Creative Writing (G.2&up)

Creative Writing - Unleash your imagination! In this creative writing class, students explore storytelling, poetry, and personal narrative through weekly prompts and guided exercises. We’ll focus on developing voice, crafting vivid imagery, and giving and receiving feedback in a supportive environment. Perfect for students who love to write and reluctant writers alike!

English Grammar (G.4&5)

This Grammar Course will expose students to explanations of grammar and vocabulary, with lessons that keep them motivated and excited to learn. They will practice the grammar skills that are challenging, polish skills they are familiar with, and stretch themselves to explore skills they have not yet attempted.
Homework will be assigned at the end of each class. It is to be completed by the date provided. Like the course, the homework is meant to be motivating, challenging and engaging.
With clear, strong grammar skills, students have the ability to communicate effectively with written and spoken language. Basic grammar skills also help students organize their ideas and plan ahead for written projects and oral presentations.
This course is aligned with the Common Core State Standards. Standards can be found next to each corresponding lesson.

Exploring Shakespeare (G.4&5) 

Introduce who Shakespeare was and why his words matter.

William Shakespeare

https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/listen-watch/short-stories/william-shakespeare

Activities:

Short story of Shakespeare’s life

Show pictures of the Globe Theatre

Explain that actors memorize and perform lines

Overview of his work

Plays vs poetry

Memory assignment

Writing assignment

Weeks 2 and 3: Midsummer Night’s Dream 

Story https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/listen-watch/short-stories/midsummer-nights-dream

Vocabulary

Memory Assignment

Activities:

Students say line with different emotions (happy, angry, surprised)

https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/sites/kids/files/attachment/short-stories-shakespeare-a-midsummer-nights-dream-worksheet.pdf

character and name match

activity order

true/false

writing activity

Weeks 4 and 5: The Tempest 

Story

Vocabulary

Memory

Activities

Writing

Week 6 and 7: Hamlet

Story

Vocabulary

Memory

Activities

Writing

Week 8 and 9: Macbeth

Story

Vocabulary

Memory

Activities

Writing

Week 10: Julius Caesar (Henry IV and V-Historical plays) and Review 

Story

Vocabulary

Memory

Activities

Argument Writing (G6&7)

In this interactive class, 6-7th grade students will apply critical thinking skills to argument writing using reasoning and solid evidence. Students will explore how to develop a position and address counterarguments using logic and persuasion. Writing assignments will include structured writing exercises, analytic reading, group discussions/debates, and fun exercises.

By the end of the class, students will be able to:
✅ Write to a specific audience and for a specific purpose
✅ Write compelling argument essays, letters, emails, speeches, and visuals
✅ Use logical and persuasive evidence to support their position and counterarguments
✅ Identify fallacies
✅ Analyze written and visual arguments
✅ Cite sources
This class is perfect for students who want to improve their writing skills, communicate more effectively, and be successful in high school, college, and the working world.

English Grammar (G.6-8) 

This Grammar Course will expose students to explanations of grammar and vocabulary, with lessons that keep them motivated and excited to learn. They will practice the grammar skills that are challenging, polish skills they are familiar with, and stretch themselves to explore skills they have not yet attempted.
Homework will be assigned at the end of each class. It is to be completed by the date provided. Like the course, the homework is meant to be motivating, challenging and engaging.
With clear, strong grammar skills, students have the ability to communicate effectively with written and spoken language. Basic grammar skills also help students organize their ideas and plan ahead for written projects and oral presentations.

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Persuasive Writing (G6&7) 

In this interactive class, 5-6th graders will learn how to express their opinions convincingly through persuasive writing. Students will explore how to craft strong arguments as well as address counterarguments using emotional and logical appeals. Students will also learn how to identify and critically analyze persuasive writing and visuals in the world around them.
By the end of the class, students will be able to:
✅ Write to a specific audience and for a specific purpose
✅ Write compelling persuasive essays, letters, emails, speeches, and presentations
✅ Use persuasive writing tools to support their arguments
✅ Identify and counter opposing viewpoints
✅ Use pathos, ethos, and logos to elicit the intended reader responses of emotion and intent
✅ Cite sources
This class is perfect for students who want to improve their writing skills, communicate more effectively, and be successful in high school, college, and the working world.

