Description
The “Spicy Sentences” is an eight-week interactive writing journey designed for 7-10 year old’s who are stepping into the world of literacy through writing. This program caters to newly confident readers—those who can spell phonetically (not always correctly) and are well versed with level 1 and 2 sight words (e.g., Fry’s first 200 and possibly the third100). This is aimed at young students with a budding interest in expressing themselves in writing. This course will help them create sentences with more action, meaning, and expression. By taking part in “Spicy Sentences,” students will not only enhance their writing skills but also significantly boost their reading fluency and comprehension—studies indicate that comprehension can be improved by 5% to 20%. Writing sentences is a critical skill for children over the age of 7, serving as the foundation for all future academic and creative endeavors in literacy. Through this course, students will also gain confidence in their writing abilities, learn to enjoy the creative process, and develop a stronger command of the English language. This program not only supports academic growth but also fosters a lifelong love for reading and writing, equipping young learners with the tools they need to succeed in their educational journeys.
Understanding the mechanics of sentence construction not only empowers students to express their thoughts more clearly but also strengthens their reading skills. When children learn to write various types of sentences, they better understand how sentences are built and function, leading to improved reading comprehension. Early mastery of these skills sets the foundation for lifelong literacy, encouraging critical thinking and fostering a deep love for reading. They will become proficient in identifying and using different sentence structures—from simple to compound and complex. The skill of sentence crafting is instrumental in improving a child’s ability to infer meaning from texts, a key component of advanced reading comprehension. By practicing writing, children naturally improve their ability to decode text, anticipate narrative developments, and engage with more complex material. This proficiency in writing and comprehension not only boosts their academic performance across all subjects but more importantly it also increases their enjoyment and engagement with reading. Ultimately, the skills gained through focused sentence construction are invaluable, paving the way for successful communication and deeper analytical thinking in future educational and professional endeavors.
The Value of Early Writing Skills
Unlock the potential of your 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th grader with an exciting opportunity to enhance their academic and creative journey! Developing writing skills is key to lifelong success and effective communication. It sparks creativity, provides a powerful outlet for emotions, and sharpens overall language abilities. As parents, investing in your child’s ability to write is truly investing in their future, setting them up to be articulate, thoughtful communicators.
This course lays the foundation for strong writing mechanics and inspires your child to think like a writer. Your child will master the art of crafting sentences, equipped with the tools necessary to build robust, meaningful expressions. As they hone their ability to arrange words with precision and clarity, their confidence in writing and communication will flourish. They will view themselves as budding authors, capable of creating sentences that convey precisely what their readers need to understand. This course is more than just about writing; it’s about empowering your child to excel in all future academic endeavors and beyond. Enroll your child to develop these essential skills and watch them transform into confident, adept learners.
What Will Students Learn?
Under the guidance of Ms. Kyria, students will explore the structure and beauty of language. Through lively interaction and practical exercises, participants will:
- Master the art of writing simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to enrich their reports, essays, and storytelling.
- Discover the writer’s five “W’s” (Who, What, When, Where, Why) and the essential “H” (How), employing color-coded sentences to integrate these elements seamlessly into their writing.
- Learn techniques to dismantle run-on sentences, categorizing them into one of the four sentence types for effective communication.
- Engage in real-time sentence-building activities, fostering a collaborative learning environment with 4 to 6 students.
- Each class session promises an hour of engaging instruction and conversation, where Ms. Kyria will guide discussions, pose questions, and provide feedback, ensuring students are well-equipped to tackle their weekly Spicy Sentences homework assignments—also designed to be completed within an hour.
Curriculum Highlights
From Basics to Brilliance: Starting with simple sentences like “I see the cat,” students will learn to infuse their writing with adjectives, verbs, and the writer’s “W’s”, transforming them into vivid descriptions such as “In the morning, I see the orange cat in the tree.”
Parts of Speech “Sentence Spices”: Adjectives and verbs are some of the seasonings the students will need to make their writings come alive. We will explore how to add these details to create a rich narrative tapestry.
Interactive Wordplay: The course includes brainstorming sessions to generate lists of descriptive words, followed by exercises in crafting base sentences. We will then enhance these base sentences with some “spices” to convey who, when, and what is happening in a the sentences.
