Age/Grade Level: On-level and advanced fourth graders as well as fifth graders needing reinforcement. Must be nine years of age prior to September 1, 2022.
Teacher: Becky Thompson, BS Elementary Education with English Specialization, Baylor University; Masters in Math Education, University of Houston
Tuition:
* Early Bird Tuition Rate, Postmarked by June 30: $600/year or 10 payments of $60
* Regular Tuition Rate, Postmarked AFTER June 30: $650/year or 10 payments of $65
Supply Fee: None
Class Description:
This class will provide weekly instruction and parent/child accountability in the subject areas of composition and penmanship as well as reading and grammar enrichment. Mrs. Thompson’s classes are rigorous but highly rewarding, challenging but flexible, and always, ALWAYS tons of fun.
COMPOSTITION: To fulfill the composition component, the teacher will use the Institute for Excellence in Writing’s (IEW) All Things Fun and Fascinating, where a wide variety of adventures will supply a rich foundation for imaginative and enjoyable writing. Students will compose well-structured, short, imaginative paragraphs throughout the year. They will practice expanding sentences weekly and will write well-structured three-paragraph and five-paragraph reports/stories by year-end.
PENMANSHIP: Cursive handwriting will be taught in class and practiced with parent oversight throughout the week. Students will write entirely in cursive by January. Neatness and organization are required. Students who already write in cursive will review with new learners, and the teacher will modify accordingly.
READING ENRICHMENT: Students will read poetry, short stories, and chapter books of various genres, all with an emphasis on reading for comprehension, oral expression, and enjoyment.
GRAMMAR: IEW’s writing program provides a very organic grammar program along with the writing, but at this age a more formal approach is also needed. To that end, the teacher will provide a grammar syllabus for the Language Smarts series and also record grammar test grades; but on the whole, grammar will be taught at home by a parent. The required “open-and-go” curriculum should eliminate any advance preparation for parents.
Requirements at Home:
Texts and Chapter Books:
What Parents Say About Mrs. Thompson’s Classes:
~J.F., April 2021
~ R.P., April 2021
~ A.G., April 2021
~A.M., April 2021