Fracturing Fairytales and Writing Wonderful Worlds
$356.19
NEW Course! “I’m looking forward to writing fantastic stories with you! Stories are their own kind of magic, and we’ll work together to explore new ways of telling and thinking about them. This is a class where every kind of writer is welcome, and there is endless space for creative expression.”~ Prof. Ariel
Enrollment
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| Instructor | Prof. Ariel Emby |
| Content Levels | Grades 3-4 • Elementary Grades 5-6 • Upper Elementary Grades 6-7 • Middle School |
| Course Length | 16 weeks |
| Live Webinars Held On | Wednesdays, 9:00 - 9:50 AM Pacific - 1/22/25 - 5/17/25 |
Writing classes are extra special to me because being able to write well is a lot like doing magic: you get to create new worlds, travel without ever taking a step, and teach important lessons. Those things are gifts, and I am excited to share them with you!
This class is for young writers (working at levels between 3rd-7th grade), and will focus on fairy tales. Why fairy tales? They have a unique structure that allows a lot of space for creativity, and also provides a template that can allow students at all levels to enjoy writing and reading them. Writing can be intimidating, and many students have had negative experiences with writing in the past. This is a space that allows for creativity, and I am a very flexible teacher with a lot of experience working with gifted and twice-exceptional students. Everyone is welcome in my classroom!
How will this course work?
We will dive into the elements of story, why fairy tales are unique, and how we can manipulate existing fairy tales to tell new (and maybe better!) stories. Maybe instead of Cinderella marrying the prince, she finds out that he’s not a very qualified leader and ends up taking over. Maybe Rumpelstiltskin ends up being a great co-parent and frees up the mother to travel for work on occasion while he takes care of their kid. Maybe the three blind mice aren’t blind after all, they were just pretending– they’re actually comedians! There are many ways to do this, it’s really fun for kids, and you can’t go wrong.
After writing a fractured fairy tale, we’ll be creating our own fairy tales entirely from scratch, using the components we’ve mastered.
I’ve taught a version of this course for five years, and I am always finding new ways to teach it and make it stronger. On a practical level, the course is an effective vehicle for teaching story structure, narrative writing skills, and editing skills. On a joy-of-learning level, it’s a great opportunity for scaffolding independence and helping kids feel confident in their writing, and it’s very fun.
Is this class for reluctant writers? Eager writers?
This class is for everyone. I know firsthand how challenging writing can be for kids, and how much resistance that can create. This is a space where writing has a balance of freedom to create, and structure to lean on. It is a space where eager writers can blossom without worrying about rubrics, and reluctant writers can see their way forward. It is not daunting or rigid, and I’m thrilled to work with writers of all kinds.
Note to parents:
In this creative writing course, students will develop their literary skills. We’ll begin by analyzing story structure, plot components, and qualities of fairy tales, learning to deconstruct traditional fairytales and understand their fundamental elements. Through exploring concepts like fractured fairy tales, students will practice critical thinking by examining narrative perspectives and creative storytelling techniques. The course will guide them through the entire writing process, from initial brainstorming to world-building and character development, teaching them how to plan, draft, and refine a story or fairytale. They’ll learn to create plot diagrams, add narrative depth through dialogue and details, and understand the importance of exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution. By the end of the course, students will not only have gained practical writing skills but will also have developed a more nuanced understanding of storytelling as an art form.
Though this course will be designed for students who are able to independently type their writing, I have worked with many twice-exceptional students who need accommodations to thrive. I am always happy to work with you to make sure every educational opportunity is available to your student. This could mean that you will type their work after they’ve written it, that you will take a photo of their work and upload that in lieu of typing it (have no fear, I’m an expert in decoding even the messiest of student writing), or any other accommodation that I can reasonably make and that will best support your child.
*I do recommend that students be able to read at a roughly 5th-grade level, but this is primarily a writing course and should be accessible for students above a 3rd-grade reading level.
Taught by Prof. Ariel Emby
What to expect in the Required section in the classroom each week:
- Two assignments, one of which will be an independent assignment with multiple options to complete, and the other will typically be a forum post.
What to expect in the Highly Suggested & Optional sections in the classroom each week:
- Curated resources, including websites & videos, are provided to excite learners and to add depth to the subject matter.
- An extension assignment to build on the work of the week.
- A challenge assignment for the students who like to take their work one step further.
What to expect during the weekly webinar:
- Weekly webinars are 50 minutes long. Webinars are recorded and are available for students with schedule conflicts.
- A quick writing exercise, which gets our brains in writing mode.
- A review of what we learned last week, and a lesson about our topic of the week.
- Opportunities to participate and discuss, which is highly encouraged!
Before taking this course, students should be able to:
- Read at a 5th grade level (recommended, can be accommodated for if not there yet)
- Write a paragraph independently (again, if this is not your student yet we can work together if they are eager to take this class)
- Communicate their thoughts and ideas either in writing or orally.
Students should be willing to:
- Be prepared for the webinar.
- Actively participate (via the microphone and chat) in the class discussion.
- Respond with positive and encouraging comments on their classmates’ posts in the classroom forums.
- Accept that there may not be a “right” answer.
Required books & materials:
- A notebook for writing in (I recommend a specific notebook for this course)
- Good writing pens (an excellent way to motivate a reluctant writer! A special pen??? Thrilling to us all!)