Crafting Compelling Essays (G7&8) 

In this engaging class, students will gain proficiency in the art of writing five fundamental essays:
Narrative Essay – Tells a story about a personal experience or an event.
Descriptive Essay – Uses vivid details to describe a person, place, or thing.
Expository Essay – Explains a topic with facts, without personal opinions.
Persuasive Essay – Tries to convince the reader to agree with a certain point of view.
Compare and Contrast Essay – Highlights similarities and differences between two subjects.
Through the writing process, students will develop critical thinking, prepare for standardized tests, write for academic success, increase their ability to communicate at an advanced level, perform research, become more organized, and express themselves creatively.

Middle School Vocabulary (G.6-8)

Middle School Vocabulary - Expand your word power! This class helps middle school students build a richer vocabulary through context-based learning, word roots, and engaging activities. Students will strengthen reading comprehension, writing fluency, and standardized test readiness- all while discovering that learning new words can be fun and rewarding!

Instructor:

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Middle School Grammar (G.6-8) 

M.S. Grammar - This course builds a strong foundation in grammar and writing mechanics for middle school students. Through interactive lessons and practical exercises, students will master sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and common grammar pitfalls. Expect fun examples, creative practice, and clear explanations that make grammar click.

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Argument Writing (G6&7)

In this interactive class, 6-7th grade students will apply critical thinking skills to argument writing using reasoning and solid evidence. Students will explore how to develop a position and address counterarguments using logic and persuasion. Writing assignments will include structured writing exercises, analytic reading, group discussions/debates, and fun exercises. 

By the end of the class, students will be able to:
✅ Write to a specific audience and for a specific purpose

✅ Write compelling argument essays, letters, emails, speeches, and visuals
✅ Use logical and persuasive evidence to support their position and counterarguments
✅ Identify fallacies
✅ Analyze written and visual arguments

✅ Cite sources

✅Edit their own and others’ essays for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. 

This class is perfect for students who want to improve their writing skills, communicate more effectively, and be successful in high school, college, and the working world. 

Week 1

Argument: introduction: paradigm shifts, communicating clearly and effectively, finding topics, 

Audience, purpose, tone 

Personal Argument Essay

Week 2

Persuasive Appeals-Logos, pathos, ethos

Evaluating Essays for appeals p.47

President’s speech

Week 3

Thesis Statements 

Titles, Introductions, Conclusions, organization (Classical)

Week 4

Strategies of Argumentation: 

Examples, Authorities and Statistics, Cause and Effect, definitions 

Week 5

Toulmin approach of Argumentation and Exploring Style

Sentence openers and dress-ups

Week 6

Fallacies 

Week 7

Rogerian Argument 

Week 8

Analyzing visual arguments

Week 9

Editing (peer and self) p.53 Critical Thinker’s Guide for Evaluating Writing

Week 10

Finding and evaluating sources

Incorporating and citing sources 

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Science Literacy: Reading & Writing (G6_8）

This course is designed to strengthen students’ ability to read, analyze, and write about complex scientific topics. Through engaging nonfiction texts, students will explore areas such as biology, environmental science, space exploration, and emerging technologies while developing critical literacy skills essential for middle school and beyond.

Students will learn how to:

Analyze informational and scientific texts for main ideas, evidence, and author’s purpose

Interpret data, diagrams, and technical vocabulary

Summarize and synthesize information from multiple sources

Write clear, structured responses, including paragraphs, reports, and short research essays

Support ideas with evidence and develop logical, well-organized arguments

The course emphasizes critical thinking, academic writing, and real-world connections, helping students build confidence in both science learning and English language skills.

By the end of the course, students will be able to communicate scientific ideas clearly and effectively—an essential skill for success in middle school, high school, and future academic work.

