For Grades 4-7
Live Online – Monday 12:30-1:20 pm
Students love the creative writing units in my popular IEW writing classes, and they keep asking for more! This class is for students who love to write stories and want to keep learning. We will begin by introducing and reviewing the IEW story sequence chart, and write three-paragraph stories based on that easy to follow “recipe” for short stories.
We will start with familiar fables and fairytales, and then get creative with borrowing a plot and creating our own versions of these fanciful tales. We will also have fun with the ever-popular IEW three-picture story model (always a student favorite in my IEW classes).
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Here’s what parents are saying about this class:
My daughter took Mrs. Dodson’s creative writing class this year and she loved it! This was our first time having Mrs. Dodson as a teacher, and I was so impressed with her. The class was engaging, well thought out, and she graded the homework so quickly with encouraging, yet constructive words. My daughter grew immensely in her ability to write this year due to Mrs. Dodson’s help and encouragement. She now wants to be a writer when she grows up! Thank you, Mrs. Dodson! –Michelle B.
Our daughter has been taking virtual classes with Ms. Holly for two years now. Watching her grow in both her confidence level and enjoyment of writing has been amazing! She looks forward to class and often feels so inspired by the class time that she gets right to work on her own story assignment. We are so grateful to have found these virtual classes that fit into our homeschool schedule and provide inspirational, supportive, direct instruction to our child. —Sarah G. (Glass)
For Grades 2-3
Live Online – Tuesday 11:00-11:50 am
Students will be introduced to IEW-style writing (based on Andrew Pudewa’s Institute for Excellence in Writing program). Students will learn to create key word outlines and be introduced to “dress ups” designed to make writing more interesting. Using models and checklists for daily writing, students learn a “formula” for good writing, taking the guesswork out of an often bewildering subject.
We will use original source materials, created by Holly, based on more than a decade of working with IEW students and learning what they love to write about. Students will write about seahorses, bees, koalas, Komodo dragons, coati, elephants, ostriches, and more! High-interest materials make writing more fun! All materials are included in a pdf document that you can print at home.
Pre-requisites: Students should be comfortable writing sentences and be able to copy notes off the board onto their own paper.
Here’s what parents are saying about this class:
Mrs. Holly Dodson is an incredible teacher! She manages to engage all her students and fosters a very positive environment for everyone. My daughter has loved learning in all of her classes with Mrs. Holly. I would highly recommend the writing class for struggling writers. My once reluctant writer has produced great writing work samples thanks to Mrs. Holly. And the Social Studies class covers all of the standards for 2nd grade, and more. They are both great classes. We look forward to continuing classes with Mrs. Holly in the years to come.
-E. Morales
For Grades 3-5
Live Online – Monday 10:00-10:50 am
Live Online – Tuesday 9:00-9:50
Writing can be one of the most difficult subjects to teach. Students find themselves staring helplessly at a blank sheet of paper without any idea where to begin.
In this class, which is based on Andrew Pudewa’s Institute for Excellence in Writing Program, students are given source materials, so they always know what to write about (No more, “I don’t know what to write!”), and they learn specific techniques for improving their writing style. Using models and checklists, they always know exactly what is expected of them in their writing assignments, leading to more independent writing.
During this course, students learn how to create key word outlines, a valuable skill that helps them in writing and note-taking in all content areas.
- Students learn to use “dress ups” and “sentence openers,” specific stylistic techniques that add variety to sentence structure.
- Using models and checklists for daily writing, students learn a “formula” for good writing, taking the guesswork out of an often bewildering subject.
- Students will write about fascinating animals including snakes, bats, sharks, giraffes, crocodiles, tigers, frogs, and gorillas. High-interest materials make writing more fun!
Register Here (Monday)
Register Here (Tuesday)
Here’s what parents are saying about this class:
My daughter struggled to start writing a paragraph on her own. After a semester in your Beginning IEW class, she is now writing three paragraphs with ease. Thank you for building and strengthening her writing skills. It has completely transformed her as a writer. I would strongly recommend this class to anyone. –Natalie Butterweck
One of my kids was a reluctant writer but Ms. Dodson’s IEW class has changed my daughter’s attitude towards writing. The IEW program seems to work for my daughter and Ms. Dodson explains well so my daughter’s writing has improved immensely. She has a lot more confidence in writing, which is wonderful! –Sarah
For Grades 4-6
Live Online – Thursday 10:00-10:50 am
Experience the adventures of the ancient world! This theme-based writing curriculum exposes students to the ancient world through cultural literature and the study of famous places and events while they learn to write with Structure and Style.
In this class, students will practice IEW-style writing (based on Andrew Pudewa’s Institute for Excellence in Writing program) using ancient history-based writing lessons. This is a great class for students who have some IEW experience and want to continue reviewing and practicing writing from a source and using key word outlines, dress ups, and openers. The text sources in this class are ancient history-based, so students will learn some history and vocabulary while focusing on becoming skilled and confident independent writers.
Please note: Although the student book contains some religious material, this class is secular, and any Biblical references are incidental rather than the focus of the writing. You may need to assure some charter schools that this is a secular class in order to have them approve the class and student books.
Here’s what parents are saying about this class:
Great intro to IEW and very positive class each week. It has helped her start to become a writer with much more ease and clarity. My daughter was not always a confident writer and she has blossomed this year from taking her IEW class with Holly! It has been such a pleasant, positive experience in a subject she has always been hesitant in. I am so thankful we found her classes. Thank you- Sara Carpenter.
My son has taken a few courses with Mrs. Holly and I have seen great improvement. Not only is he now very confident with his writing skills but he continues to surprise me every time he writes and speaks. His vocabulary is so extensive. My child has decided to become an author due to the love of writing he has developed throughout these past few years of taking courses with Mrs. Holly.
-Andrea G.
For Grades 5-7
Live Online – Monday 1:30-2:20 pm
Knights, vikings, kings, and other famous figures of the Middle Ages come to life as students learn to write with structure and style.
In this class, students will practice IEW-style writing (based on Andrew Pudewa’s Institute for Excellence in Writing program) using medieval history-based writing lessons. This is a great class for students who have some IEW experience and want to continue reviewing and practicing writing from a source, and using key word outlines, dress ups, and openers. The text sources in this class are medieval history-based, so students will learn some history and vocabulary, while focusing on becoming skilled and confident independent writers.
Please note: Although the student book contains some religious material, this class is secular, and any Biblical references are incidental rather than the focus of the writing. You may need to assure some charter schools that this is a secular class in order to have them approve the class and student books.
For Grades 5-9
Live Online – Monday 11:00-11:20 am
This is my most rigorous writing class. It is not based on IEW. We will quickly move into multiple paragraph essays of different genres, to help students become proficient in the more advanced writing they are expected to do in high school and college.
In this class, we will begin by reviewing the basics of sentence structure, including simple sentences, complex sentences, and compound sentences, and how to avoid run-on sentences and sentence fragments.
Next we will move on to the basics of writing a strong body paragraph that includes a topic sentence, supporting details with evidence/explanations, and a concluding sentence. Once we’ve mastered the body paragraph, we will move onto essays that include powerful introductory and concluding paragraphs. We will expand on this basic essay structure as we delve into different types of essays: expository, narrative, argumentative, persuasive, descriptive, and literary analysis.
All of these skills will be taught with direct instruction, modeling, and practice, in a step by step sequence that makes essay writing approachable and attainable.
This is writing boot camp to prepare students for more rigorous writing in middle school, high school, and beyond. Students will have weekly homework of one to three paragraphs per week, and will be expected to write rough drafts, revise, edit, and write final copies of their work.
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