Writing with Kris Classes

IT’S TIME TO SIGN UP FOR CLASSES

All of the classes that Writing with Kris offers (and that are open to the public) are listed on my website: www.writingwithkris.com.  Please go to my website to determine what class you would like to sign your child/children up for, then proceed with the following instructions:

• If you plan to sign up for a class, simply reply to this email (or info@writingwithkris.com) with the following information:
• If your child is returning to the same class as fall semester, simply provide your student’s name and the location of the class they attend. 
• If your student is new this semester, please include the following information:
• Student name/ parent name/ grade/ class location/ charter school or payment method/ phone number
• Order you voucher:
• Request three vouchers:
• Most classes begin the week of Jan. 14, and end the week of Mar. 25  (if you are in a co-op, check their calendar)
• First and second voucher $95, third voucher $75. The total cost for a  literature-based writing class is $265.
• If your child is in a class with a different cost, simply divide the cost of the class into monthly payments depending upon the duration of the class.
• Feel free to share this opportunity with your friends.
• YOUR PROMPT REPLY IS GREATLY APPRECIATED . . .  IT HELPS ME TO ORDER AN ACCURATE NUMBER OF BOOKS FOR EACH CLASS.
• For those of you who like to plan ahead, I will be offering at least one elective writing class again in the late spring (April and May).  The class/classes will meet on Wed. mornings in Orangevale. I am “considering” offering a Journalism writing course.  Feel free to let me know what your thoughts are about that option. More details will be forthcoming. 

PRE-WRITING CLASS FOR K-2^ND GRADERS!!  (Wed. at Orangevale location only)

Pass the word around to your friends: This is a super fun and educational class for beginning learners, taught by the amazing Mrs. Sterrett.  She is incredibly creative, and she absolutely loves to have fun learning with our youngest students.  Mrs. Sterrett engages with her students in a variety of ways:

• Read aloud stories and meaningful dialogue including the following content:
• Literary terms: plot, protagonist, setting, etc.
• Comprehension questions 
• Critical thinking questions (WHY do you think . . . ?)
• Narration (retelling the story)
• Crafts to reinforce the ideas taught in these stories and develop fine motor skills
• Songs that students learn to reinforce the concepts being taught
• Optional homework to reinforce the lessons and include parents 
• Acting and playing games to help create a fun social environment while learning

Don’t let your little ones miss out on this super fun learning opportunity!

A NEW TEACHER AND CHANGES IN SOME CLASSES!

For a variety of reasons, a few of the Writing with Kris teachers will not be returning to the classroom this semester.  Of course we will miss them, but we are also excited to have amazing replacements for these teachers. Miss Nicolehas been training, and she is ready to begin teaching and tutoring.  She is VERY excited about this opportunity to put her love of language into practice with her students!  We’ll try to get more information about Miss Nicole up on the Writing with Kris website very soon.

Here are the changes that you can expect in some classrooms:

• Tues./Carmichael location:
• 3^rd-5^th grade class: Miss Nicole

• Wed./Orangevale location:
• 5^th/6^th grade class: Mrs. Cordell along with Miss Nicole
• Thurs./Metro Calvary in Roseville location:
• 3^rd-5^th grade class: Miss Nicole

All other classes will be continuing with the same teacher and a NEW BOOK!!  Check my website (www.writingwithkris.com) to see the titles of the books that each class will be studying this coming semester.

CLASS FOCUS FOR THE NEW SEMESTER

While this past semester was a success in many ways, there were also some challenges that a few students experienced primarily due to new teachers.  Some students were simply moving into a new class with a different teacher, and other students were in classes with teachers that are new to the Writing with Kris program.  This brought some challenges, and I appreciate everyone’s (teachers’, students’, and parents’) patience and optimism through the duration of the class.  Some students (and parents) felt the classes were too easy, others felt they were too hard, and yet others thought they were “just right”. 😊  I want to encourage you if you were not in the “just right” camp to stick around and work with us to create classes that challenge students adequately without causing them to become discouraged.  As you probably already know, WWK classes are academic classes, so hard work and studious habits are practiced, yet we try to guard against unreasonable expectations.  Your communication with your child’s teacher with regard to how many hours of study are required each week is very helpful.  

During the fall semester each year, every class level focuses on teaching (and for returning students reviewing) the writing process that we use in all Writing with Kris classes.  Whether students are new or returning, each new school year, our teachers focus on teaching and practicing the four steps in the writing process as identified in the Writing with Kris handbook. Of course this instruction is paired with literary instruction and analysis.  

GET READY TO STEP IT UP: The second semester we will continue practicing and perfecting the four steps in the writing process, but we will also focus on the final step: rewriting.  The rewriting process requires students to not only edit their writing for correctness, but also for style.  Teachers at every grade level will focus on teaching and requiring stylistically well written compositions.  They will also spend additional time teaching grammar rules that apply to their students’ writing. 

In addition, this semester, all enrichment writing projects will have a research component, appropriate for each grade level.  Get ready to have some fun researching!

NEW EMAIL

I, Kris, am in the process of changing my email address to info@writingwithkris.com. I have already been using this email for much of my correspondence, but I will be phasing out my cordellfam@surewest.net email completely within the next few months.  Please take a moment to change my email in your records to the new email.  I would hate to miss any correspondence that you send me. 

HELP NEEDED

I am grateful for many opportunities to connect with homeschool families that need help as they strive to educate their children well, especially in the area of communication and writing.  More than ever, our culture needs individuals who think well and communicate their thoughts well: Individuals who are learning how to read well, process information accurately, listen attentively, and respond graciously both verbally and in writing. Because our instruction is working well for so many families, it seems I am constantly in need of additional teachers and support personnel.  Specifically, I am interested in finding someone who has experience in social media communication, and, like I said, I am always on the lookout for more amazing teachers. Please let me know if you would like to explore the possibility of joining the Writing with Kris team, and feel free to share this opportunity with a friend.