P.A.I.N.T. with Your Words

Using words instead of paint and a brush, your student’s writing will come alive in bursts of color and texture as he or she learns to create a picture in the reader’s mind.

Courses for : 7 – 11 yrs. , 12- 17

For more information or questions contact me here.  

Students should have a grasp on the basic parts of speech, typing, and use of email.

• Poetry and Journaling: Descriptive writing using sensory words and strong verbs and adjective
• Creative Writing: Showing vs. telling, passive vs. active writing
• Creative Writing: Figurative language: hyperbole, personification, similes, metaphors, etc.
• Creative and Paragraph Writing: POV, character voice
• Paragraph Writing: Varying sentence structure, sequential and transitional words

“I learned how to paint a picture in the reader’s mind.” -7^th grader

“Gina thank you so much for tutoring my son this past fall. He was really struggling with putting together his thoughts and getting them on paper. His sentences and paragraphs were very simple and basic. His writing was below grade level. Since your class, his writing has greatly improved! He feels much more confident and he uses your suggestions and techniques without any prompting from me. He said that he really enjoyed your class and I believe him because he retained info and uses it daily in his writing now. Thank you so much for offering your class to us and should we need more help in the future we will definitely be contacting you!” Jenny W.

Strong Sentences & the Spectacular Parts of Speech

Courses recommended for : 7 – 11 yrs.

Meet the Strong Family! Together, they use their superpowers to create clear and vivid images in the reader’s mind. In this 6 session live, interactive class, we explore the powers of the spectacular parts of speech and how they can be arranged to form strong and powerful sentences.

Most children are familiar with simple sentences which contain a noun and a verb. Some are able to understand adjectives that describe the noun. But to create really strong, powerful and detailed sentences, learners need to understand the 8 parts of speech and how they are used to build strong and powerful sentences!

TEACHING STYLE:
In this flexible course that meets by video, not live, learners will engage in an interactive, colorful power point presentation where they will create their own strong sentences by learning about the Strong family and the spectacular parts of speech. Students will use their “superpowers” by answering questions in the video prompts, doing their homework assignments, and sharing their own strong sentences on the classroom page. Activities such as noun picture scavenger hunts, verb video challenges, and adjective artwork will be shared as well as other activities for the other parts of speech.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Lesson 1: Part 1: Introduction to NOUNS, VERBS, what makes a sentence, and basic sentence structure. Part 2: ADJECTIVES
Lesson 2: Part 1: Subject, predicate, run-on sentences and PRONOUNS. Part 2: DIRECT OBJECTS, Adding nouns to sentences.
Lesson 3: Part 1: ADVERBS Part 2: CONJUNCTIONS, combining subjects and verbs, and INTERJECTIONS
Lesson 4: Part 1: PREPOSITIONS, plus Object of the Preposition sentence structure. Part 2: Introduction to the “Why” and “Because” clause, and parts of speech review

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

•  Learners should be able to write with a pencil.
•  Should have a good understanding of the spoken English language.
•  Perfect spelling and punctuation are not necessary.
• Learner may need homework assistance from parents.

Five Paragraph Exceptionally Excellent Essays for Middle School (12-17) & Perfectly Powerful Paragraphs (8-12)

EXPERIENCE:
Students should know the basics of good essay structure which include an introduction, body with supporting details, and a concluding paragraph. Please see my other courses for a foundation in strong sentence structure and paragraph or essay writing or schedule a 1:1 if you feel your student needs more instruction and attention.

TEACHING STYLE:
In this flexible course that meets by video and in the classroom chat (not live,) learners will be engaged in a colorful power point presentation where they will learn about different paragraph types while strengthening their writing skills. Students will take part in weekly activities to enhance each particular essay knowledge.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
You’ve heard practice makes perfect, but that’s now exactly true. If you keep practicing the wrong things, you will not improve your writing! In this flexible class, that meets via video, we will practice writing exceptional essays first, through a short video instruction time. Activities such as weekly word searches, scrambles, and crossword puzzles will provide practice for transition and signal words needed for each essay. In addition, easy and fun creative activities will enhance the essay writing. Please see the schedule for details.

In this flexible course, students will learn to write a different essays each week.

CLASS DETAILS:
Each week students will have additional videos to watch and simple puzzles to solve to enhance their learning of each particular paragraph type plus and activity to enhance their essay knowledge.

Week 1: Opinion Essay: (Activity: Opinion signal word collage)
Week 2: How To Essay/Sequence: (Activity: “Exact instruction challenge”)
Week 3: Descriptive Essay: (Activity: Video or audio narration of your favorite place.)
Week 4: Personal Narrative Essay:
(Activity: Video/audio narration or multi-media production (powerpoint, video, etc.) of your personal narrative experience.)
Week 5: Expository/Informational:
(Activity: Collage or multi-media production (powerpoint, video, etc.)
Week 6: Compare and Contrast: (Activity: compare & contrast scavenger hunt.)
Week 7: Cause and Effect:
(Activity: Video or project showing cause and effect.)
Week 8: Persuasive: (Activity: persuasive essay: Convince your classmates!)

Why be a Goop?
Beginning Storytelling and Character Study

Recommended ages: 7 – 11 yrs. and 10-14 yrs. in two separate classes

Meet the Goops! A bunch of naughty boys and girls who learn how to behave through hard life lessons!

This 9 week flexible schedule writing course is designed to foster a love of writing in each student whether they have difficulty writing or enjoy it. Through various Goop readings, children will hear stories and poems that will inspire and encourage their own Goop stories. Corresponding activities will be given throughout the week to enhance the lesson.

Through Goop story time, discussion, and instruction, learners will come to understand story structure, practice good writing, and write Goop stories of their own. (Parental assistance may be required outside of class time with younger students.)

Learners will name and create their own Goop character and write a funny story with a moral that will teach other kids not to be a Goop! They will also illustrate their story and write a poem about their Goop. The final product will be a fun story keepsake you will treasure forever.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

*To introduce learners to beginning storytelling using the Goop manner stories as a guide and to create original stories and poems.
*To introduce elements of storytelling such as setting, beginning, middle, and end

• To review different parts of speech
• To introduce descriptive writing techniques
  *To teach learners about good manners and behavior

** This class is designed to foster a love of storytelling, and while good writing and sentences will be addressed, that is not the emphasis or goal of this class. For strong writing techniques, see my “PAINT with your Words” and “Perfectly Powerful Paragraph” classes.

For more information on live classes or video courses contact me here.