English Writing (G6)-(2 Students Class) Fall 2020-Ms. Lara

Description

Course Description

Throughout the 14 lessons, we will be writing both a short story / novel / narrative / creative piece of literature and informative essays. However, we will take time to address different elements of writing during each lesson. There will also be “short story” activities and SAT grammar practice exercises. Most of these lesson standards are a subset of these objectives –  

W.8.3 -Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

W.8.2 –  Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

Course Breakdown:

Lesson 1:Organize information and ideas around a topic to plan and prepare to write. W.8.3

Lesson 2: Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically. W.8.3

Lesson 3: Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters. W.8.3

Lesson 4: Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the

relationships among experiences and events. W.8.3

Lesson 5: Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events. W.8.3

Lesson 6: Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events. W.8.3

Lesson 7: Develop and strengthen writing as needed by revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience. W.8.3

Lesson 8: Organize information and ideas around a topic to plan and prepare to write. W.8.2

Lesson 9: Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories; include formatting, graphics, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. W.8.2

Lesson 10: Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. W.8.2

Lesson 11: Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. W.8.2

Lesson 12: Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. W.8.2

Lesson 13: Establish and maintain a formal style. W.8.2Lesson 14: Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented. W.8.2

 

About the teacher

Ms. Lara has taught English for fifteen years in different countries around the world. After getting her BA in Sociology and Photography at the University of California, San Diego, she worked with students with special needs for several years, trying to understand every kind of learner and diverse modalities of helping students to utilize their strengths and access learning from their own points of view. She has taught in Honduras and Hungary, as well as many kinds of schools around the US. After teaching English, Science, Art, and Music to 2nd, 6th, 10th and 11th grade students in the Caribbean, she came back to the
US, and got her teaching credential at California State Monterey Bay. Following this, she taught at a small high school in Santa Cruz, CA for twelve years, where she instructed 9-12th grade English, Art, Digital Photography, and History as well as Advanced Placement classes for 5 years. In 2012, she took a hiatus to complete a year as a Fulbright exchange teacher in Budapest, where she taught ESL and was an ambassador for the US. She was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2015, and received a commendation for her work in 2018. She now tutors students in many subjects, while being a student herself, pursuing another degree. She enjoys working with students and learning from them, and finding new ways to communicate and understand the world around us.