting September 8th.
Students will join class by Zoom and receive all handouts and assignments. Parents will be responsible for reading students’ writing and assigning grades.
$100/Semester
The only book needed will be “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White.
Middle School English
This class will focus on grammar, sentence structure, and different kinds of writing. We will write poetry, short stories, and paragraphs/essays.
Students will join class by Zoom. They will receive all handouts and assignment sheets. Parents will be responsible for reading students’ writing and assigning grades.
9:00 A.M. Thursdays starting September 8th.
$100/Semester
Poetry
Poetry is a heart language. It allows expression in a way that other kinds of writing do not.
It can be very personal. But one of the best things about poetry is that it requires no explanation. The responsibility of understanding is on the reader. Poetry can break all the rules of writing and grammar and still be correct. I will introduce several styles of poetry. None will be flowery, and most will not rhyme. Beauty and freedom abound.
Short Stories
Stories become part of us. They build imagination. They shape minds and character. Great writers grab and hold a reader’s attention. They create stories and places that we want to go on and on and on. A good story requires strong characters, conflict, and resolution. I will introduce some famous short stories and some story-building exercises.
Paragraph/Essays
Language is communication. It is thought connection. Paragraphs and essays connect those thoughts in logical order. Communication starts with understanding how to say what you intend to say. I will teach sentence, paragraph, and essay structure.
Research Paper
Description
