Home School Writing: Winter and Spring Semesters
IN-PERSON - HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM
Grades 8-9
Tuesdays 10-12 AM
Per Semester $350
Please Note: we will move online if:
- There is a weather warning, unsafe road conditions
- The instructor is sick, but can still teach from home
- The majority of the class is ill, but can still learn from home
Semester One - WINTER SEMESTER 10 classes
January – 7, 14, 21
Topic - Creative Writing - part one by Anne Hodgson
Curriculum – genre, styles, planning, character, world building, plotting, exploring different types of writing, group work. Play. Critiquing, and sharing / receiving ideas. Editing.
January 28, February 4, 11, 25 (No class Feb 18)
Topic - Book Study by Anne Hodgson
Book studied - A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger – April 2 2024
by Darcie Little Badger
Curriculum covered – Book reports, character, theme, setting, plot, character arc, description, literary devices, analysis, discussion, group work. History and language preservation, friendship, resilience, societal expectations (and whose society), the consequences of prejudice, the consequences of the loss of generational knowledge, colonialism, and the impact of past actions on the present. Taking part in discussion – presenting your ideas and understanding different points of view.
March – 4, 11, 18
Topic: Creative Writing – part two by Kim Firmston
Curriculum: Group projects, presentations, listening, leading, following, trying different styles and genres, collaborative planning, writing, editing, grammar, and presenting.
Semester two - SPRING SEMESTER 10 classes
April 1, 8, 15, 29 May 6, 13 (No class April 22),
Topic – Scripts by Anne Hodgson
Scripts Studied - The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare – play, The Girl Who Owned a City: The Graphic Novel, Jan. 1 2012 by O. T. Nelson (Author), Joëlle Jones (Illustrator)
curriculum covered – presenting, theme, characters, setting, history, comparison of texts, character arc, literary devices, story arc, structure, justice, friendship, resilience, societal expectations, the consequences of prejudice, and the impact of past actions on the present. Taking part in discussion – presenting your ideas and understanding different points of view.
May 27, June 3, 10, 17 (no class May 20)
Topic - Creative collaboration by Kim Firmston
Curriculum covered – creating, brainstorming, communication, conflict resolution, planning, delegating, leadership, followership, listening, speaking, presenting. We will be working in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry while using a myriad of media types including podcasting, scripts, articles, art, and more!
Reading List
A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger – 2021
Newbery Honor Winner, A Snake Falls to Earth is a breathtaking work of Indigenous futurism.
Darcie Little Badger draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family.
Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She's always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories. Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he's been cast from home. He's found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake. Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli's best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven't been in centuries. And there are some who will kill to keep them apart.
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice is a popular text for study by secondary students the world over.
Antonio, an anti-Semitic merchant, takes a loan from the Jew Shylock to help his friend to court Portia. Antonio can't repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio.
The Girl Who Owned a City: The Graphic Novel, by O. T. Nelson (Author), Joëlle Jones (Illustrator), 2012
This is a graphic-format retelling of Nelson's 1975 novel, but it feels like a contemporary offering from the camp of post apocalyptic adventure... Jones's gorgeous illustrations will suck readers in. It is an overall engaging story that could spark some lively debate over the true meaning of sharing and leadership.
A deadly virus killed every adult on Earth, leaving only the kids behind. With her parents gone, Lisa is responsible for her little brother. Many kids are sick or starving, and fierce gangs are stealing and destroying everything they find. Lots of people have given up, but on Grand Avenue, some kids are surviving. Because of Lisa. Lisa figured out how to give the kids on Grand Avenue food, homes, and protection against the gangs. But Tom Logan and his army are determined to take that away and rule the streets themselves.
MEET OUR TEACHERS
Em Williamson is a writer, artist, educator, and indie game developer (Burning Palms: A Lesbian Experience. Twine browser game, 2021), who has been teaching poetry classes for youth for over seven years. Em believes that many youth have a genuine interest in art and writing and can be incredibly engaged in the classroom -- as long as they're taught in a way that engages them. As an educator, Em is constantly looking for creative ways to teach youth that will both allow them to succeed in school, and help them discover a lifelong love for reading, writing, and language. Em is available for poet visits through the AWCS.
Degrees
- BA English degree, summa cum laude - made the Dean's List all 4 semesters for academic excellence
- MA English degree (in progress) - creative writing focus
- Graduate Scholarships Program (CGS) Master's Competition in 2022 (research grant)
Awards
- Winner of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- Recipient of the following scholarships: Jason Lang Scholarship for academic achievement, Dr. Allan P. Markin Scholarship for academic achievement, Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship, and Florence Katherine Harington academic.
Publications
- Williamson, Em. “Staked: Carmilla, Unspeakable Desires, and Lesbian Invisibility.” The Attic: The St. Mary's University Journal of Undergraduate Papers, vol. 7, no. 1, 2021.
- Williamson, John, and Em Williamson. Review of Unloved: Huronia’s Forgotten Children, directed by Barri Cohen. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, vol. 12, no. 4, forthcoming.