Ideal for: Students who want to improve academic reading and writing skills while exploring engaging and meaningful science topics.

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High School Grammar (G.8-9)

H.S. Grammar - Designed for high school students aiming to strengthen their writing precision and academic readiness, this class dives into advanced grammar concepts, sentence variety, and stylistic clarity. Students will practice editing, revising, and applying grammar rules to improve essays and everyday writing confidence.

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High School Argumentative and Research-Based Writing (G.8-9)

Argumentative and Research-Based Writing - Learn to write with power and purpose! In this course, students discover how to craft strong opinions, support arguments with evidence, and organize essays that convince and engage readers. We’ll explore real-world topics, practice writing hooks and thesis statements, and refine structure and style through feedback and revision. Suggested for students in grades 8+.

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High School Essay Made Easy 

This 10-week summer class will serve as an introduction to high school essay writing. Aligned with the Common Core State Standards, the course will emphasize narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory essays. Globally, students will learn how to determine a narrow focus for their essays, organize their ideas effectively, and support their claims with evidence. At the sentence level, students will develop confidence in writing strong thesis statements, topic sentences, concluding sentences, and transitions. Additionally, students will practice using strong syntax and diction appropriate to their audience and subject, and they will learn how employing varied sentence structures contributes to the overall strength of their essays.

Students can expect to complete about 2-3 hours of homework per week. During the course of the 10-week class, students will write 3 multi-draft essays (narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory). For the first draft of each essay, they will receive written feedback from their peers. For the second draft of each essay, they will receive written feedback from the instructor. Their third draft will be graded using a class-designed rubric. Each draft will be due to their instructor by 5pm Wednesday. Students will receive feedback on their essays by 5pm each Thursday and will be expected to review that feedback before class on Friday. Students will also complete other homework tasks aimed at strengthening their writing skills.

National Scholastic Writing Contest Prep 

This class only focuses on Personal Essay Writing and Short Story. Students will get writing works to anticipate The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for young artists and writers in grades 7-12 talent teens.
Except when explicitly stated by the local program guidelines, there is no limitation on the number of categories in which a student may submit their work, nor is there a limit on the number of works that students can submit in each category.

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College Application Essay  

Course Description:
In this 6-lesson course we will unpack what makes a great college application essay and craft our own amazing personal statements. We will look at essay examples and tease apart the language, narrative pacing, and thematic elements that make a big impact on admissions counselors. We will then turn our attention to writing our own Common App-aligned personal statements. You will get several rounds of revision and feedback from Ms Kirstie, a high school English teacher who graduated from Harvard, which will take your story of self to the next level. Ms Kirstie has guided personal statements of students who have been accepted to Ivy League type schools such as Harvard, Stanford, and MIT.
Lesson 1: Navigating the Common App, Personal Essay and Supplemental Writing
Lesson 2: Brainstorming successful essay topics
Lesson 3: Exemplar essay analysis
Lesson 4: Developing voice
Lesson 5: Crafting personal narrative, feedback and revision
Lesson 6: Supplemental writing

John Locke Essay Competition Prep 

To explore the narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory genres in greater depth, as well as to learn about 8 other essay genres, including research/synthesis, compare/contrast, cause/effect, description, illustration, classification, definition, and exam essays, join us in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, too!

Tracy received a Master’s degree in Elementary School Education. She taught students from Grade 2 to 5 in Muncie Community Schools for fifteen years and taught elementary school kids at Wake County Public School system for seven years. She is a Reading Interventionist, Team Leader, Data Coach and beloved teacher. She loves teaching students how to advance from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” as they become inquisitive independent learners. In her spare time, she loves to play with her little dog, Tuffy, create mosaic stepping stones, and spend time with her three grown children in Indiana, Ohio, and Mexico.

She is a very popular teacher. Because of her, most boys have fallen in love with memorizing vocabulary.

家长评价1：Feedback from Calvin（SAT词汇课）: That’s a great class and a great teacher! 

