Creative Writing Grades 3-8
This program complements our Literary Analysis class.
"There is a common belief that because most of us are literate and fluent, there is no need to serve an apprenticeship if we want to become a successful wordsmith. That’s what I thought until I tried to write my first novel. I soon learned that a novel, like a piece of furniture, has its own set of requirements, laws of construction that have to be learned. Just because I had read plenty of novels didn’t mean I could write one, any more than I could make a chair because I had sat on enough of them."
Nigel Watts
Most children have a natural creative streak, but as anyone who has tried it knows, getting an idea out of your head and onto a piece of paper can be very challenging! We use different approaches throughout the year to help the children discover what methods work best for them. Our writing class helps to expand the creative thinking skills and general awareness. Our students learn to think more carefully as they craft their own ideas into words.
Nigel Watts
Most children have a natural creative streak, but as anyone who has tried it knows, getting an idea out of your head and onto a piece of paper can be very challenging! We use different approaches throughout the year to help the children discover what methods work best for them. Our writing class helps to expand the creative thinking skills and general awareness. Our students learn to think more carefully as they craft their own ideas into words.
The proof is in the pudding!
Celebrating our students' hard work and creativity as authors and illustrators!
Bina's Menagerie: Grades 1/2 Amazon LINK
The Holiday Card: Grade 3 Amazon LINK
Snowman Adventures: Grade 4 Amazon LINK
Holiday Fostering: Grades 5-6 Amazon LINK
The Little Traveler book series
2nd-3rd Grade Click here
4th-5th Grade Click here
6th-7th Grade Click here
Celebrating our students' hard work and creativity as authors and illustrators!
Bina's Menagerie: Grades 1/2 Amazon LINK
The Holiday Card: Grade 3 Amazon LINK
Snowman Adventures: Grade 4 Amazon LINK
Holiday Fostering: Grades 5-6 Amazon LINK
The Little Traveler book series
2nd-3rd Grade Click here
4th-5th Grade Click here
6th-7th Grade Click here
Curriculum Focus
Complete Writing Process- Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing & Publishing
Genres- Descriptive, Persuasive, Expository, Narrative, Journalism, Poetry, Procedural, Informational, Opinion, Recount, and Analytical
Elements- Grammar
Students begin the writing classes with us in 3rd grade and continue adding to their skills each subsequent year. For example, in 3rd grade they will learn how to write a simple 'recount', and in future grades they will work on writing a personal recount and then a factual recount.
The writing process is designed to encourage students in developing an awareness of their thought processes and advanced vocabulary with which to discuss those ideas. One session may focus on reasoning the pros and cons about a topic, while another may aim at developing research skills to investigate a topic of interest.
Writing assessment: Writing assignments are corrected and returned with feedback in the following class. Our assessments are practical and useful, as we clearly communicate consistent criteria for the work that will be evaluated – criteria focused on writing skills such as description, organization, expression, fluency, word choice and punctuation – rather than relying on a general "impression" of the quality of the work or on comparison with other students' work. Different traits of writing and evaluation criteria are discussed in the beginning of the program. These criteria are tailored to specific student strengths and weaknesses, and modified as the children’s abilities develop.
Peer feedback: Having students read each other's work and comment upon it can help both the reader and writer. Student writers are provided an audience for their work, and, for many children, comments by their peers will be attended to in ways that a teacher's comments would not. Comments are expected to be constructive. In addition, the student reader may pick up on techniques of fiction that might not be apparent from reading a published book.
Complete Writing Process- Prewriting, Drafting, Revising, Editing & Publishing
Genres- Descriptive, Persuasive, Expository, Narrative, Journalism, Poetry, Procedural, Informational, Opinion, Recount, and Analytical
Elements- Grammar
Students begin the writing classes with us in 3rd grade and continue adding to their skills each subsequent year. For example, in 3rd grade they will learn how to write a simple 'recount', and in future grades they will work on writing a personal recount and then a factual recount.
The writing process is designed to encourage students in developing an awareness of their thought processes and advanced vocabulary with which to discuss those ideas. One session may focus on reasoning the pros and cons about a topic, while another may aim at developing research skills to investigate a topic of interest.
Writing assessment: Writing assignments are corrected and returned with feedback in the following class. Our assessments are practical and useful, as we clearly communicate consistent criteria for the work that will be evaluated – criteria focused on writing skills such as description, organization, expression, fluency, word choice and punctuation – rather than relying on a general "impression" of the quality of the work or on comparison with other students' work. Different traits of writing and evaluation criteria are discussed in the beginning of the program. These criteria are tailored to specific student strengths and weaknesses, and modified as the children’s abilities develop.
Peer feedback: Having students read each other's work and comment upon it can help both the reader and writer. Student writers are provided an audience for their work, and, for many children, comments by their peers will be attended to in ways that a teacher's comments would not. Comments are expected to be constructive. In addition, the student reader may pick up on techniques of fiction that might not be apparent from reading a published book.
Program offered to Grades: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Program Location: Virtual Live
Program Fee: Please contact us for details
Program Location: Virtual Live
Program Fee: Please contact us for details