Feature Performances:
- Invited spoken word poetry performances at The Ink Spot YYC Poetry Collective Slam Finals (2016), Woolf's Voices (2017), Raw Voices YYC (2017), South Country Fair Spoken Word Poetry Showcase (2017), High River The Venue Spoken Word Poetry Showcase (2019), & The Alcove Live Artist Showcase (2021).
- Conference presenter at the 2016 Alberta GSA conference
Kim Firmston is a published YA author, internationally produced playwright, editor, D&D enthusiast, and producer/writer/director of documentaries. Not only did Kim co-develop the AWCS Youth Program over ten years ago, but she is now the AWCS Program Director for Youth Education. Although she has spent a lifetime navigating neurodiversity and learning disabilities, Kim has turned these flaws into assets and translated her struggles into lessons and techniques designed to reach even the most writing-adverse youth. Kim has been an instructor for over three decades and still has the energy of a platoon of kindergarteners. Kim is available for author visits through the AWCS.
Awards
- Reality Is Optional Optional Reality Guide to Taking Over the World (Documentary) multi-award winning short. Can be seen on Telus Optik TV and Storyhive YouTube Channel.
- Adaptation in the Impoverished City (Documentary) Screened at the Bright Future Independent Film Festival in Gothenburg, Semi-Finalist in the Calgary Independent Film Festival, Finalist in the Vancouver Independent Film Festival. Can be seen on Telus Optik TV and Storyhive YouTube Channel.
- Best Books for Kids & Teens -- Canadian Children's Book Centre 2012 (Starred Selection), 2013, & 2016
- Stupid (Novel) Shortlisted - Stellar Award - Red Cedar Young Reader's Choice Awards 2016
- Stupid - translated into French under the title Olivier
- One of the Year's Best - Resource Links - 2012 & 2013
- Life Before War (short story) Short-listed in the 2008 CBC Literary Award, short story category. Nominated for the Writers Guild of Alberta Howard O'Hagen Award, the Journey Prize, and The National Magazine Awards.
Publications
Start Again - (poem) 2020 - 135 Short Story Dispenser anthology
Creep Con - (Hi Low/ YA Novel - Lorimer - Fall 2015)
Stupid - ( Hi Low / YA Novel - Lorimer -Spring 2014)
Touch - ( Hi Low / YA Novel - Lorimer -Spring 2013)
Boiled Cat - (Punk Rock/YA novel - Create Space - Spring 2013)
Hook Up - (Hi Low / YA Novel - Lorimer - 2012)
Schizo - (Hi Low / YA Novel - Lorimer - 2011)
Life Before War - Short Story, 2009 - FreeFall Magazine Volume XIX, Number 2
Returning Home - Short Story, 2006 - Alexandra Reader anthology
Collaborations
- Founder and Instructor for Alexandra Centre Society's Youth Theatre Camp in conjunction with the Calgary Fringe Festival, 2011-now
- Writing Instructor for the Writers' Guild of Alberta's youth Writing Residency - WordsWorth 2009-current
- Calgary Public Library - Lit Con - co-organizer and instructor, 2022 & 2023
- Calgary Public Library - Reality Is Optional writing pods
- Beakerhead/Ramsay Robots Organizer and Writing Lead
- TD Book Week Tour - Visiting Author for Labrador
- YMCA Teen Newcomer Writing Workshop Instructor
Anne Hodgson was a teacher with the Calgary Board of Education for 39 years before retiring in 2019. She has worked with all ages, as well as ESL, and Special Needs students. Her specialities include Creative Writing, English Language Arts, History, Art, and Drama. She particularly enjoys working with middle school students. Anne was chosen to be a founding staff member at two new innovative schools in Calgary. Monterey Park School was voted one of Canada’s top elementary schools when Anne was on staff. Since retiring, Anne has been an instructor with AWCS, has worked as an Artist in Residence in a K to 9 school, tutored, and has given various workshops to children and adults. Anne is well known for her innovative and engaging methods of bringing Language Arts, History, and the Arts to life for her students.
Anne is also a professional actor, director, writer, and playwright who has toured Canada, and a visual artist.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in English
University of New Brunswick
Diploma of Education
McGill University
Various Select Workshops and study related to:
Learning through the Arts
Critical Thinking and Inquiry
Historical Thinking Concepts
Creative Writing ( Rosemary Nixon, Marty Chan, Joan
Clark)
Canada’s Role in Wars – Juno Beach Summer Institute for
Educators 2018 – (one of 23 teachers chosen from across
Canada)
Awards:
Multiple playwriting awards – StoryBook Theatre
Acting and Directing Awards – Alberta One Act Festival
- Workshop Theatre
Select Publications and Workshops Given:
Original scripts and adaptations produced by various theatre companies
Original children’s stories performed by ‘Short and Tall Tales’ across Alberta.
Shakespeare Intensive - Summer Camp – StoryBook Theatre – program director and instructor for 10 years
‘Teaching Watercolour Painting to Children’ – PD Day for teachers
‘Hooked on Shakespeare’ – Calgary City Teachers’ Convention
‘Teaching Shakespeare to ESL Students’ – CBE Area PD day
‘Playwriting’ – Lit Con – Calgary Public Library