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Kendra holds a B.A. in English, an M.S. in Written Communication, and an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, and currently serves as the manager of a content department at a marketing agency, where she oversees a wide range of writing and editing projects for business clients. She also brings experience as a classroom writing teacher, a background that continues to shape her instructional approach. In addition to her professional work, she is a published author of books for children, young adults, and adults. In her spare time, she enjoys reading thrillers, trying new foods, and learning new languages.

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Ms. Amy holds a Bachelor's degree in Education and has over 10 years of teaching experience. She has taught a wide range of subjects, including reading, writing, science, and history in middle school, working with a diverse group of students. Additionally, she was invited to design curricula aimed at improving students' reading comprehension, language usage, essay organization and writing skills, vocabulary, and analytical reasoning. Amy is good at ISEE, HSPT, SSAT, SHSAT, HSAT,ACT and SAT Ms. Amy firmly believes that with perseverance and hard work, students can achieve great success. She views each child as unique, deserving of a stimulating educational environment that nurtures their physical, mental, emotional, and social development. Her goal is to foster this type of atmosphere, helping students reach their full potential.

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Miranda Sun is a storyteller by nature and wordsmith by trade. A lover of science as well as mythology, she’s fond of exploring museums and aquariums wherever she goes. She makes her home in Chicagoland, where she drinks iced coffee in the dead of winter and keeps an eye out for magic hidden in plain sight. Her first novel, a YA contemporary fantasy called If I Have to Be Haunted, released from HarperCollins on September 26, 2023 and was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller.

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Emily received a BA in Anthropology and English from Case Western Reserve University. She went on to obtain her law degree from Capital University. Emily has worked as both a public defender and prosecutor before leaving the practice of law to become a full-time author. She has published multiple books and articles while continuing to perform pro bono legal services in criminal and immigration law. Emily is passionate about sharing her love of English with her students in a fun, encouraging environment.

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Ms. Beth is a seasoned English educator with 26 years of teaching experience and has been a remote instructor since 2020. She holds a B.A. in English, a minor in Secondary Education, and an M.Ed. in Reading.
She specializes in guiding students of all ages—from elementary to college level—including college-bound students, struggling learners, and English language learners. With years of experience coaching writing competitions such as the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, The New York Times contests, and the John Locke Essay Competition, her students have consistently achieved outstanding results.
In addition to teaching, Beth is the author of five young adult novels and a freelance editor. She is passionate about helping students discover their authentic voice and become confident, skilled writers.

Student feedback:

1.Dear Mrs. Fehlbaum,

 Good evening! I hope you’re doing well. I just wanted to thank you for a truly great writing class. I really appreciated your patience, your guidance, and the calm, encouraging way you taught—it made a huge difference for me. I’m grateful for everything I learned, and I hope I’ll have the chance to take another class with you in the future.

 Aaron C. 

1：之前我们也参加了很多Ms beth老师的写作课，很喜欢她。这学期我们报了Ms April老师的课，上完后，我们再继续看看别的课程。

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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 her free time, she enjoys running marathons and competing in Ironman triathlons.

家长评价1：滿校，我要強力推薦Ms April. 我女兒Olivia第一次上Persuasive Writing本以為她會抗拒。沒想到一下課就主動寫作業，對課程特別感興趣，謝謝你

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Alison is an experienced English Language Arts educator with over 15 years of teaching across high school, college, and adult education. She holds a B.A. in English: Teacher Licensure from Elon University and an M.A. in Composition and Rhetoric from Miami University. Her passion for writing instruction began as a Writing Consultant, supporting students one-on-one through all stages of the writing process. Alison taught high school English for six years, including AP English Language and Composition, where nearly all her students scored a 4 or 5 on the AP exam. She has also taught French, college-level writing, and provided SAT/ACT tutoring and college essay support. Her students consistently see score improvements and gain confidence in their writing. With 10 years of experience teaching English to adult immigrants and refugees, Alison brings empathy, energy, and adaptability to her classroom. She enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, and spending time with family in her free time.