Description:

This course is for those who desire a creative and exciting introduction to the worlds of literature. For most students, it is the first taste of 'seminar style lit-crit/creative writing workshop' -- at an age-appropriate level. We do deep reading of real novels and support one another's personal development as writers in a literary seminar atmosphere adapted to suit students who are just beginning to develop the analytical skills they will use the rest of their lives. This is a FUN course that teaches SERIOUS SKILLS in ways that encourage students to ease into the transition from elementary to middle school and, in the process, see themselves as smart, capable, successful students.

Who: Primarily 5th graders. 4th and 6th graders admitted with instructor's approval. (class size limited to no more than thirteen students.)

What/How/Why:
Students who want to become better readers, writers, thinkers, and learners love this course. We explore a novel and short stories written by different authors in various styles in a college seminar style (with appropriate adjustments for age differences ;-). Our literary analyses range widely, but always include a key element. We look at the ways these writers use words as would any fellow writers. We learn Standard American English grammatical and stylistic rules, punctuation, and other conventions as we adopt and adapt techniques to improve our own writing. We increase vocabulary and fluency in every area of language use and pay special attention to theme, metaphor, character, and plot (or thesis development for non-fiction genres).

Each student chooses one topic to write about in depth. Students can write fiction or non-fiction: begin a novel, write a short story, essay, poem, or a slice of history, science, biography, philosophy....We all read one another's writing and provide positive, specific critiques. We also employ logic, puzzles, various art forms, and other creative ideas. We discuss language arts homework difficulties. We have fun with words and ideas.

The instructor, Scott Cowan, provides detailed feedback based on all he has learned over twenty + years of teaching language, literacy, philosophy, and more to children and adults of diverse backgrounds. Scott encourages students to use a wide variety of their experiences in academic and non-academic situations, and shares his own experiences from various University courses in many disciplines, such as Anthropology, Creative Writing, Education, History, Languages and Language Acquisition, Linguistics, Literacy, Literature, Philosophy, and Psychology. Scott also uses his experiences as a father, skier, biker, world traveler, baseball coach, and Gardener as he meets the needs of each student, individually, as much as possible. The goals of the course are to deepen a love of reading, writing, critical thinking and learning so that all of these related items become a source of enjoyment and success in academics and, eventually, career, throughout life.

Cost and Payment plans:

Lesson fees vary depending on the course you choose as the best for you.
Private lessons, tailored perfectly to individual needs: ......$90/Hr.
Semi-Privates.....................................................................$75/Hr.
Trios...................................................................................$65/Hr.
Quads and Quints................................................................$50/Hr.
[Ideal for 5th gr. writers' workshops:]
6-8 students.....................................................................$43/Hr.
9-13(max. number in any group).................................$35/Hr.
Since all seats in group courses are reserved for students in the course, and, thus, no one can fill a seat that goes empty, there is, unfortunately, no way to discount the course for those students who are absent on a given date. If a student misses a week and there is room available in another section of the course on another day of the week, the student is welcome to come on a "make-up day" at no extra charge. Students in the course can also take advantage of unlimited private sessions available at a significant discount.