Language Arts Classes
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Voice
Expression first; polish comes after ideas.
Literature
Great books anchor skills and discussion.
Craft
Structure provides tools for expression of ideas.
Revision
Draft freely; refine for clarity and flow.
Flexibility
Structure without formulas; room to experiment.
Community
Small group curiosity, collaboration, communication.
In-person literature-based Language Arts classes in Pleasant Hill
Literature-based English Language Arts classes offer homeschool students the opportunity to grow as readers, writers, and thinkers in a supportive, small-group environment. Meeting once a week, students explore rich stories and novels that serve as the foundation for learning grammar, punctuation, parts of speech, and literary analysis.
Through guided discussion, interactive lessons, and creative writing projects, students strengthen their comprehension, vocabulary, and writing skills while discovering the joy of great books. Each class encourages curiosity, collaboration, and clear communication, with instruction tailored to meet the needs of multiple grade levels.
We dig into the nuts and bolts of language: sentence structure, grammar, style, and organization. But we don’t stop there. Students also learn practical strategies for writing in different contexts, from informative writing to creative work, and they practice revising so their writing becomes clearer, stronger, and more truly their own.
Because I want students to avoid formulaic writing, I encourage them to read widely while developing a voice that sounds like them. My goal is to balance structure and flexibility, helping students gain real skills, real confidence, and a lasting love for language and literature.
Classes
Language in Motion is offered in six sessions throughout the year. You’re welcome to take sessions individually, but they’re designed to build on each other, so skipping a session may leave some gaps in skills and knowledge.
Building Blocks of Language
Learning the tools that make writing work.
Grades 3–4
Designed for homeschool students in the early stages of writing development, this literature-based class builds a strong foundation in grammar, writing, and reading comprehension. Through engaging stories and well-written examples, students discover how accomplished authors use language to communicate clearly and creatively.
Each week, students learn to format academic writing, draft and revise their own work, and begin developing self-editing habits. Lessons cover capitalization, punctuation, and the basic parts of speech in hands-on, interactive ways that make learning fun and memorable.
Students also strengthen their vocabulary and sentence skills while gaining confidence in expressing their own ideas. With small class sizes and personalized instruction, each student receives the support and encouragement they need to become thoughtful, capable writers. Much of the writing focuses on narration and beginning informational writing.
Ideal for students who: are comfortable reading (or using audiobooks for) and comprehending early middle grade chapter books (think Beverly Cleary and Boxcar Children). Students should be able to narrate, or tell back, the plot of simple stories.
Developing the Craft of Writing
Strengthening voice, style, and skill
Grades 5-6
Designed for upper elementary and middle school homeschoolers, this class helps students refine their writing skills and deepen their understanding of literature. Each week, we engage in thoughtful discussion of excellent books as students learn to analyze theme, character, and author’s purpose, while strengthening sentence variety, organization, and word choice in their own writing.
Students practice planning, drafting, and revising longer compositions with attention to grammar, punctuation, and stylistic techniques that make writing vivid and engaging. We’ll use sentence diagramming to further explore what makes sentences work. Small class sizes offer the benefits of peer interaction and lively conversation, while still allowing for individualized instruction and feedback.
Weekly, manageable homework assignments are designed for independent work at home, reinforcing the skills and concepts introduced in class. Join a community of young writers discovering their voices through literature and language.
Ideal for students who are familiar with: basic parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, conjunction), and comfortable with early elementary writing. Students should be able to write a single page paper with a main idea, and be ready to learn to flesh out details, venture into more descriptive writing, and learn the finer points of punctuation and sentence structure.
Writing with Purpose
Using language intentionally to inform, persuade, and create.
Grades 7-8
Building on the foundation established in Voices in Writing, this class guides students toward greater depth, precision, and intentionality in their writing. Designed for seventh and eighth grade homeschoolers, the course emphasizes rich language, thoughtful argument, and clear reasoning grounded in strong evidence.
Through close reading of quality literature and nonfiction texts, students learn to analyze literary devices, author’s intent, and theme with increasing sophistication. Class discussions and writing assignments focus on forming claims, supporting ideas with textual evidence, and developing logical, well-organized arguments. Students will write literary analysis essays, including essays focused on author intent, while continuing to refine their personal writing voices.
In addition, students are introduced to essential media literacy skills, learning how to evaluate sources for reliability, bias, and credibility. Grammar and mechanics are taught in service of clarity and persuasion, reinforcing the idea that conventions exist to strengthen communication.
This class prepares students for the demands of higher-level academic writing while encouraging them to think critically, write courageously, and engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
Ideal for students who are comfortable reading classic literature with more complex language and themes. Students should be familiar with sentence structure, essay structure and be ready to move forward with persuasive, academic and creative writing.
Writing Philosophy
I believe that great writing begins with the writer, not the structure. Before students can learn to craft polished essays or perfectly punctuated sentences, they must first find their voices: their ideas, experiences, and perspectives that make their writing uniquely their own.
In my classes, we begin with expression before correction. Students are encouraged to write freely, discovering what they want to say and how they want to say it. Only after those ideas take shape do we begin to refine mechanics such as grammar, punctuation, and formatting. This process mirrors how professional writers work: drafting first, then revising thoughtfully to strengthen clarity, flow, and accuracy.
By nurturing voice first, students gain confidence, creativity, and ownership of their work. Mechanics then become tools that empower, rather than restrict, expression. I want each student to feel the joy of communicating something meaningful in their own words, and to experience the satisfaction of shaping that raw language into writing that shines.
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Language in Motion: Writing Through Literature
Language Arts classes for homeschoolers in Pleasant Hill, CA
kirsten@languageinmotion.co
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