Tuesday Grammar and Writing Classes
EXCELLENCE IN WRITING
Grades 7 to 9
Semester Fee: $95*
Class Size: Min. 6, Max. 20
This course from Andrew Pudewa’s Institute for Excellence in Writing has a proven track record for producing outstanding
results. Students make key word outlines of a source text model (focusing upon early American history) and then re-write it
from their notes. They will learn note taking, summarizing, narrative writing, research paper writing, and essay writing --
all valuable skills for writing term papers. They will also learn techniques to dress up their writing, thereby making them
interesting, mature compositions. In the process, they will develop their confidence and creativity as writers. Excellence
in Writing adds the “Wow! factor” to students’ papers.
*Monthly installments of $24/month Sept.--Dec., $19/month Jan.--May, or lump sum.
PREREQUISITES: Hands-On English with Linking Blocks I is helpful but not required. Good understanding of basic grammar
(eight parts of speech.)
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Student Resource Packet (code HBW-S) $25 from the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Order at www.writing-edu.com
or 800-856-5815.
HANDS-ON ENGLISH WITH LINKING BLOCKS 1
Grades 5 to 8
Semester Fee: $95*
Class Size: Min. 6, Max. 20
Does your child know the difference between simple subjects and compound subjects, or the
difference between action verbs and linking verbs? How about the three uses of adverbs? Can he use each of these structures
effectively in his writing? This two semester English course gives a strong foundation in the eight parts of speech and their
uses in sentences. Learning becomes a hands-on experience as students manipulate colored blocks that represent words. The
course also covers fundamentals of good composition, including the planning, development, and revision of good paragraphs,
descriptive and narrative writing; and punctuation using commas, semi-colons, and quotation marks. Students who have taken
the course have had an average grade improvement of 36 points (as much as three and a half letter grades.)
*Monthly installments of $24/month Sept.--Dec, $19/month Jan.--May, or lump sum.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Linking Blocks Student Workbook for about $30 from www.linkingblocks.com in a group order. Linking
Blocks kit, which has 50 colored blocks, links and word cards. New kits are available from Linking Blocks Partners at www.linkingblocks.com
for about $80. Used kits are often available from previously enrolled families. (E3 Concepts offers discounts for home schoolers.)
SOUND AND SENSE WRITING
Grades 6 to 7 will be offered for the 2009-2010 school year.
JOURNALISM/HALLSTROM GAZETTE
Grades 9 to 12
Semester Fee: $60 or $70*
Class Size: Min. 5, Max. 20
We will study how to write in abbreviated
newspaper style as well as discuss anti-Christian bias found in secular media today. This class practices writing articles
of various types -- news, features, sports, and editorials and reviews of music, books, restaurants, and other media. We also
work on producing the Hallstrom Gazette at least 10 times (minimum) during the year. Students will learn to do layouts by
producing their own family newspaper and will learn to hand in assignments in a timely manner. This can be taken for more
than one year; the second or third year students will have an opportunity to become possible editors as well as have different
assignments from the first year students. Second year students also have the opportunity to work on an optional photojournalism
assignment.
*$60 due on first day of class, or four payments of $17.50 each. (Discounted price if you can pay in full.)
PREREQUISITE: Need to be a 9h grader and at least 13 years old. Be prepared to talk in class and interview people you
might not know. Be prepared to work as part of a team.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Each week bring a three-ring binder with loose leaf paper, a spiral notebook, and own writing utensils
(pen and pencil.)
COMPOSITION & WORLD LITERATURE FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Grades 9 to 10
Semester Fee: $75
Class Size: Min. 5, Max. 25
Improve your writing skills and enjoy doing so as you learn to “write with the best.” This class uses an advanced
version of the Write With the Best curriculum also being offered this year at the junior high level with Mrs. Webber (although
Mrs. Webber’s class is not a PREREQUISITE for this class.) We will be using expanded classical literary works as models
for original compositions. Great authors like Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain, and Emily Dickinson will share their secrets of
great writing with us. Your student will learn to write effectively and efficiently as they prepare for more advanced classes
in high school and college. Students should be prepared for 5 hours of work per week.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Order Write With the Best curriculum at www.edudps.com. Order Volume 1 ($19.95) and Volume 2 ($24.95).
GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION 2
Grades 7 to 9
Semester Fee: $92
Class Size: Min. 5, Max 12
Students will do an intensive study of grammar. We will cover the eight parts of speech and study phrases and clauses
in more depth. We will proceed from writing paragraphs first semester to writing essays second semester. Students will begin
a new composition each week and revise a returned composition. (Great foundation for compositions required in literature classes,
etc.) A 4 to 7 page research paper will be required. Students will read three novels per semester from
a recommended reading list as an introduction to literature.
REQUIRED TEXTS: Books from Mrs. Brinkmeier included in fee. A Beka Grammar and Composition III 2001, 4th Edition (teacher’s
edition and student workbook), a good dictionary, and a thesaurus or synonym finder.
ROOTOLOGY
Grades: advanced 5 to 8
Semester Fee: $58
Class Size: Min. 10, Max. 20
Would you like to see your child’s (A) vocabulary grow, (B) comprehension and retention improve, (C) test scores
raised, (D) all of the above? If your answer is “D” then this is the class for your student. This class will focus
on committing to memory the Greek and Latin roots that so many of our English words contain. Each week, 4 or 5 new Greek or
Latin roots will be introduced. Ten vocabulary/spelling words will be assigned (usually) based on one of the new roots. The
student will be expected to memorize the definitions and spellings. Two tests will be given each week -- one over the ten
vocabulary words, and one over all the roots learned to that point. Approximately 100 roots over the year will be studied.
Plan on 30 minutes of homework a day. This is a two-year roots program that can be taken for two consecutive years or for
one year only.
WRITE WITH THE BEST
Grades 6 to 8
Semester Fee: $80
Class Size: Min. 3, Max. 15
Modeling great works of literature is what this class is about. We will be reading sections (not entire works) of great
literature, focusing on a particular aspect of writing while trying to extract wisdom and assimilate best practices of well
known authors. As daunting as this task may seem, it’s quite manageable with the Write With the Best curriculum. If
I had the inclination and skills to design a curriculum this well, this is exactly they way I would have done it. So don’t
be surprised when your student can write like Jules Vern or Charles Dickens; it’s all part of the plan.
PREREQUISITE: Students younger than 7th grade must have taken Write Your Own Book (below) or receive teacher approval
if they are considered advanced 6th graders.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Order Write With the Best curriculum at www.edudps.com. Order Volume 1 ($19.95) for first semester,
and Volume 2 ($24.95) for second semester. Also, Easy Grammar Plus Student Workbook ($13.95) ISBN 978-0-936981-14-7.
WRITE YOUR OWN BOOK!
Grades 4 to 6
Semester Fee: $80
Class Size: Min. 3, Max. 20
This class will jump-start your child in the writing process. I have been inspired by David Melton’s book Written
and Illustrated By, and Jill Dixon’s Write With the Best. I have been teaching my own children how to write books, and
their success has also been a great inspiration! (Check out the examples.) All the facets of the writing process will be covered
from pre-writing to publishing. Different aspects will be emphasized with each class period. Some of the class time will emphasize
the mechanics of writing: grammar, usage, spelling, and vocabulary. The rest of the class period will focus on the creative
aspects of writing: pre-writing, brainstorming, character development, plot, voice, and illustrating. By the end of the semester,
these two diverse aspects of the writing process will start to mesh into interesting, well-written books.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Easy Grammar Workbook 3/4 by Wanda Phillips. ISBN 0-936981-18-0 Note: If your child has completed
Easy Grammar 3/4, order Easy Grammar 4/5 Workbook. Also, bring a 3-ring binder, divider tabs, and one package of lined paper.
Updated September 2008
