Hello to you all!

I hope that all of you are having wonderful summers! My family and I just got back from Disney World. The kids loved it, but I had never been hotter in my entire life. In fact, I still feel hot from the trip. :)

Many of you have been calling and emailing about summer classes and adding classes, so I thought an email updating everything may be helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

* The three day grammar/writing camp this coming week is completely full.

* Many of you have asked about my adding a one day intensive grammar/writing review in August, and I have a date! August 12th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost
will be $185 and will include the six hours, a large bound packet of materials, drinks, snacks, and a hot lunch. If you want to save a space, simply email me
back, and I will put your student's name on the roster. I suspect this might fill quickly, so let me know as soon as you can. I am keeping my class numbers
small.

* Summer reading classes are just about full, also. I have a couple spaces where I may be able to add one of two people, so if you have someone who wants to
attend my summer reading book reviews, please let me know as soon as you can.



Thank you and looking forward to seeing many of you this summer!
Marie Graham
(404) 578-9047


Summer Reading Reviews:
I teach these classes purposefully close to when the students actually take the tests. I think this gives the students the greatest chance to do well. Mostly, I think these tests are important because they are the first of the new school year, and a high test grade right in the beginning of the first nine weeks helps to propel students in the right direction, boost their self esteem, and set a precedent for their success right from the beginning.

I do expect that the students have read the required books before the review. Having said that- the review is intensive. We carefully study the characters, the setting, the plot, and we practice for the test questions. I try to present each book in memorable, innovative ways, and I ask that students interact actively (rather than passively- just sitting and listening) with the material. Educational research indicates that active learning- engaged contact- with literature helps students learn and remember what they read.
Students are asked to bring a copy of each required book. I provide the rest!

Summer Reading Test Reviews:
(All classes run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Also, please note these classes are designed to be detailed reviews and test preparation right before the students take their actual tests at Woodward. All required books should be read prior to these reviews.)
$170 (includes 6 hour review, packets, supplies, snacks, and a hot lunch)

Monday, August 2nd -12th Grade

Tuesday, August 3rd -11th Grade

Wednesday, August 4th -10th Grade

Thursday, August 5th -9th Grade

Friday, August 6th -8th Grade

Saturday, August 7th -7th Grade



Grammar/Writing Intensive One-Day Workshop- August 12th, 10-4 p.m. $185... NEW CLASS ADDED!!!!!
This is the 8th year I have taught this workshop for Woodward students. It is popular, and I always look forward to teaching it every year. Because it is common for people to attend more than one year in a row, I rework most of the material so that it is fresh.

Grammar is usually taught methodically in private schools. It is arranged from the ground up, starting with the parts of speech and building into recognizing and using phrases and clauses correctly. Once all of that is mastered, most students are able to understand complicated punctuation rules and more frustrating tasks like subject/verb agreement. A problem occurs, though, when a piece of the foundation is missing or shaky. A student becomes confused somewhere along the way, and then the year of grammar and writing becomes much harder than it needs to be. This workshop starts with the basics then goes on to the more complex grammatical concepts that are expected of the students at Woodward Academy and other private schools.

The writing portion of this workshop focuses on crafting excellent sentences, paragraphs, and then essays. The focus is initially on the existing structure as it is currently being taught; it is important that first the student understands the basic format. After that, I move on to varying sentence type and structure to make writing and reading more interesting. Thirdly, I model the actual method of writing: how to brainstorm in a variety of manners, organize thoughts with different forms of outlining, show the students how to think through the writing process as one actually accomplishes it, and finally how to revise without losing the essence of what one wrote.