Dragon Writer

dragon writer workshop

What Dragon Writer is :

Dragon Writer workshops are for fourth and fifth grade students who need extra time and help with the art of creative writing. It is designed to focus on one technical and one creative aspect of writing each week. (The two wings of the dragon, without which it’s not possible to “soar” as a writer).

Young writers are taken through the kind of a writing process that professional authors go through, while at the same time practicing state ELA standards. (A breakdown of standards covered is available upon request.) All the work in the class is handwritten to improve students’ handwriting and to more thoroughly engage their minds and bodies in the writing process.

At the end of the workshop, students have gained practical experience as creative writers and have a published anthology of their work to share with friends and family.

For more information and/or to schedule a Dragon Writer workshop visit our contact page here:

SAMPLE SYLLABUS

Facilitator: Grian McFadden

90 minutes once a week for six weeks or twice a week for three weeks. Homework–study spelling, about one hour per week/class. Total time toward ELA standards, 15 hours.

The purpose of the class is to give learners an opportunity to improve their writing skills. At the end of the workshop, students’ work will be published as an anthology by Green Turtle Arts and sold as a fundraiser for the school.

How it works:

Every class begins with a spelling test, a lesson on one of the “right wing” and one of the “left wing” skills and some skill practice. Learners will have a list of 10 spelling words each week to study at home. After the first week, the spelling words will be taken from their writing. Some words may be repeated on more than one test.

Requirements:

Attendance. Since the class meets only once a week, attendance is very important. If you miss a class, it is up to you to find out what went on and make up any missed work.
Behavior Learners are expected to show up with their homework done, to be attentive and respectful to the teacher and fellow students, and to participate in class activities and discussions.

Course Schedule:

First Week

In Class: Introductions: discuss expectations and what the class will accomplish (a published book) Brainstorm ideas for stories.

Assignment: Decorate writing journals. All writing will be done in these journals and will be edited (not graded) by facilitator each week. Write 150 words (one page) about something you like to do. (The purpose of this exercise is to give the educator a chance to assess students’ current skills.)

Second Week

In Class: Discuss what each student wants to write about and make a class list. (No gore, profanity or other inappropriate language to be used). Discuss the elements of plot and story arc.

Assignment: In class, write an outline of your plot in your journal. Hand in journals. to be edited and returned at next class. Study spelling words at home. The first spelling list will be generated by the facilitator. Subsequent spelling lists will come from students’ writing.

Third Week

Edited journals returned.

In Class: Spelling test. Discuss nouns and verbs. Play verb game.

Discuss author purpose and read examples. Have students decide what their author purpose is for their writing.

Assignment: Study spelling words at home. In class, write at least five sentences in journal to begi. Be sure to use proper punctuation and capitals. Hand in journals. to be edited and returned at next class.

Fourth Week

Edited journals returned.

In Class: Spelling test. Discuss adjectives and adverbs. Do adjective worksheet. Discuss setting and sensory details and read examples.

Assignment: Study spelling words at home. Write at least six sentences describing the setting and using sensory details. Be sure to use proper punctuation and capitals. Hand in journals. to be edited and returned at next class.

Fifth Week

Edited journals returned.

In Class: Spelling test. Discuss pronouns. Play pronoun game. Discuss character development and read examples of good character descriptions.

Assignment: Study spelling words at home. In class, do pronoun worksheet. Write at least six more sentences in journal focusing on character development. Hand in journals. to be edited and returned at next class.

Sixth week

Edited journals returned. .”

In Class: Spelling test. Discuss sentence stoppers, commas and apostrophes. Discuss author purpose and read examples.

Assignment: Study spelling words. Write six sentences about your favorite food using an apostrophe or comma in each sentence. Look over writing and make any additions needed. This is the final edit and whatever is handed in this week will go into the workshop anthology.

The anthology will be available approximately 3 weeks after the last class.