Kovanda: IEW 3-6 Moncks Corner
Geography-Based Writing Lessons (IEW),
Grade: 3rd-6th
Instructor: Jaime Kovanda, IEW Certified Instructor
Email: jaimekovanda@gmail.com
Phone: 580-478-7576
Monthly Cost: $35
Materials Fee: $38
Required for parent to purchase: 1” 3-ring binder, with four separate tabs for Paper, Completed Work, and Resources. A very special “journal” notebook will be provided for each student (cost is taken from material fees). Pens, Pencils, Colored Pencils
Literature Books: Paddle-to-the-Sea, Tree in the Trail, Minn of the Mississippi, and Seabird
Curriculum used is IEW’s Geography-Based Writing Lessons: Incorporating Beautiful Feet Book’s Geography Through Literature Course, first edition, 2008. Parents will NOT need to purchase this guide. This lovely curriculum is no longer in print and was only available as the Teacher’s Edition. With permission from IEW, I will share the student-related materials as needed.
Course Description: Does your student daydream about the places he encounters in storybooks? Watch history unfold in four beautiful chapter books: In Tree in the Trail, a cottonwood overlooks the way West; in Minn of the Mississippi, a turtle follows the river to the gulf; in Paddle to the Sea, a canoe journeys to the Atlantic; and in Seabird a carved bird connects four generations of ocean travel. Let’s learn about those places as we read and write! Join me as we explore geography and spend pleasant, memorable time reading and writing together about four of H.C. Holling’s award-winning classic books: Paddle-to-the-Sea, Tree in the Trail, Minn of the Mississippi, and Seabird. Each book presents opportunities for students to learn about geography and history while we progress through Units 1-8 of the Structure and Style method of writing taught through the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). In addition to writing each week, our time will also provide practice with maps, new vocabulary, timelines, and interesting history facts. With each book, I will vary our approach to the material. For example, students will create a “lapbook” for Tree in the Trail, a notebook for Seabird, and have instructions and suggestions for other optional fun projects outside of class such as field trip ideas for families while reading Minn of the Mississippi and Paddle to the Sea. Feel free to contact me if you’re wondering which class is the best fit for your student. Parents are expected to help their students with their weekly homework and edit the student rough drafts. Consistent parental involvement and communication with me are extremely important for students to make progress in their writing skills in this class.
