Description
Writing and literature classes offer systematic instruction to develop critical reading and writing skills.
This course is for novice and emerging writers who are 9-12 years old. This is an academic writing course. Please allow approximately 30 minutes for homework on each non-class school day. Writers grow by applying the fundamentals of elementary writing to their own work throughout the week.
To register, please complete the form at the bottom of this description before making your payment. Thank you!
At the Fundamentals level, fall instruction always begins with basic paragraph writing.
Fall lessons focus on:
- the 5-Step Writing Process: prewrite, draft, revise, edit, publish
- narrative writing
- descriptive writing
- expository writing
- and/or persuasive writing
- creating vivid imagery
- developing strong vocabulary
- elevating word choice and tone
- varying sentence structure and adding transitions
- paragraph development
- slowly adding paragraphs to develop longer compositions
For new students, assignments will progress from a single paragraph to multi-paragraph compositions. Returning and experienced students will begin with multi-paragraph compositions and move towards 5-paragraph essays. Class instruction, activities, and discussion will prepare students to complete each week’s assignment. Students receive extensive, personalized feedback on their work.
The course will end with an Author’s Chair celebration on the last day.
A note to returning families: Many students enroll in the Fundamentals level course for 2-3 years. As a result, writing prompts, assignments, and activities rotate from year to year.
Days & Times:
Online: Tuesdays, 10:00 – 11:30 AM, September 12 – December 5, no class 11/21 (12 weeks)
Author’s Chair make-up day: December 12
Location: Zoom & Google Classroom
In-person: Wednesdays, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, September 13 – December 6, no class 11/22 (12 weeks)
Author’s Chair Make-up Day: December 13
Location: Ringwood, NJ
Class sizes are limited to 6 – 10 students. Smaller groups will be billed at the group-tutoring rate.
Once enrollment reaches 10, additional students will be put on a waiting list.
Please read my course and refund policies before registering.
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Winter Semester 2024: Registration for the Winter Semester opens in November.
In the winter, curriculum topics may include literature and writing, creative writing, newspaper writing, or research report writing. Writing activities and assignments cycle every 2-3 years, so returning students do not repeat the same work.
Winter 2024 will include literature & writing and creative writing. A novel and various children’s books will be included in our study.
Winter lessons will focus on:
- novel study: book selection TBD
- critical reading strategies
- reading comprehension
- vocabulary
- critical writing skills: responding and summarizing
- identifying the elements of fiction in a story (plot, character, setting, dialogue, theme)
- writing a book report
- reading a variety of children’s books related to the novel topic and theme
- identifying the elements of fiction in children’s books
- creative writing based on the novel & children’s books topic and theme
- critical thinking through creative writing: planning plots, characters, and dialogue that make sense
Winter dates:
Online: Tuesdays, 10:00 – 11:30 AM, January 9 – April 9, no class 2/20, 4/2; Author’s Chair Make-up Day: April 16
In-person: Wednesdays, 1:00 – 2:30 PM, January 10 – April 10, no class 2/21, 4/3; Author’s Chair Make-up Day: April 17
You will be AMAZED at what your young writers will achieve by the end of the academic writing year!
Please read my course and refund policies before registering.
