Our 9-month Writers Workshop will cover:

 

• The Writing Process: Learners will begin learning or review topics such as fiction vs. nonfiction, the parts of speech, steps of the writing process, and the six traits of writing

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• Sentences, Paragraphs, & Narrations- Subjects and predicates, writing complete sentences, the four types of sentences, compound sentences using conjunctions, paragraph building, reasons to build a new paragraph, writing narrations and short essays

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• Descriptions and Instructions - Writing descriptively, using precise language, figurative language, denotation vs connotation, using adjectives and adverbs, using a dictionary/thesaurus, and showing vs telling. 

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• Creative Stories- Setting, characters, plot, theme, dialogue, climax, cause and effect, beginning, middle, and end of stories, and genres

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• Poetry- Word economy, word play, line breaks, stanzas and their forms, rhyme schemes, repetition Imagery, similes, metaphors, alliteration, forms of poetry, difference between formula poems and free verse poetry, and reading a lot of poetry together

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• True Stories - Responsibility to the truth, subjects, real settings, facts versus opinions, chronological order, dialogue, showing Instead of telling, autobiographies, personal narratives, family history, biographies, newspaper articles & newscasts

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• Reports and Essays - Researching, evaluating, and citing sources, primary versus secondary sources, taking notes, organizing information into webs, outlines, and report categories, thesis statements, evidence comparing and contrasting, writing a basic report, and writing a basic essay

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• Letters - The five parts of a friendly letter, the seven parts of a formal letter, the difference in tone between friendly and formal letters, how to type a letter, how to send an email, how to fill out basic forms in ink and follow the given instructions, the standard way names, dates, and locations are written

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• Persuasive Writing - What persuasion is, hooks, facts and opinions, evidence, examples, and experts, the rule of threes, the rhetorical triangle - ethos, pathos, logos, rhetorical questions, hyperbole, inclusive language, absolute versus qualified statements, introductions and conclusions, transitions, and formats of various persuasive essays

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* In a mixed-age writing workshop, accommodations and differentiation are essential for tailoring instruction to the diverse needs and abilities of learners. Through varied materials, flexible grouping, and multi-modal approaches, students engage in meaningful writing experiences, fostering growth and confidence across age levels.