Happy Prep-Time, All!! Yup: Summer's been flying by and it's time to signup for those free homeschool classes this fall!! Don't see enough free classes? Well then, by all means create one! All of us have skills to teach, whether it's pottery or algebra, and what fantastic opportunities our kids would have if every one of us just taught one free class!! If we all donate just a little time, whether a 1-day class or several, our kids would have hundreds of free classes to choose from right here in town. Isn't that a wonderful vision? I hope this inspires more free offerings!
Okay-off the soapbox! The free classes I'll be teaching this year are the Playful Pens Writing Classes for midhigh and high schoolers. :) This is an interactive "drama" approach to writing, building and discovering writer's tools (e.g. tone, theme, setting, 3-D characters, etc.) through activities, games, drama, and practice. It's the Writing Club's 4th year, and we're having a great time. I've taught classes for the elementary ages, but these are designed for the older students, and I've often regretted making exceptions. So if your 6-11 grader likes to write, wants to improve their writing, or wants to get ready for the SAT or ISS exams, sign them up!
This fall we'll have Creative Writing I and Tech Writing I, and in the Spring we'll have Creative Writing II, Tech Writing II, and hopefully (if we get a good computer lab) another web writing class too. Last year, our web writing class created our website from scratch: www.playfulpens.com. Even if you don't choose to sign up this year, keep your eye on the site as opportunities for writing, publishing and contests will be announced throughout the year.
Each class meets once a week for only 5 or 6 weeks, and there is 1-2 hours of additional homework to practice what they've learned in class. Don't let the fun and short duration fool you-we cover a lot of material in class! Some people say that if I don’t charge money or give out grades, people won’t take this learning opportunity seriously, but for the past several years we've proved them wrong!
The students learn a great deal about writing tools, whether discovering new ones or sharpening the ones they have. Whether storytelling (Creative Writing I) or learning different styles of note-taking (Tech Writing II, week 1), we start and end each class by seeing how much we know. The students quickly realize that even though we seem to be playing a game, they're actually learning a writing skill. Then they can practice those skills with the weekly homework (which is also handed in and reviewed).
Classes on the East side of Albuquerque are scheduled on Tuesday afternoons, from 3pm to 4:15, at Title Wave Books on Eubank. Classes on the West side are Wednesdays, from 3pm to 4:15, at the Taylor Ranch Community Center.
Creative Writing I starts August 26th/27th and runs through September. Technical Writing I is at the same time and place, starting the first week of October and running for 5 weeks. You can sign up for one or the other or both, but you must sign up in advance to attend (we almost always fill up).
To get more info, to get a complete class outline via email, or to sign your 6th-11th grader up for these free writing class, email chrislanter4@yahoo.com or give me a call at 306-1866. These classes almost always fill up, and the last week of August is coming up quick, so don't wait too long to sign up!
Happy Homeschooling!
:) -Chris