CLASS DESCRIPTIONS (Offered 2019-2020) Registration for 2019-2020 will open April 30. 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. 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 Clemente classes are in private residences and open to all. Please see the end of this CLASSES section for a description of an All Things Fun & Fascinating class for 3rd-6th grade taught by Abigail Rehard, whom I am mentoring.
BIBLE-BASED WRITING LESSONS (FRIDAY SCA 1:30-2:30), GRADES 3-5 Tuition: $160 per semester or $35 per month, Sept-May, + $35 material fee due at registration (to pay for textbook) VERY FUN! Because it is designed for young students, it is a fun class filled with Bible stories, review games, memory verses, and more.As they move through a variety of themes centered on virtuous character in men and women of the Bible, the lessons incrementally introduce some of the basic 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 teach 36 vocabulary words. Students are encouraged to use these in their compositions. Note: Younger students will be required to write only one paragraph per week, but older students may be challenged to add more details from the Bible.
HISTORY-BASED WRITING CLASSES The following history-based writing classes are all easily adaptable to a wide range of abilities. Each contains basic lessons plus challenges for more advanced students. No prior IEW experience is necessary, but those who have had IEW will find them to be a great review with added challenges to keep them progressing.
5th-7th Grade: Ancient History-Based Writing (Friday SCA 12:15-1:15) $50 per month Sept-May ($225 per semester + $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. 5th-6th Grade: Medieval History-Based Writing(Mon ILA 10:20-11:20) $50 per month Sept-June ($250 per semester + $40 material fee at registration, which pays for textbook) Lessons cover most of the IEW models of structure and elements of style. Students will write stories, reports, critiques, responses to literature, other types of essays, and a research paper. Vocabulary cards are included. Students will learn and be required to use these great words in their writing. Themes focus on major events and people of the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Optional literature includes Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo, 1001 Arabian Nights by Geraldine McCaughrean, The King’s Shadow by Elizabeth Alder, Robin Hood by J. Walker McSpadden, Winning His Spurs by G.A. Henty, Adam of the Roadby Elizabeth Janet Gray orThe Kite Rider by Geraldine McCaughrean,MarcoPolo by Emi, and Crispin of the Lead Cross by Avi. .
6th-9th: US History-Based Writing Lessons with Literature (Tuesdays SCA 9:00-10:30) $50 per month Sept-May ($225 per semester + $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.
Required literature includes the following historical fiction novels: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes, The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare, and By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman, Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith, Hatie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, Journey to Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida
6th-9th: Modern World History-Based Writing Lessons with Literature (Thursdays San Clemente 1:30-2:45) $50 per month Sept-May ($225 per semester + $35 material fee at registration, which pays for textbook) As they move through modern world history themes from the printing press 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.
An advanced packet adds additional challenges for veteran IEW students, including response to literature essays.
In addition, the lessons incrementally teach 72 vocabulary words as well as important grammar rules of punctuation and usage.
Required literature includes the following historical fiction novels: Amos Fortune, Free Manby Elizabeth Yates Who Was Galileo? by Patricia Brennan Demuth Who Was Isaac Newton? by Janet Pascal The Lacemaker and the Princess by Kimberley Bradley or In the Reign of Terror by G.A. Henty Lord of the Nutcracker Men by Iain Lawrence The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig Number the Stars by Lois Lowry Who Was Ronald Reagan? by Joyce Milton The Giver by Lois Lowry
7th-9th Grade: C.S. Lewis-Based Writing Lessons (with Other Related Literature) (ILA English 7) (Mondays ILA 8:00-9:30) $52 per month Sept-June ($260 per semester + $40 material fee at registration, which pays for textbook and other materials) Lessons focus on teaching structure and style in writing as they move through themes related to C.S. Lewis, the first three books of the Chronicles of Narnia, WWII, and the importance of recognizing evil and standing up for good. Students will write stories, reports, research papers, narrative and descriptive essays, response-to- literature essays, comparison essays, persuasive essays, and poems.
Vocabulary Several vocabulary words are taught from the literature. Students are expected to include some of these great words in each composition they write, so they become part of their natural writing vocabulary. They are also quizzed on the words periodically.
Literature Students will read and write about the following books: C.S. Lewis: Master Storyteller by Goeff Benge The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis Animal Farmby George Orwell The Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobeby C.S. Lewis The Boy in Striped Pajamas by John Boyne The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Grammar Grammar is taught chiefly in the context of its use, but additionally 20 critical grammar and punctuation rules are taught.
HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES 9th-11th grade: ADVANCED US HISTORY-BASED WRITING WITH AMERICAN LITERATURE (Thursdays San Clemente 11:30-1:00) $50 per month Sept-June ($250 per semester + $35 material fee at registration, which pays for textbook) As they move through American history themes, the lessons very quickly review the models of structure and elements of style found in the Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Teaching Writing: Structure and Style; then, they move to more advanced writing skills for college preparation. In addition, the lessons incrementally teach 80 vocabulary words frequently found on college entrance SAT tests. Structure Students will write a variety of types of compositions, including the following: · Poetry (small amount) · Summaries of References · Narrative Stories and Personal Narrative Essays · Short Research Papers in MLA Format · Argumentative and Persuasive Essays · Response to Literature and Literary Analysis Essays · Descriptive Essays
Style Elements of style taught in this course include the following: · All of IEW’s dress-ups and sentence openers · Literary devices: alliteration, 3sss, similes, metaphors, dramatic openers and closers, personification, consonance, assonance, triple extensions, irony, anaphora, and juxtaposition.
Literature Students will read, annotate, and write literary analysis essays about the following novels: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Boy on the Wooden Boxby Leon Leyson The Old Man and the Sea by Earnest Hemmingway
10th-12th grade:English Composition: Writing Research Papers (Possibly with some British Literature--TBA) $50 per month Sept-June ($250 per semester + $35 material fee at registration, which pays for textbook) Many college professors of a variety of subjects assign research papers without giving guidance as to how to plan, organize, and format the paper. I know my boys would have benefitted immensely from a high school class specifically designed to prepare them for such assignments, so this course does just that. Students will write three in-depth research papers. The first topic is assigned: Are social networking sites good for our society?This paper will be 5-7 pages. Students choose topics for the remaining two papers (7-10 pages; then, 15-20 pages). The process for each is broken into easy-to-accomplish weekly steps. Among other things, students will learn the following skills: Formulating thesis statements Identifying reliable and acceptable sources Pre-research and annotating sources Addressing the counterargument Note taking systems Avoiding plagiarism Citation formats (MLA and APA) Outlining Drafting and formatting (MLA and APA)
Grammar, vocabulary, and a little bit of style will also be taught.
British Literature Component Between research papers I hope to do min-units of British Literature. One research paper may be related to one of the books we read. I'm considering The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, and Shakespeare. I will post more information as I develop the lesson plans for this class.
Class for Young Students And I am excited to let you know about this class for 3rd-6th graders that will be taught by Abigail Rehard.
4rd-6th Grade: All Things Fun and Fascinating $125 per semester + $35 material fee Taught by Abigail Rehard (see below) Fun, fun, fun! This class covers most of the IEW units, including reports, stories, mini research reports, writing from pictures, and creative writing at an easy level for young students. Students will usually complete one paragraph per week. (More advanced students may opt to write more paragraphs.) Vocabulary words are also included. Themes focus on subjects intriguing to young children, such as fun facts from science, animals, men who changed the world, stories from around the world, and more.
To learn more about Abigail, click here: Abigail_bio-2.pdf
