The Young Writer’s Workshop is level-based curriculum. Learning Bee’s academic writing classes teach students that writing is a process. Twelve week sessions for grades 1 to 6 are available in the Fall and Spring of each school year.

Student writing is assessed and levels assigned to determines individual needs for academic success. Our experienced writing staff creates curriculum to ensure that your child stays on track in a seamless transition into each new level of instruction. Every course is structured to expand your child’s vocabulary, improve their writing speed, and make them more accurate proofreaders. 

Please see below for our writing level descriptions.

• Orange: Mondays 3:00 – 4:00 starting 9/21/2020 (Ms. Angela): 4-6 students per class
• Yellow: Mondays 3:15 – 4:15pm starting 9/21/2020 (Mrs. Fullenbach): 4-6 students per class
• Green: Tuesdays 3:15 – 4:15pm starting 9/22/2020 (Mrs. Fullenbach): 4-6 students per class
• Blue A: Wednesdays 3:15 – 4:15pm starting 9/23/2020 (Ms. Corina): 4-6 students per class
• Blue B: Thursdays 3:15 – 4:15pm starting 9/24/2020 (Ms. Corina): 4-6 students per class
• Purple: Tuesdays 3:15 – 4:15pm starting 9/23/2020 (Ms. Lorraine): 4-6 students per class
• Essay 1: Tuesdays 3:15 – 4:15pm starting 9/22/2020 (Mrs. Orr): 4-8 students per class
• Essay 1: Wednesdays 3:15 – 4:15pm starting 9/23/2020 (Mrs. Orr): 4-8 students per class
• Essay 2: Thursdays 3:15 – 4:15pm starting 9/24/2020 (Mrs. Orr): 4-8 students per class

*Green A and Green B are the same level. Essay 1 and 2 are different levels.
*Minimum of 4 students required for each class to start. 

Current Learning Bee students:
We have your writing assessments from last school year so we have an idea where your student is. Please send us an email if you are interested to know. If you feel your students was placed incorrectly, please send Ms. Lorraine (lorraine@learningbeelearningcenter.com) a recent independent writing sample and we can re-assess.
G2: 1 Paragraph
G3: 2 Paragraphs
G4: and up 2-3 Paragraphs

New Students: Please send Ms. Lorraine (lorraine@learningbeelearningcenter.com) a recent independent writing sample, and we will let you know where you are:
G2: 1 Paragraph
G3: 2 Paragraphs
G4 and up: 2-3 Paragraphs

RED  – THE FUNDAMENTALS OF WRITING
Students learn the conventions of writing to develop their content from basic sentences into paragraphs with a main idea.

ORANGE – STAYING ON-TOPIC WITHIN PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
Students learn paragraph structure, its terminology and the correct way to format their writing.  They’ll learn how to keep their paragraphs on topic and develop an awareness of reader expectations.

YELLOW – DESCRIPTIVE WRITING IN MULTI-PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
Students elaborate on supporting details with a broader and more concise descriptive vocabulary as well as the complex use of imagery, in multi-paragraph narratives.

GREEN – MULTI-PARAGRAPH WRITING & AUGMENTATION
Students learn how to develop a graphic organizer and construct multiple paragraphs-as subtopics that collaboratively support a main topic.

BLUE – MULTI-PARAGRAPH ESSAYS AND AUTHORS CRAFT
Students will dive into the author’s craft by breaking down the roles of how words and sentences are pieced together to convey a meaning. They will explore the different ways of crafting a sentence and idea to create a multi-paragraph essay.

PURPLE – MULTI-DRAFT ESSAYS
Students will gain ease and efficiency in multi-draft writing as they develop an ear for concise argumentation. They will respond to a variety of literary genres and learn how to maximize their time at each stage of the writing process: brainstorming, writing and re-drafting their compositions.

INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED ESSAY WRITING
Improves students’ speed and proficiency in creating multi-paragraph essays. Essay Response is broken up into two parts. Similar to the color levels, Essay 2 builds off of the lessons in Essay 1. With weekly in-class lessons and a diversity of reading passages, students will write to express, record, develop, and reflect on their ideas with a thesis statement and supporting evidence.

There are no refunds or make up for classes missed due to illness, vacation time, or personal leave. Withdrawals made prior to the 3rd class in the session will be refunded for the remaining classes, minus a $75 administration fee. No refund or credit will be issued for any withdrawals made after the 3rd class in the session. No exceptions.

 

Mrs. Angela Chia:
Ms. Angela has been teaching at Learning Bee since the beginning and has been the lead kindergarten teacher for over 10 years. She has a unique understanding of how to approach our youngest learners and knows how to draw out the best in them. 

Mrs. Jan Fullenbach:
I am a retired teacher from Ardenwood Elementary. I have taught 3rd grade for 13 years and kindergarten and 1st a year each. My favorite subject to teach was writing. I love to help launch the students into writing, get them excited about writing and enjoy it.

Ms. Lorraine Lee: 
I have been working at Learning Bee for the last 8 years. I started off as a Kindergarten teacher and 1st grade instructor for my first 4 years. Now, I host Learning Bee’s writing program and assist teachers with Language Arts development for their classroom teaching. My favorite part about teaching writing is that I get to inspire young minds to write their own unique stories. I am always amazed by how much I can learn from our young writers, and I love that I get to be a part of flourishing their skills.

Mrs. Chris Orr:
I am a retired teacher from Gomes Elementary. I worked at Gomes for 17 years teaching 3rd and 4th grade; I enjoyed every bit of it.  My favorite subject to teach was writing, as I love to see the students unpack their lives and feelings as well as share their opinions and information in fun and creative ways.

I have been married for 22 years and have five grown kids with the last one going away to college next year.  I am very proud to say that all of my kids, so far, are in careers that they have studied for and are passionate about.

In my spare time I enjoy cooking, crafting, spending time with my many pets, and loving on my family and friends.

Ms. Corina Zimmerman:
I am a recent graduate from UC Davis who majored in English and minored in Education. Before working as a teacher assistant at Learning Bee, I was an English tutor at Best in Class Education Center. I love how powerful and empowering writing is. It allows us to develop our own voices as well as share our unique perspectives and experiences with the world.

We are so proud of our young writers over the years. Here are some examples of their work, with the most recent first. August 2020 – Tri-Valley Writers Sponsored Award at the 2020 Alameda County Fair

• Alyssa L. (G4) Coronavirus Poem – Best of Show 2020 Poems K – G5 (Mrs. Orr’s Class)
• Siya S. (G5) Lemonade Escapade – Best of Class 2020 Short Story K – G5 (Mrs. Orr’s Class)

August 2020 – Learning Bee Summer Camp Bee Book – Instruction adapted to be delivered over Zoom in Small Groups

• Young Writers Compilation – Bee Book Session 2
• Young Writers Compilation – Bee Book Session 1

April 2020 – Spring Session Academic Writing Program

• Covid Poems – Essay Level Writers – Yearbook Collection

Young Writers Compilations

• Bee Book Spring 2020
• Bee Book Spring 2019
• Bee Book 2016 – 2017
• Bee Book 2015 – 2016
• Bee Book 2014 – 2015