Creative Writing (G.2&up)

In this class, students will invent stories of all kinds. They will learn how to bring characters to life and turn everyday events into unforgettable stories. A diverse range of exercises will help students explore their imaginations: creating comics, playing with poetry, and even rewriting episodes in time. In this encouraging & supportive class, students will read a diverse range of texts and learn to think in new ways.
Writing Projects
June 9 Letter Writing Adventures
June 16 Writing with Your Five Senses
June 23 Create Amazing Characters
June 30 Unlikely Duos: Create Unexpected Pairs
July 7 Create Your Own Comics
July 14 Storytelling Through Journalling
July 21 Imaginative Interviews
July 28 Play with Poetry: Simile, Acrostic, Haiku
August 4 Creative Story Starters
August 11 Final Projects

Descriptive Writing (G3&4)

Course Description:
The 4th grade Grammar and Writing Course will focus on a variety of strategies to comprehend and develop extensive writing skills through application of proper grammar, parts of speech and figurative language. Students will learn to communicate ideas and information through writing for a variety of purposes such as: informing, persuading, influencing, responding, and creating.

Homework will be assigned at the end of each class to be completed and turned in by the deadline. I will provide constructive feedback for the students’ assignments in order for their grammar and writing skills to improve by the end of the course.

Narrative Writing (G.4&5)

Course Description Welcome to Young Authors! In this 10-week course, students will develop their writing skills through reading and responding to various texts. Students will practice opinion, informative, and narrative writing while learning to plan, draft, revise, and publish their work. Course Objectives By the end of this course, students will be able to: - Write clear opinion pieces with supporting evidence - Create informative texts with organized ideas - Develop engaging narratives with descriptive details - Use technology to research and publish writing - Work collaboratively to improve writing - Respond thoughtfully to different types of texts Materials Needed - Writing notebook - Pencils/pens - Chromebook or laptop -- Reading materials (provided)

Persuasive Writing (G5&6)

Course Description:
This course is designed to deepen students’ writing skills through the use of mini-lessons, mentor texts, and the writing process. Students will study examples of the genres they’ll be writing in (mentor texts), brainstorm topics, and create a written plan for each piece of writing. Next, they will draft, revise, edit, proofread, and publish writing in the following genres: expository essay, short story (fiction), argumentative (persuasive) essay, and poetry. During the revision, editing, and proofreading stages of the writing process, students will develop English grammar and spelling skills through both direct instruction and hands-on editing work with partners. Most importantly, students will discover that writing well gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Poetry for middle school 

In this class, students will discover many elements of poetry, such as figurative language, sound, poetic forms, and sensory details. There will be weekly presentations and discussions, as well as workshops, where students may hear the creative work of their peers and share their own writing if they wish. Students will study a diverse range of poetry and create new poems in this supportive group.

Jessica is an experienced educator from Birmingham, Alabama. She achieved her B.S. in Elementary Education and my M.Ed. in Professional Education from the University of Montevallo. She has been teaching for the last 5 years in elementary and middle school settings and produces superior results in a fast-paced environment through agile planning, excellent time management, and comprehensive documentation. She has exceptional knowledge of writing skills, English grammar and syntax and strong attention to detail and teaching skills. She is highly motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated educator who wants all children to be successful learners.

Teacher Jennifer is a published writer and educator with over a decade of experience teaching young writers in a variety of academic settings. She has taught English in public and private high schools, college composition courses, and writing classes to middle-school students. A published fiction writer and poet, she graduated summa cum laude from Mills College with an MFA in Creative Writing and Literature. Jennifer especially enjoys small group instruction, where she can hone students’ unique talents, equipping them with tailored skills that allow them to succeed.

Ms. Beth is an English teacher of 26 years, remote instructor/tutor since 2020, author, and a freelance book editor. She has a B.A. in English, Minor in Secondary Education, and an M.Ed. in Reading. As an educator/tutor, she specializes in working with students of all ages, from elementary to college students, college-bound high schoolers, At-Risk populations, struggling learners, and people for whom English is a second language.
She has been molding young writers for many years and has taught both Scholastic Arts writing contest and New York Times writing contest classes before. Additionally, Beth is the author of the YA novels Find the Moon, Big Fat Disaster, The Patience Trilogy (Courage in Patience, Hope in Patience, and Truth in Patience), and co-author of the creative non-fiction book Trauma Recovery: Sessions with Dr. Matt (Ayni Books). She is currently at work on her first New Adult novel, a romance. Authenticity and finding one’s voice are frequent themes in Beth’s work, and they are absolutely essential themes in her life, as well.

April has been teaching English for 17 years. She earned her master’s degree in English from Northern Arizona University. Since then, she has taught all ages including teaching for a community college for the past 10 years. She loves working with children and has 9 children of her own; 5 have graduated from college with honors: one is an engineer, one has a master’s and degree in English, and one is getting his doctorate in physics. In my free time, she enjoys running marathons and competing in Ironman triathlons. No class: September 19

Ms Publik received a Bachelor’s degree in English from Marywood University. She is an educator employed by the public schools in New Jersey which is consistently nationally ranked within the list of educational leaders. A recognized pillar in the English classroom, Ms Publik’s state test scores are always some of the highest in the state. She has even had an unprecedented 100% pass rate on the NJSLA; many of her students have obtained perfect scores in the English section. She holds certifications including English K-12 and ESL K-12. She has extensive experience with preparing students for the following assessments: SSAT, ISEE, NJSLA, TOEFL, SAT, and ACT. She is also trained widely in prestigious programs. Her students have made remarkable strides in preparing for these important exams and always feel confidently prepared.

In the past years, she has been a New Jersey Teacher-of-the-Year and was inducted into the Teacher’s Who Rock Hall of Fame. She was also a visiting professor of Harvard Law School teaching reading strategies and literary techniques. She brings passion, energy, and a keen understanding of the English language to every student with whom she works.

Mr. Herrera has taught both high school as well as college English Composition for nearly two decades. In addition, he has taught creative writing, mythology, dual enrollment, and academic writing courses to students at levels ranging from grade school to college, as well as provided weekly one on one reading and writing tutoring sessions to both grade school and high school students at two distinct online academies. In regard to his education, Mr. Herrera has earned a Master of Arts in English from Eastern Illinois University, a Master of Education in Education Administration from Grand Canyon University, and is currently pursuing a third Master of Arts in Philosophy from The Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He is also AP Literature and Composition grader.

Ms Christina is an experienced and passionate educator with certifications in Social Studies, English, French, Gifted Education, and ESL. She currently teaches both virtually and in-person, working with students from elementary to high school. Christina specializes in creating engaging, challenging, and creative learning experiences that encourage students to think critically and explore new ideas. This summer, she is excited to help students grow their skills, spark curiosity, and have fun while learning!