Creative Writing: Unlock the Block (Ages 8-12)
Beat Writer's Block with Fun Story Prompts, Imaginative Writing Activities & Fiction Writing Skills
Course Summary
In this self-paced course, your learner will learn how to insert visual imagery, feelings, and personification into writing. During the final lesson, your learner will create an interesting story while following a plot diagram.
Lesson 1 - Sensory Details
--Respond to interesting questions with an ice breaker activity, watch a short video designed to help you think about each of the five senses, complete a short writing response regarding your favorite food, watch a video lesson regarding things on the outside, and finally, complete a descriptive response about a particular place. The writing activity includes scaffolding to organize your thoughts.
Lesson 2 - Words That Show
-Respond with a one-sentence reply for the ice breaker activity, watch a short video regarding words that tell, complete a short writing response regarding telling details, watch a video lesson about words that show, and complete a story that includes all five senses and words that show emotions. The writing activity includes scaffolding to organize your thoughts.
Lesson 3 - Personification
--Listen to a short piece of audio and describe the scene in the icebreaker activity, watch a short video regarding words that bring things to life, write a short response designed to elevate ordinary to extraordinary, watch a video lesson about personification, and complete creative writing about a chosen photo. The writing activity includes scaffolding to organize your thoughts.
Lesson 4 - Plot Diagram
--Respond with a one-sentence reply for the ice breaker activity, watch a short video designed to help you understand the plot diagram, write a short response that includes a beginning-middle-end, watch a video that includes a short story and shows how the story fits into a plot diagram, and complete creative writing about an interesting picture. The writing activity includes scaffolding to organize your thoughts.
Course Curriculum
Course Pricing
Valerie Stone
About Me
My husband and I live near Cincinnati, Ohio with our three children: two have graduated and one is starting college credit plus classes. I have been homeschooling our children for 17 years. We enjoy spending time together as a family, playing sports, games, and watching movies.
My Qualifications and Experience
After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati, I worked as a social worker for Child Protective Services for 6 years before retiring to be a mom (the greatest job in the world). I started teaching four-day-a-week pre-k classes when my oldest child was 5 years old. Over the past 17 years, I have taught a variety of classes to homeschool students, including English composition and literature. During that time, I developed a passion for teaching literature, grammar, and writing, and I have been teaching high school level composition and literature classes for over 7 years.
What is Different About Me
I have homeschooled three children with different learning abilities: a son on the autism spectrum, a son with ADHD, and a daughter who finds everything easy to learn. Throughout the homeschool journey, I have used a variety of methods to help each child achieve the same level of knowledge and success. I have been that mom who had to figure out a new way to reach my child. I have been that teacher with multiple different ability levels in the same classroom. I will work to help every student reach their potential.
My Philosophy
I love seeing students grow in their abilities and confidence. I believe in students growing from “where they are.” Every student has unique gifts and abilities, and I encourage them to improve from whatever level they start at. Each assignment is aimed at opening up new ways of thinking and “unlocking the block.” I grade based on completed requested elements, adding small suggestions for improvement. My mission is to help all students grow in ability and interest ranging from the one that cries over writing a sentence to the one that writes 3 pages too much on a 5 paragraph essay.
