Do you adore words? Words like hippopotami, weasel, crinkle, scurrilous, lugubrious, and soporific? Do you play with words to create startling connections and scintillating oxymorons? Or maybe you hate writing and getting bogged down in the grammar and composition of it. Or maybe you think you have nothing to say, nothing worth writing about. Whether you love the process of writing or you’re terrified of it, this class is for you!

I take a Bravewriter approach to writing – the mechanics of writing (grammar, punctuation, spelling etc.) are taught separately from the creative output. First, we play with language, free from the rules of grammar and punctuation, to create bits and pieces of writing that open up the imagination, unleash creativity, and develop the unique writing voice of each child. I want kids to enjoy digging for treasure in their own writing – to find those startling phrases, those poetic descriptions, those powerful analogies – that captivate the reader. During this phase, we put the editorial scold in a box; we don’t need that nagging voice squelching the creative flow. But the mechanics are not forgotten. They bring clarity to the creative expression. The mechanics are taught through games, activities, and the development of a language notebook. The two strands are then brought together in several writing projects throughout the year. In these projects students will take a piece of writing from the initial creative idea all the way through the revising and editing process. Good writing takes time and my goal is to help kids enjoy the entire process!

Cost:

$250/semester out of pocket

$300/semester charter funds

Payment:

Venmo (@Danica-Childs), Paypal (Danica Childs), or check