Are you looking for quality writing instruction for your learner? I am a licensed English and special education teacher who specializes in creating engaging writing lessons for middle grade students. Check out my classes below!
Private Lessons
(Ages 8 to 15)
Write Amazing Sentences: Explicit Writing Instruction
This class is perfect for those who are interested in explicit writing instruction. The lessons are designed to help learners practice text-based writing using a variety of sentence types with proper capitalization and punctuation. Each class will open with a brief lesson on a different sentence type. After the lesson and some group writing practice, we will read a fairy tale or folktale and practice writing about it using the sentence type of the week. Each lesson stands on its own. Week 1: Sentences and Fragments (Learners will be able to identify fragments and turn them into simple sentences.) Week 2: Sentence types (Learners will be able to write statements, commands, questions, and exclamations.) Week 3: Because, But, So Sentences (Learners will write use conjunctions to build on simple sentences.) Week 4: Subordinating Conjunctions (Learners will use subordinating conjunctions to create complex sentences.) Week 5: Appositives (Learners will use appositives to add details to their sentences.) Week 6: Expanded Sentences (Learners will expand simple sentences to include more details.) Please Note: Elements of this course are inspired by The Writing Revolution. I am not in any way sponsored by or affiliated with The Writing Revolution. All materials used in this course are my own creation.
The Complete Writing Experience: Explicit Writing Instruction Workshop
If you are looking for a class that will help your learner gain confidence as they write about texts while providing them with a firm writing foundation, then this course is for you! We start with explicit sentence writing instruction since sentences are the building blocks of writing. Once learners know how to create varied and robust sentences, they can write about anything. This course starts with fundamentals such as identifying fragments and turning them into complete sentences, understanding the boundaries of a sentence, and identifying and writing different sentence types. We then move onto compound and complex sentences, appositives, and sentence expansion. Once students have mastered sentence writing, we will focus on paragraph writing, essay outlining, and writing multi-paragraph essays. This course teaches punctuation and grammar in conjunction with reading comprehension. Every sentence, paragraph, and essay that learners write in this course is in response to stories and articles that we read together. This course walks learners through the writing process, allowing them improve their writing skills while working on their reading comprehension at the same time. Each week we will review the material from the previous week to ensure that the learners have mastered that writing skill. Then we will have a min-lesson on a new writing skill. We will read an engaging passage together, and practice responding to the passage using the writing skill covered that week. COURSE OVERVIEW Week 1: Fragments and sentences Week 2: Scrambled sentences and sentence types Week 3: Because, but, so Week 4: Subordinate conjunctions Week 5: Appositives Week 6: Sentence combining Week 7: Expanded sentences and summaries Week 8: Single paragraph outline Week 9: Revising topic sentences and varying vocabulary Week 10: Transitions Week 11: Revising an unelaborated paragraph Week 12: Opening and closing paragraphs Week 13: Multiple paragraph essay outlines Week 14: Essay writing Please Note: Elements of this course are inspired by The Writing Revolution. I am not in any way sponsored by or affiliated with The Writing Revolution. All materials used in this course are my own creation.
Narrative Writing: Creative Writing For Middle School
In this class, students will learn all of the skills that they need to write engaging narrative essays. Over the course of six lessons, students will learn how to organize narrative essays, create opening lines that capture their reader's attention, use figurative language to write descriptive settings, and use dialogue, thoughts, feelings, and actions to bring a scene to life. Each lesson will focus on a different part of the narrative essay. By the end of the class, students will have written a well organized narrative essay with themselves as the main character. Lesson 1: Students will learn how to organize and plan out their narrative essay. Lesson 2: Students will learn how to write strong openings that capture the reader's attention. They will write the first paragraph of their essay. Lesson 3: Students will learn how to use different types of figurative language in their writing. They will use figurative language and sensory details to write descriptive setting paragraphs. Lesson 4: Students will learn how to write strong body paragraphs that create a scene for the reader. They will use dialogue, actions, thoughts, feelings, and descriptive details to bring their stories to life. Lesson 5: Student will learn how to write closing paragraphs that are reflective and express the lesson of the story. Lesson 6: Students will learn how to revise their essays and will have the opportunity to share their writing.
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Testimonials
Teacher Ariel is excellent. My daughter’s writing skills have greatly improved, and I love the Writing Revolution approach. My daughter is more mindful about how she crafts her paragraphs, and her writing has become richer and more detailed. Ariel has a calm, encouraging demeanor which was appreciated by my daughter. Her lessons are thorough and thoughtful. - Maria
Despite loving the ideas behind The Writing Revolution, I couldn't wrap my head around how to implement it. Enter Teacher Ariel, whose gentle and thorough guidance has my learner willingly writing with attention to detail, interesting sentences, and clear expression. She even revised her own work, recognizing ways to improve. We've tried multiple approaches and methods for writing, but nothing has clicked with my kid until this class. Teacher Ariel built up these skills week after week, from sentence to essay. She's amazing! - S.P.
Ms. Ariel is great and our 4th grader was engaged and eager to participate every week! - Claudia
My daughter loved this class and is looking forward to taking another! She felt a little shy at first, but the instructor was very kind and did an excellent job. My daughter was excited about the things she learned in class that will help her be a better writer! - Kristen
Teacher Ariel holds to the philosophy of the Writing Revolution with fidelity. Her instruction is explicit and thorough, and her tone is warm, positive, and encouraging. This class was worth every penny for my developing writer. - Maggie
I have three kids who have all taken classes with Teacher Ariel. Ariel is fantastic. Professional, punctual and able to keep a wide age range of children invested and focused throughout an online format - which is quite an achievement! Plus she knows the Hochman Method and it's really hard and unusual to find teachers outside of a private school or district able and will to teach this method. Well worth the investment. My kids did extremely well with her. - Rachel
This class was excellent! My son became more comfortable and confident in his writing. He will be taking this teacher again for other writing classes. -Tawana
The teacher is well-prepared and very patient. My child quite likes the teacher. -Fiona
As a former student of this class, I know that THIS SUMMER CAMP WAS GREAT! Teacher Ariel was so kind and smart, and she had a way of explaining things clearly. We learned about all the key ingredients to make a perfect essay! The stories we listened to were adventurous, and helpful! I totally recommend this class! - Samantha
We always enjoy her classes. She is very patient and willing to slow down, repeat or explain things in a different way.
- Alycia
Qualifications
I am a licensed English and special education teacher with over thirteen years of classroom experience. I also have several years of experience as an online writing tutor and a homeschool mom.​
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Education
Quinnipiac University: BA in English (Summa Cum Laude)
Quinnipiac University: MA in Education
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Disclaimer
I am not employed by, or affiliated with, The Writing Revolution. I am simply a teacher who has gone through the Writing Revolution training and has seen the difference it makes in my students' writing. All of the lessons and materials used are my own creation.