CLASS DESCRIPTIONS (Offered 2021-2022)
Registration for 2021-2022 will open April 10. Please see the REGISTRATION INFO tab for more information about how to register. Click on the link there to print registration forms.
 
For a chart of days and times each class is offered, please see the SCHEDULE tab after April 10. 
SCA = Saddleback Christian Academy in Mission Viejo. You must belong to SCA to register for one of their classes.
ILA = Independent Learning Academy of Alison Viejo, You must register with ILA before registering for my classes there.
San Juan Capistrano classes are in a private residence and open to all.

This year I have added an  Inspirational Art /Modern Calligraphy Class that I am very excited about. Please click on the tab above to learn more about it!
​
WRITING CLASSES

5th-7th Grade: Ancient History-Based Writing (Friday ILA  12:15-1:15)
$200 per semester (or $45 per month, Sept - May)
+ $35 material fee at registration, which pays for textbook 
Lessons cover most of the IEW models of structure and elements of style. Students will write poems, stories, reports, critiques, essays, and a mini research paper. 
Vocabulary cards are included. Students will learn and be required to use these great words in their writing. 
Themes focus on Ancient civilizations: Sumer, Egypt, Israel, Babylon, Greece, and Rome.
Optional literature suggestions will enhance students' understanding of ancient times as well as provide them with examples of excellent style in writing.


6th-8th Grade: US History-Based Writing Lessons + Literature 
Tuesday (SCA in Mission Viejo) 12:30-2:00
Thursday (in San Juan Capistrano)  12:15-1:30
$225 per semester or $50 per month Sept-June (+ $35 material fee at registration, which pays for textbook)
As they move through American history themes from explorers to present day, the lessons incrementally introduce and review the models of structure and elements of style found in the Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Teaching Writing: Structure and Style.  In addition, the lessons incrementally teach 72 vocabulary words as well as important grammar rules of punctuation and usage.

Literature includes the following historical fiction novels: Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla, Night Journeys Avi, Ben and Me by Robert Lawson, Tolliver's Secret  by Esther Wood Bradley, Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit,  By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman, Behind Rebel Lines by Seymour Reit, Hatie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, Journey to Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida, and Eleven by Tom Rogers.

​
COURSE DESCRIPTION
ENGLISH 7 (WORLD HISTORY-BASED COMPOSITION, LITERATURE, and GRAMMAR)
 
Instructor:  Lori Verstegen
As they move through Modern World history themes from Gutenberg’s printing press to present day, the lessons incrementally introduce and review models of structure and elements of style to give students confidence in writing. In addition, students read, discuss, and write about several classic works of fiction (see list below). Grammar and vocabulary instruction are included as well.
Tuition: $250 per semester or $50 per month, Sept through June
 
Text:  World History-Based Writing Lessons by Lori Verstegen, published by the Institute for Excellence in Writing
Structure
The models of structure taught in this course include the following:
·       Summaries of References
·       Narrative Stories
·       Responses to Literature, including theme and character anlysis
·       Short Research Reports (Multiple Sources)/ Formal Essays
·       Writing from Pictures
·       Creative Writing
 
Style
Elements of style taught in this course include the following:
IEW “dress-ups”: quality adjectives, strong verbs, -ly words, adjective clauses,  and adverb clauses A variety of sentence openers for varying sentence structure and length Literary devices:  alliteration, conversation, 3sss, similes, metaphors, and dramatic openers and closers  

Vocabulary
Seventy-two vocabulary words are taught. Students are expected to include some of these great words in each composition they write, so the words become part of their natural writing vocabulary. They are also quizzed on the words periodically.

Literature 
Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare, Carry on Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham, The True Confessions of Charlette Doyle by Avi, Oliver Twist retold by Kathleen Olmstead or Mill Girl by Sue Reid, The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig, War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, and The Giver by Lois Lowry.
 
Grammar
Easy Grammar’s Daily Grams, Grade 7
 

 

CS Lewis, Part 2 (Lessons contain options for 8th-10th grades)
(English 8 at ILA) 
MONDAY ILA TIME TBA
​TUESDAY SCA 10:15-11:45
​THURSDAY 1:30-3:00
Teacher: Lori Verstegen
Tuition:  $50 per month
Monday, $250 per semester, payments Sept-June
Tuesday and Thursday, $225 per semester, payments through May
 
This class is structured very differently from typical IEW classes as will be evident from the description below.
 
BOOKS TO PURCHASE
Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Last Battle, The Screwtape Letters, and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
 
Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: 180 Daily Teaching Lessons, Grade 9 Student Workbook

 
CLASS CONTENT
This class will focus on analyzing literature as well as refining various types of essays. We will also study the research process and write a minimum 8-paragraph research paper in MLA format. My goal is to teach the students to think analytically and organize their ideas coherently. Here are some key concepts that will be covered:
 
Writing 
Thesis statements
Supporting an argument
Creating vivid imagery
Active Voice
Transitions between sentences  and between paragraphs
Six different kinds of introductions and conclusions
Research papers in MLA format using the note card method  
 
Understanding and Analyzing Literature: 
Plot Diagrams, Themes, Characterization, and Style
Here are examples of what is covered (from Progeny Press Study Guides that I will use as references):
 
Prince Caspian
Literary Techniques: sensory descriptions, characterization, framework, parallelism, allusion, fact vs. opinion, simile, metaphor, synonym, irony, protagonist, antagonist, conflict, complication, climax. 

Moral Lessons and Character Values: God's calling, freedom of religion, witness, follow Jesus, resurrection, suffering, humility, pride, honor, fear. 
 
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Literary Techniques:  characterization, antithesis, synonym, idiom, juxtaposition, paraphrase, simile, anthropomorphism, allusion, aside, parallelism, recap, mood, comic relief, imagery, foreshadow, framework story, quest, conflict, theme, epilogue. 

Moral Lessons and Character Values: Encouragement, love enemies, wisdom, rationalize, lying, hard work, greed, renewal, perseverance, dedication, appearances, fear, names of Jesus. 
 

The Silver Chair
Literary Techniques: foreshadow, aside, irony, comic relief, motif, onomatopoeia, idiom, mood, juxtaposition, hyperbole, imagery, poetic justice, structure, conflict, protagonist, antagonist, denouement, theme. 

Moral Lessons and Character Values: Living water, prophecy, pessimism, joy, peace, trust and obey God, encouragement, empathy, truth, consequences, repentance. 
 
 
In addition we will write short but thoughtful responses to many of the letters in The Screwtape Letters and an essay in response to Mere Christianity.
 
 
Vocabulary
As in all my classes, students will be responsible for learning and using vocabulary words from the books they read.
 
Grammar
The textbook provides daily reviews of important grammar concepts that are designed to build mastery.

INSPIRATIONAL ART & MODERN CALLIGRAPHY
TUES 2:15-3:45 (SCA)
WED TBA (ILA)
THURS (SJC) 3:00-4:30
Please see the Modern Calligraphy tab for a course description.