Language Courses

English Reading and Writing

Does your child need extra instruction in English reading and writing? Our online courses are designed to improve writing skills, develop critical reading skills for literature, and teach the basic elements of literature.

Each course is taught live by a certified teacher using Zoom. Class size is small, usually 8 to 10 students.

Kindergarten English Reading

Learning English is made fun for young students through reading of popular children's books. Kids are introduced to English words and their meanings and shown how they are used in context as they read along with the teacher.

Grades 3, 4, and 5 English Writing

These courses are designed to provide a foundation for writing, to enhance students' English writing skills, and to develop writing abilities for the most frequently used writing styles.

Each course is 12 lessons, 1 hour per lesson.

Course 1 covers:

the writing process
descriptive writing
narrative writing
persuasive writing

Course 2 covers:

expository writing
responding to literature
creative writing

Other Language Courses Offered

Spanish

Jackie teaching 5th grade writing.

Courtney teaching 3rd grade writing.

Grade 6 English Writing

Grade 6 writing continues covering writing styles and is designed to provide a foundation for writing, to enhance students' English writing skills, and to develop writing abilities for the most frequently used writing styles.

Grades 3, 4, and 5 English Reading

In these courses students read and discuss a story and learn the elements of literature such as plot, characters, setting, conflict, figurative language, personification and theme. These skills will help students to better understand what to look for as they read novels. Learning to analyze, evaluate, and interpret literature while exploring the author's themes is not only important for school, but becomes a lifelong skill as students read more complex material in high school and college. Each lesson will also emphasize vocabulary and grammar, and strengthen critical thinking skills.

Each course is 15 lessons, 1.5 hours per lesson.

3rd Grade Reading studies the stories: Dinosaurs Before Dark, by Mary Pope Osborne; Freckle Juice, by Judy Blume; Never Swipe a Bully's Bear, by Roscoe Riley.
4th Grade Reading studies the stories: Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume; The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett; The Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Chandler Warner; Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck; Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry; Fantastic Mr. Fox, by Roald Dahl; Double Fudge, by Judy Blume.
5th Grade Reading studies the stories: Charlotte's Web, by E. B. White; Holes, by Louis Sachar; Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery; Flipped, by Wendelin Van Draanen; The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan; The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo; The Witches, by Roald Dahl.

Grades 7, 8, and 9 SAT Reading and Writing

These courses are designed to provide students with a well-rounded reading and writing education that will prepare them to take the SATs by intensively analyzing a number of selected classic literature books in class and extensively practicing SAT-oriented assessments after class. Emphasis is placed on literary analysis, SAT vocabulary, selected textual analysis, and the critical reading and thinking skills needed to score well on the exam. Each term will culminate in a substantive writing assignment.

Students will be given weekly reading, writing, and vocabulary homework assignments. Homework is designed to prepare students for the SAT and class discussion.

Courses are taught over three terms. Each term covers two books selected from the suggest SAT Reading List by the College Board, as well as lessons on writing essays about the literature.