7/8 Grade Reading & Writing (Intermediate)

Aug. 28- Nov 13, 2024

This class is typically for students in 7th-8th grade, often ages 12-13.

Set in the early 1900’s, Hattie Brooks bravely begins an adventure to take over her uncle’s homestead in Vida, Montana. With little experience, yet the determination to prove her work ethic and gumption, Hattie faces loneliness, the elements, farm life, and the wonder of community in this wonderful tale. Themes of trust, courage, wisdom, and resourcefulness pepper this Newbery Honor novel. Students will write multi-paragraph compositions, consider the topics of decision making and counting costs, and receive valuable feedback from the instructor to grow in the skills of middle school level reading and writing.

Skills Needed to Succeed in this Class

• Prerequisite: Intermediate Writing Foundations for ALL new students.

• Able to read more complex novels with challenging vocabulary and slightly mature content

• Has become comfortable with annotating the novel and charting literary content

• Has a degree of mastery writing an expanded paragraph (understands how to write “chunks”)

• Ready to transition to multi-paragraph essay writing

• Familiar with literary analysis writing, including weaving quotes from novel into composition

• Shows evidence of time management skills

• Able to complete 3-4 hours of homework weekly

Skilled Learned in this Class

• Continuing to practice TWJ writing steps and strategies: brainstorm, outline, rough draft, final draft

• Developing multi-paragraph essays by developing three body paragraphs

• Mastering a thesis and transitional sentences

• Providing specific examples from the novel to support assertions

• Explaining examples with insightful commentary, including being introduced writing “chunks” using concrete details and commentary sentences

• Improving sentence structure through mastery of stylistic elements
  
  

Other Class Details

12 weeks

Class meets for 2 hours per week. 

Maximum class size 15 students.

Supplies: pencil, paper, TWJ Writing Foundations Handbook

Gmail account to access Google Classroom and communicate with instructor

Hattie Big Sky

by Kirby Larson

ISBN #: TBA

Set in the early 1900’s, Hattie Brooks bravely begins an adventure to take over her uncle’s homestead in Vida, Montana. With little experience, yet the determination to prove her work ethic and gumption, Hattie faces loneliness, the elements, farm life, and the wonder of community in this wonderful tale. Themes of trust, courage, wisdom, and resourcefulness pepper this Newbery Honor novel. Students will write multi-paragraph compositions, consider the topics of decision making and counting costs, and receive valuable feedback from the instructor to grow in the skills of middle school level reading and writing.

For families that pay out-of-pocket for homeschooling classes, The Write Journey, LLC offers a discount of 10% for those classes. Use code “PRIVATEPAY” during check out to apply discount. This offer cannot be combined with any other discounts. The reduced rates for private-pay individuals may be used by students enrolled in charter schools, but only if the family chooses to pay for the goods or services out-of-pocket.

Venmo, PayPal, or Check? Use code “PERSONAL” during check out to change the class cost to $0. After you complete the registration process, please send us your payment. Venmo @TheWriteJourney-Cordell PayPal (Friends & Family) – info@thewritejourney.net

Paying with Charter School Funds? Use code “CHARTER” during check out to change the class cost to $0. After completing the registration process, contact your charter school to order vouchers/purchase orders in three one-month payments. Contact us for assistance if you plan to use charter funds and do not find The Write Journey (or Writing with Kris or Kris Cordell) on your charter school’s vendor list.

To pay with a check, contact us at 916.696.1759.

Cancellation Policy:

Due to the administrative costs and preparations of The Write Journey team to prepare classes and offer reasonable class sizes of 8-16 students, we must charge a cancellation fee. Teachers typically begin communication 2 weeks before classes begin, and class schedules must be finalized in order to offer the correct number of spots open for families. 

A $25 cancellation fee will be charged up to 2 weeks prior to the start of the ordered class. Any time after 2 weeks prior to the start of class, the cancellation fee is one full month’s charge. For private pay families with more than 2 children, a flat rate of $50 will be charged.