Core Texts: The Phantom Tollbooth Holes by Louis Sachar Number the Stars by Lois Lowry Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming * Writing Skills Developed: Narrative sequencing & character development Using evidence in opinion & literary essays Writing with clear structure in informational texts Figurative language, vivid description, and tone Grammar focus: transitions, sentence variety, paragraphing, and conventions *Weeks 1–4: The Phantom Tollbooth – Descriptive & Creative Writing Focus: Wordplay, figurative language, imagination Week 1: Explore setting and character traits in fantasy Week 2: Learn to use sensory details and figurative language Week 3: Write an imaginative short story inspired by the book (e.g., a new land visited by Milo) Week 4: Revise and publish with attention to word choice, imagery, and tone *Weeks 5–8: Holes – Narrative Writing Focus: Character arcs, flashback structure, theme Week 5: Analyze dual timelines and character development Week 6: Brainstorm and draft a personal or fictional narrative using nonlinear structure Week 7: Add dialogue, setting, and internal thoughts Week 8: Revise for structure, pacing, and coherence *Weeks 9–12: Number the Stars – Opinion / Argument Writing Focus: Moral choices, bravery, ethics Week 9: Debate character decisions; explore historical context Week 10: Draft an opinion essay with claim, reasons, and evidence from the text Week 11: Learn to embed quotes and write counterarguments Week 12: Revise and polish for clarity, tone, and persuasive language * Weeks 13–16: Amelia Lost – Informational Writing Focus: Nonfiction structure, biography, and research Week 13: Study biography format and Amelia’s timeline Week 14: Research and plan a short biography or nonfiction piece Week 15: Draft and revise with clear topic sentences, transitions, and supporting facts Week 16: Final edit and class presentation of research pieces

Course Focus: Genre-based writing, literary analysis, vocabulary in context, and revision skills Core Texts & Writing Focus: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – Informational / Explanatory Writing Tuck Everlasting – Narrative Writing Hello, Universe – Character Analysis & Reflective Writing The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote – Persuasive / Argument Writing Syllabus: * Weeks 1–4: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – Informational / Explanatory WritingFocus: Innovation, resilience, real-world problem-solving Week 1: Introduce nonfiction storytelling and key events in the text. Discuss the impact of innovation and perseverance. Week 2: Research a scientific invention or natural challenge. Begin outlining an explanatory writing topic. Week 3: Draft a report explaining how something works or how to solve a real-world problem. Use clear structure and transitions. Week 4: Add visuals (diagrams/charts) to support information. Revise for clarity, structure, and informative tone. *Weeks 5–8: Tuck Everlasting – Narrative WritingFocus: Personal choice, internal conflict, timelessness Week 5: Explore setting, magical realism, and the central theme: If you could live forever, would you? Begin brainstorming story ideas. Week 6: Create original characters with meaningful internal struggles. Complete character sketches and story outlines. Week 7: Draft a full narrative with rising action, climax, and resolution. Use internal monologue to show conflict. Week 8: Revise for narrative voice, emotional depth, pacing, and vivid detail. * Weeks 9–12: Hello, Universe – Character Analysis & Reflective WritingFocus: Identity, empathy, relationships Week 9: Analyze character motivations and multiple perspectives. Identify themes of courage and connection. Week 10: Write a reflection on a personal experience of empathy, courage, or being misunderstood. Week 11: Use dialogue and internal thoughts to develop voice in reflective writing. Week 12: Revise personal narratives for emotion, structure, and clarity. *Weeks 13–16: The Woman’s Hour – Persuasive / Argument WritingFocus: Justice, rights, civic responsibility Week 13: Introduce the suffrage movement and persuasive language. Discuss why advocacy matters. Week 14: Draft an opinion essay on a civic topic (e.g., "Why every voice matters"). Use clear claims and supporting evidence. Week 15: Revise using rhetorical devices, sentence variety, and stronger conclusions. Week 16: Final edits and deliver persuasive presentations or speeches.

