Ancient History: Communication and the Expository Essay

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a chance that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” - Mary Ritter Beard

Civilization has gone from painting on cave walls to instant messaging. What happened? How has language changed? Students explore the evolution of language, adventuring back to the time of hieroglyphics and cuneiform, and discovering word roots and Morse code as they move forward. The subtleties of language challenge them to think about their intentions when they write letters, emails, and literary pieces. Through experimentation and exposure to various forms of communication, students come to understand the rhythm of communication. 
 
Milestone: Expanded knowledge of language as a whole (e.g. Latin roots) and ability to write a clear, evidence-supported expository essay.
 
You won't want to miss this class!
 
Recommended for: Ages 9+ / Grades 4-5
Instructor: Ms. Anna Bonney
Day and Time: Mondays, 2:00 PM-3:00 PM ET
Duration: 4 classes
Dates: January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024
 
Anna Bonney, a hardworking teacher with a creative teaching style, is currently studying Psychology and Education at Southern Virginia University. She possesses a deep passion for teaching language, both oral and written, and is skilled at creating a supportive yet challenging environment in which students thrive. By adopting a creative, interdisciplinary approach, she encourages students to discover a larger world of learning. She's always looking for something new for her students and loves to explore and experiment with teaching and writing. She loves working with kids and looks forward to watching each of her students challenge themselves in her classes. In her spare time, she bikes short-distance, sings, and writes poems for children's books. She loves to travel and has traveled to Europe and Africa multiple times, Italy, Turkey, and Tanzania being her favorite spots. Her experiences abroad have driven her to work towards a career in international education. She firmly believes that hard work, creativity, and an optimistic attitude pulse beneath a successful learning experience.
 
Teaching style: appointments with students, journaling, peer partner learning, research projects, spelling bees
 
Student & Parent Reviews for Ms. Anna:
Ms. Anna is a wonderful teacher! She keeps the kids encouraged with her kindness while encouraging them to go above and beyond what they think they can do. My son loved her classes, games, and teaching style. We're looking forward to next year! - Carrie, parent
I'm so proud of how far my daughter's writing has come! Ms. Anna has done an incredible job. She's kind and loving with the students, and my daughter found it easy to approach her with questions and concerns despite her shyness. Thank you TTK! - Molly, parent
My son loved working with Ms. Anna. His writing has improved past my expectations, and he's excited to keep writing. Ms. Anna keeps classes productive and engaging with games, writing activities, and inter-disciplinary discussions. She draws in authors, famous literature, and historic context to explain English concepts and cultivate the students' interest in English. Her feedback was easily implemented, and she was easy to reach whenever my son had questions. Thank you for this fabulous resource! We'll be back next year. - Jennifer, parent