Institute for Excellence in Writing: Fables, Myths and Fairytales (5th-7th)

Teacher: Melissa Liipfert Date/Time: Monday - 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Recommended Grades: 6th, 7th Departments: Language Arts, Middle School Core Classes Grade Level: Middle School (6th-8th) Maximum Enrollment: 15

Who is this class for?

This class is best for students in grades 6-8 who need structured, confidence-building instruction in writing and grammar. It has been created for reluctant or developing writers who benefit from step-by-step guidance and clear expectations, while still challenging students as they grow.

Students who are familiar with formal writing may be better served by checking out the U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons (offered on Wednesdays).

Please note that this course may be used as a full-year middle school language arts credit and may also count toward middle school history, depending on your homeschool requirements. Parents are responsible for determining credit applicability.

Would you rather watch a video introduction? Click HERE for more information!

• 2 classes in 1: Grammar/Composition & Literature using Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales
• This is a writing-intensive course with an emphasis on the writing portion for reluctant middle school readers and writers or those who do not have a ton of experience with grammar and composition.
• Students will focus on weekly writing assignments as the core of their learning, so please consider this carefully when registering. IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) is a rigorous academic writing curriculum that uses theme-based learning to teach students strong writing skills.
• Please note that because skills build on previous skills each week, the class is structured as a yearlong course.

Writing

Overview:

During each meeting, we will have a writing lesson focusing on a different fable, myth, or fairy tale. This includes a lesson in:

• A specific subject and structure.
• Stylistic techniques to enhance your writing.
• An introduction to new vocabulary words.
• Writing practice in class and at home.
• Sentence diagramming.

Each week, students will work on a lesson in the workbook at home.

• Please prepare for at least two to four hours (one per day) of writing per week.
• Papers are submitted through IEW Gradebook and assessed for structure, style, and mechanics (MLA format, spelling, grammar, etc.), and receive personalized feedback to strengthen their writing to become confident, competent writers.

Required Workbooks: Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales Writing Lessons (Sample) * Please note that we will be using Fix It! Grammar. The level will be determined after the class has been assessed for basic skills.

Expectations and Requirements:

• Please prepare for at least two to four hours (thirty minutes to one hour per day) of reading and writing each week.
• Homework assignments are typed and submitted through IEW Gradebook weekly. Students should be comfortable typing or using voice-to-text on a computer at home.
• Each lesson will be assessed for structure, style, and mechanics (MLA format, spelling, grammar, etc.), and each student will receive personalized feedback to strengthen their writing to become confident, competent writers.

Living History through Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales

Overview:

Books Coming Soon!

For the living history portion of class, students will read assigned chapters at home to participate in a round-table, Socratic-style discussion during class. The goal of round-table discussions is to enhance student engagement, strengthen communication skills, boost confidence in a safe, friendly environment, and dig deep into historical fiction to embrace the joy of learning history in a fun, relatable way.

Expectations and Requirements:

• In addition to reading, students will create and maintain a dedicated binder notebook system to explore historical timelines, people, places (geography), and events thoroughly within their novel studies.
• Students will be assessed by participating in weekly discussions, occasional class presentations, being the group discussion leader during an assigned week, and/or class tests and projects.

This class will not be successful without the help of parents at home, ensuring that students stay on top of their reading and use their weekly IEW checklists before submitting papers.

Tuition: $350/semester + IEW Workbooks + Books if you decide to purchase them. Please note that many can be found at the local library, on Project Gutenberg, or on archive.org.

(Does not include MAS registration fees.)

5 students minimum - 15 maximum