Grade 1-2 Writing Foundation– 16 Weeks Note: Teacher may adjust reading schedule or replace books as needed. Weeks 1–4: The Year of the Dog – Narrative & Reflective Writing Focus: Cultural traditions, friendship, self-discovery Week 1: Read first chapters, talk about Chinese New Year. Write about a favorite holiday memory. Week 2: Discuss a friendship moment from the book. Write a short story about you and a friend. Week 3: Talk about something the main character learned. Write a reflection about a lesson you learned. Week 4: Revise writing for complete sentences, details, and clear beginning–middle–end. Share with classmates. Weeks 5–8: Ramona and Her Father – Realistic Fiction & Opinion Writing Focus: Problem-solving, family relationships Week 5: Describe Ramona’s personality using examples from the story. Week 6: Pick a problem Ramona faced. Write your opinion on how she handled it. Week 7: Write about a time you solved a problem, using feelings and actions to show what happened. Week 8: Revise and illustrate your story. Share in small groups. Weeks 9–12: The Hundred Dresses – Theme & Reflective Writing Focus: Kindness, empathy, speaking up Week 9: Talk about the meaning of the title. Write about a time you helped someone or wanted to. Week 10: Describe Wanda and how she feels. Use details from the story. Week 11: Opinion writing: “Why it’s important to be kind.” Week 12: Revise opinion piece for clear ideas and examples. Read aloud to the class. Weeks 13–16: Mr. Popper’s Penguins – Informational & Creative Writing Focus: Humor, unusual situations, research skills Week 13: Talk about what makes the story funny. Write your own silly animal story. Week 14: Research real penguins. Take notes. Week 15: Write an informational paragraph about penguins, using your notes. Week 16: Revise for clear facts and add an illustration. Share at “Penguin Fair.”

Course Focus: Genre-based writing development, literary analysis, thematic discussion, and creative expression through multiple writing forms. Core Texts & Writing Genres: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Narrative Writing The Westing Game – Analytical / Mystery Writing I Am Malala – Reflective / Argumentative Writing The Hobbit – Descriptive / Fantasy World-Building Syllabus *Weeks 1–4: Narrative Writing – Inspired by The Adventures of Tom SawyerFocus: Story structure, voice, and moral complexity Week 1: Explore Tom Sawyer's world—setting, character, and voice. Examine themes of adventure, rebellion, and consequence. Week 2: Develop original characters and design an adventure plot. Focus on story arc and introducing internal/external conflicts. Week 3: Draft a multi-paragraph narrative emphasizing dialogue, sensory detail, and emotional pacing. Week 4: Refine the draft through peer feedback. Strengthen narrative voice, cohesion, and literary techniques such as foreshadowing. * Weeks 5–8: Analytical Writing – Inspired by The Westing GameFocus: Logical reasoning, inference, and multi-layered storytelling Week 5: Introduce analytical reading strategies. Investigate the novel's structure, clues, and point of view shifts. Week 6: Outline an essay analyzing character motives, red herrings, or the author's use of logic. Week 7: Draft an analytical essay or an alternate ending that incorporates literary clues and logical progression. Week 8: Revise for clarity, textual evidence integration, and logical flow. Practice editing strategies for analytical writing. * Weeks 9–12: Reflective / Argumentative Writing – Inspired by I Am MalalaFocus: Advocacy, personal conviction, and global awareness Week 9: Discuss themes of education, human rights, and personal courage. Read excerpts for voice and purpose. Week 10: Write a reflective essay: "What would you speak out for?" Include personal anecdotes and thoughtful tone. Week 11: Study structure of an argumentative essay. Draft using claim, evidence, counterargument, and rebuttal. Week 12: Revise both pieces. Refine tone, logic, and transitions. Conduct peer review and teacher conferences. *Weeks 13–16: Descriptive / Fantasy World-Building – Inspired by The HobbitFocus: Immersive description, quest narrative, and internal transformation Week 13: Examine Tolkien's techniques: world-building, map creation, and archetypal heroes. Brainstorm original fantasy worlds. Week 14: Create setting sketches and plot outlines. Develop characters with conflicting motivations and goals. Week 15: Draft a fantasy narrative rich in descriptive language, conflict, and theme. Week 16: Finalize narratives. Host an "Author's Showcase" where students share or present their fantasy tales.

