This course is designed with the new 5th grade student in mind. Through the analysis of literature, students will learn how to identify major parts of a story, the key ingredients to proper writing and grammar, and demonstrate their learning through various writing assignments. This course moves the student from proper paragraph format to one page responses. In addition to the weekly writing and reading assignments, there will be a short research project, delivery of a presentation each semester.

Class instruction (for Fall and Spring) includes:
* Acquiring literary terms to identify parts of a story
* Comparing the traits of characters, settings or events in between two stories
* Quoting text to give to explain meaning within a text when writing
* Identifying plot line and main idea/s of a story
* Using technology to improve writing and gather information
* Analyzing informational texts (i.e. non-fiction; articles, etc.) to arrive at the main ideas
* Practicing the stages of writing (planning, drafting, revising/editing, final product)
* Expressing one's opinions in a coherent, organized way via speaking and writing
* Creating a short research project, using several sources, through investigation and writing organization
* Producing stories, real or imagined, with descriptive details and clear sequence of events
* Engaging in collaborative discussions in class about the stories we read, information we learn, etc.
* Presenting a piece of writing (poem, speech, etc.) orally to class and have a chance to respond to others' writing verbally
* Reviewing basic parts of speech including prepositional phrases, conjunctions and interjections
* Using a comma to separate an introductory element from the rest of the sentence
* Using underlining, quotation marks, or italics to indicate titles of literary works
* Expanding, combining or reducing sentences to create greater meaning and interest
* Discovering new vocabulary each week through word studies from our text and Greek/Latin root words

This is a year-long class and  it is assumed a fall student will continue through the spring. This design allows continuity in learning and skills acquired for the student; allowing the topics to build upon one another, from one semester into the next. However, students are welcome to join after the semester begins or mid-year with instructor permission. 

Required Equipment: 
* Gmail account  
 * Headphones with microphone                                                                                                                 
* Internet/Wifi connection                                                                                                                                                                                  * Google Classroom access (free and only requires a Gmail account)

* FALL NOVELS:  Fever 1793 - Laurie Halse Anderson
                                        El Deafo - CeCe Bell
* SPRING NOVELS:   City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau
                                              Second book - TBD
​Weekly Class Time:  Tuesdays, 10:15 am - 11:15 am (log-in at 10:10 am)
Assigned Work for the week: approximately three assignments per week 
Cost: $60/month (September - December = $240; January - May - $300)
Vouchers are due by the first day of class. Private pay options are available. Please email to request this option.  

                        REGISTRATION FOR 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR WILL BE POSTED MID- LATE APRIL! CHECK BACK THEN!