Story Writing (4-6)
Course Text: none
Course Instructor: Beth Flatten Email: jbflatten@comcast.net
Teacher Blog Website: http://flattenheroclass.blogspot.com/
Course Description:
This class will use the Story Starter Writing Curriculum that gives the start of a story and leaves it hanging—“awaiting the creative genius of your student”. The class will work on polishing the students’ writing through sensory language; uses for verbs, adjectives, and adverbs; kinds of narrators; setting; and characters. The class will provide a wealth of ideas for finding new ideas and techniques for bringing a child’s words to life on the page and a chance to use his or her own creativity to tell a story. Exposure to a range of writers and types of creative writing will be part of the class as well as cultivating good writing habits. Students will gain confidence through practice and praise. No textbook is required.
Supplies needed for this course:
· Three ring binder with loose paper or a notebook with folder
· Pencils and erasers
· Notebook of composition book for journal collection
Grading Information and Guidelines for Success:
You will receive a percentage for the class. Extra credit questions will be available on http://flattenheroclass.blogspot.com/ . Students who leave good comments will receive extra credit points.!
20% Class participation- Students will demonstrate participation by answering questions, being prepared for class with their materials ready, participating in classroom discussions, completing class work and having good attendance. We will be doing some writer’s workshop writing together in class so attendance is very important. Some assignments are connected to the class activity the following week so it’s extremely important you come to class prepared with your homework complete. Students who do this will receive a higher grade than students who do not.
10% Journal Collection of weekly journal writing entries and story ideas. Students have the on-going assignment of writing two times a week in their notebook or journal. They can write the start of a story, an idea for a good story, something about a movie that would make a good story. Students will be asked each Monday if they wrote at least two times in the past week in their journal. Parents can decide to combine this activity with other projects at school, like history or science. It’s up to the parent to decide. The goal is that students are writing more frequently and collecting writing ideas for the class. These journals will be required to be brought to class periodically to share and discuss.
70% Homework Assignments- Students must complete assignments on-time – if you’re absent, your homework assignment is due the following week or it’s considered late and may not receive full credit. Papers written will be graded for content, not just mechanics
Assignments will be given points and grades will be given based upon totals.
90 – 100% A 80 – 90% B 70 – 80% C 60 – 70% C
(The curriculum for this course is on order so this syllabus will not be completed until the end of August. Questions? Contact Beth. Thanks!)
Date Assignments
September 8 Stuck Stories Complete Stuck Stories Worksheets
September 15 Plan a Shoe Stuck Story Complete worksheets and write a rough draft to share (10 points)
September 22 Plan a Left Alone Story Use worksheets completed in class to write a rough draft (10 points)
September 29 Use the Stuck Idea Bank and Stuck Story Outline sheet to write a story – will begin in class. Either self-edit or have someone else edit your story, rewrite your story, type it and bring it t o class. This is your Stuck Story Project *Your paper must be typed (5 points), follow the stuck story model we practiced the past three weeks (5 points), double spaced (5 points), font size 12 (5 points), turn in on time (5 points) – Due next week.
October 6
October 13
October 20
October 27
November 3
November 10 .
November 17
November 24
December 1
December 8
December 15 Holiday writing project day! No homework!
December 22 NO HERO
December 29 NO HERO
January 5
January 12
January 19
January 26
February 2
February 9
February 16
February 23
March 2
March 9 NO HERO Spring Break
March 16
March 23
April 6
April 13
April 20
April 27
May 4
May 11
May 18 We’ll practice writing alliterations for fun! Enjoy your summer!