Expanding Horizons: By the course’s conclusion, students will be adept at writing four different types of sentences in a succinct way. These sentences will be cleverly mix different sentence lengths and structures to captivate readers with clear, and compelling ideas that could be used in paragraphs. This course will prepare the student to take the advanced course “Spicy Paragraphs”.
Personalized Support Beyond the Classroom
To ensure each student maximizes their learning experience, I am committed to providing extensive support beyond our live sessions. After each class, I will personally review homework submissions to identify areas where students excel and areas where they might need additional help. Based on this assessment, I will provide tailored feedback and corrections to help each child improve. Additionally, I will create and share supplementary tutoring videos that address challenges or concepts to enhance understanding as needed for each student. This personalized approach ensures that every student receives the guidance they need to succeed, reflecting my dedication to their educational growth.
About your Instructor
Kyria, a veteran of the TV journalism big leagues with tenures at ABC, CBS, and NBC (yes, back when “fake news” was just something your uncle ranted about at Thanksgiving), has polished her storytelling and communication skills to near-mythical levels. She’s even rubbed elbows with the likes of 20/20 and Good Morning America as a freelancer. In 2014, she traded in her press badge for storybooks, uncovering a zeal for education that led her to establish The House of Education. This haven assists families, particularly those navigating the labyrinth of the American education system for the first time, offering support in language, literacy, and the ins and outs of the U.S. schools. Kyria combines her journalistic flair and educational foresight to mentor young minds in not only spinning engaging stories but also articulating their thoughts with precision and poise.
Join me for a Journey of Word filled Discoveries.
Spicy Sentences is more than just a writing class; it’s a portal to expression. It transcends the traditional diagraming sentence writing class, serving as a gateway to expression and creativity. Here, young students will learn to see beyond the cat, delving into the essence of its world with every sentence they craft. Embark on this exciting adventure into the art of spicy sentence crafting with Ms. Kyria, and watch your child’s imagination and writing skills flourish.
FAQ
Q: How interactive is the program? Will my child get direct feedback?
A: The program is highly interactive with real-time sentence-building activities and collaborative learning. Ms. Kyria engages directly with students, offering personalized feedback and encouraging class participation. The homework is optional however it is impactful. Ms. Kyria provides feedback and guidance for homework.
Q: What is the class size?
A: To ensure personalized attention and an interactive environment, classes are limited to small groups of 4 to 6 students.
Q: What technology requirements are there for the program?
A: Participants need access to a laptop, desktop computer, or an iPad with an updated browser and a strong Wi-Fi connection. Having the ability to print is also beneficial for utilizing weekly worksheet packets.
Q: How long are the live class sessions and when are they held?
A: Live class sessions last one hour.
Q: What if my child misses a live class session?
A: If a child misses a live session, a recorded session will be made available for a limited time so that students can catch up on what they missed.
Q: How is homework assigned and submitted?
A: Each week, students will receive a worksheet packet that can be completed digitally in ClassDojo. If preferred, students can complete the printout version and then snap a photo or scan the worksheet to upload it to the ClassDojo homework area, known as “portfolio.” They can also type on the ClassDojo screen if they are using ClassDojo on a computer.
Q: Can my child submit other types of files on ClassDojo?
A: Yes, students can create and upload photos, videos, drawings, and journal entries through ClassDojo. They are also able to upload Microsoft Office files, PDFs, and image files from any laptop. If it can be emailed it can be sent in ClassDojo.
Q: Is there a way to track my child’s progress?
A: Yes, Ms. Kyria provides regular feedback on homework assignments and class participation. Parents can also view their child’s submissions and progress through ClassDojo.
Q: What materials will be provided, and what might we need to supply?
A: All necessary worksheets and learning materials will be provided weekly. Parents might need to ensure there are basic supplies like paper, pencils, and a printer if they choose to print the worksheets.
Q: What skills will my child develop in this program?
A: Your child will learn to write various types of sentences, use descriptive language effectively, understand and apply the writer’s “W’s” and “H,” and improve their reading comprehension and fluency through the art of writing.