Core Texts: Animal Farm – George Orwell The Book Thief – Markus Zusak The Glory Field – Walter Dean Myers A Separate Peace – John Knowles Weeks 1–4: Allegory & Argument – Animal Farm Week 1: Introduce allegory, symbolism, and Orwell’s use of animals to critique power. Discuss historical parallels. Week 2: Analyze persuasive language in the text. Begin drafting an argumentative essay on whether Animal Farm successfully critiques human society. Week 3: Explore rhetorical techniques (ethos, pathos, logos). Revise argumentative writing for logic and clarity. Week 4: Peer review and finalize essay. Write a short satirical paragraph in Orwellian style. Weeks 5–8: Literary Style & Point of View – The Book Thief Week 5: Explore narrative voice and structure—Death as narrator, non-linear timeline, tone, and imagery. Week 6: Write a short scene or moment from the book from a different character’s POV. Week 7: Discuss theme (love, loss, resilience). Begin theme-based literary essay with supporting quotes. Week 8: Revise and finalize theme essay. Reflect on how voice and format influence reader emotion. Weeks 9–12: Historical & Multi-Generational Narrative – The Glory Field Week 9: Explore Myers’ use of multiple time periods and generations to trace a family’s history. Analyze narrative structure and shifting perspectives. Week 10: Write a historical fiction scene inspired by one era from the book, incorporating authentic details. Week 11: Revise for historical accuracy, character depth, and descriptive detail. Add dialogue and pacing for engagement. Week 12: Compile and polish historical fiction piece. Optional: present as a dramatic reading or submit to a youth publication. Weeks 13–16: Psychological Fiction & Character Analysis – A Separate Peace Week 13: Introduce the novel’s setting, historical context (WWII era), and themes of friendship, rivalry, and identity. Begin character journals. Week 14: Analyze unreliable narration and internal conflict. Draft a character study essay focusing on motivations and transformations. Week 15: Explore symbolism (tree, war, seasons) and how it reflects emotional and thematic shifts. Revise character analysis with textual evidence. Week 16: Finalize character analysis. Reflect on connections between the novel’s themes and modern adolescence.

Grade 2–3 Academic Writing Curriculum (16 Weeks) Note: Teacher may adjust the book list based on student needs and engagement. Target Students: Advanced 2nd–3rd grade readers and writers Core Texts: Morning Girl – Michael Dorris (Historical Reflection) The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo (Character & Theme Analysis) Tales from the Odyssey, Part 1 – Mary Pope Osborne (Myth-Based Narrative) The Time of Green Magic – Hilary McKay (Descriptive & Fantasy Writing) Weeks 1–4: Morning Girl – Reflective & Descriptive Writing Focus: Personal voice, perspective, historical setting Week 1: Introduce historical context; journal entry from Morning Girl’s perspective. Week 2: Write from Star Boy’s point of view. Week 3: Describe island life using sensory language. Week 4: Revise for clarity, emotion, and detail; compile “island memoir.” Weeks 5–8: The Tale of Despereaux – Character & Theme Writing Focus: Character traits, courage, and kindness Week 5: Analyze Despereaux; write descriptive paragraph with evidence. Week 6: Explore themes; short essay on courage. Week 7: Compare Despereaux and Roscuro. Week 8: Final character profile or mini-essay. Weeks 9–12: Tales from the Odyssey – Narrative & Myth Writing Focus: Hero’s journey, myth creation Week 9: Map Odysseus’s journey. Week 10: Retell a scene in own words. Week 11: Plan original myth. Week 12: Draft and revise myth with strong structure. Weeks 13–16: The Time of Green Magic – Fantasy & Descriptive Writing Focus: Mood, setting, imagination Week 13: Describe a magical moment. Week 14: Design an original magical setting. Week 15: Write a fantasy story inspired by the novel. Week 16: Revise and illustrate; present in “Fantasy Showcase.”