Middle School Creative Writing

Master Teacher: Devon Kelly
Duration: Yearlong course offered in fall/spring (32 weeks).
Suggested Grade Level: 6th & 7th grades
Tuition: $629 for HSLDA Members / $699 for non-members

Description: In Middle School Creative Writing, students experience the joy of writing and reading in a fun, engaging way. Students strengthen their analytical reading skills by reading creative literary works. These same stories demonstrate excellent creative writing techniques, which students learn to emulate in their own story and poetry writing while also refining their understanding of writing basics. The literary works are contextualized within one defining question: how does creative writing help us live in the wonder and reality of God’s goodness? Students are taught to read like writers and write like readers, and in the process become more confident in their technical and creative abilities.

Watch a sample clip of an Academy live class.

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Live Online Class Session Schedule

Dates: August 19, 2024 - May 2, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Students will learn

  • How to comprehend and analyze poetry and prose in light of biblical truth

  • How to practice the craft of writing while enjoying the art of writing through various prompts

  • How to use practical skills to complete a work of fiction or poetry

  • How to identify basic literary elements and techniques.

  • How to employ English grammar to communicate precisely and effectively

  • How to expand their vocabulary through reading of great writing 

  • How to draft, revise, and edit their work using the writing process 

  • How to give and receive feedback that is specific, constructive, and tactful

• How much homework is in Middle School Creative Writing?

  We estimate the coursework will take 5-7 hours per week. During a typical week, students complete the following tasks:

  • 60–90 minutes of live class instruction and writing workshop
  • Video lecture (5-10 minutes)
  • 10 pages of grammar exercises
  • Approximately 5 pages of reading from a creative writing textbook
  • Approximately 5-10 pages of guided reading on short story weeks
  • 30-45 pages of guided reading during novel study weeks
  • Weekly forum discussion with fellow students
  • Weekly comprehension quiz
  • 3-5 short writing prompts each week (2 of the 5 are optional exercises)

• What books will I use in Middle School Creative Writing?

  The official booklist for Middle School Creative Writing is now available. In the official booklist, you will find information about the editions, book descriptions, and ISBN numbers.

  You can order course materials for competitive prices through the Christianbook.com bookstore. Use the Textbook Finder to locate the required resources for your courses. Please note that while most books are available through Christianbook.com, some titles are not carried and will need to be purchased elsewhere.

• Prerequisites

  Students should be able to read at a 6th grade level. Prior experience in fiction writing is not required.

• What is a Live Online Class Session in Middle School Creative Writing?

  In every HSLDA Academy course, students meet weekly with their instructor and classmates in an online classroom for additional teaching, discussion, Q&A, or group activities. The class sessions are interactive and are conducted using a web meeting software with video, audio, chat, and application sharing capabilities.

  Scheduled, real-time sessions in the online classroom are not the only form of instruction available in a HSLDA Online Academy course, but are offered in addition to lectures or other instructional materials that students are able to access online at their convenience.

  When they register, students will need to select a particular class section and live class meeting time. Additional class sections may be added to the schedule at a later point in the course registration period. Registered students will be notified of any changes to the live session schedule.

• What if I have a schedule conflict with listed Middle School Creative Writing class times?

  All live class sessions are recorded for later viewing. While it is recommended that students attend each live class session, students can make arrangements to watch the recordings and receive full participation credit.

  Students should contact their instructor at the start of their course to inform the instructor of any foreseen schedule conflicts.