WRITING WORKSHOP
GRADE 5
Location: Online
Dates: June 21 - July 2 (2 Weeks): M-F 9:00-11:00 a.m.
or July 6 - July 16 (2 Weeks): M-F 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Fee: $550
Prerequisite: None
Instructor: Cameron Yassine
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Writer's Workshop course is designed for students entering grades 5 this Fall. Students will practice examining, explaining, and defending claims to strengthen their written expression. In the Writing for Meaning course, students will be introduced to academic language and vocabulary, review advanced concepts of grammar, and editing strategies to plan, draft, and revise their own essays, as well as creative writing pieces, based on reading responses to varied mentor texts and reading materials.
WHAT HAPPENS IN CLASS
Every class lesson will differ, but at every meeting students will engage in the following activities:
- Complete a warm-up writing prompt, or read/discuss a mentor text, that sets the stage for concepts introduced in the lessons.
- Learn and practice a writing lesson relevant to their ongoing writing projects.
- Review and practice grammar concepts using their online grammar workbook.
- Learn and review vocabulary.
Independent Work
Students should expect to spend 60 minutes on independent work each week. Throughout the 2 weeks, students work on 2-3 writing projects, doing most of the revising in class. It is crucial that students keep up with this work and come prepared for class each day.
Students will also have a weekly grammar assignment: doing this independently frees up class time for practicing and receiving feedback. Students will also be assigned several vocabulary exercises each week.
TEACHER FEEDBACK
Since students will complete most of their writing in class, there will be many opportunities for the teacher to provide informal feedback. The teacher will conference with students regularly during the class period, providing oral feedback and some informal written notes on their work. Students will submit their final draft and receive detailed, formal written feedback from their teacher. By the end of the course, students will revise their work and self-critique their writing pieces.
ASSESSMENTS
Students will take a pre and post test to assess their growth on grammar and vocabulary covered in the course.