 Dear Anna's Friends,
I hope you and yours have been well since the last time we spoke.
Since the initial shock of COVID-19 we are all undergoing dramatic life changes; we are learning to navigate life in new and creative ways, especially in the area of education. That's why I created virtual lessons for those that want to dedicate some of their learning to a virtual experience.
I'VE CREATED TWO DIFFERENT ONLINE COURSES for children in grades 3rd to 8th:
Creative Writing for the Beginner : This is a 7-week online course that will teach students 5 elements for creating a great fiction story: the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution. Students will write their own short story by the end of this course. For those that complete the 7-weeks of instruction, they will receive a complimentary copy of one of Anna's books of choice (found on the website).
Learning the Basics of Drawing: This is also a 7-week online course that will engage students in learning to develop light, tone and value, contour, gesture drawing, composition, and more. For those students that complete the 7-weeks of instruction, they will receive a complimentary copy of Anna's new book, Anna's Friends Love to Draw.
Continue reading to get the details for both courses.
We pray you stay safe and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Creator of Anna's Friends
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Creative Writing for the Beginner
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There will be seven 1-hour lessons in this course. Students enrolled in "Creative Writing for Beginners" will learn some basic skills such as developing great characters, choosing your setting, creating a strong plot, creating conflict between characters, and bringing your story to a resolution. These essential elements will keep your reader interested in the story from beginning to end. You want to take your reader on the journey with your main character. Students will write their own short story by the end of the 7-week course.
Topics in each lesson are:
1. What Do You want to Write About? - The Central Theme
2. Protagonist vs. Antagonist - Good Guy vs. Bad Guy
3. Developing Great Characters - Are characters always people?
4. Choosing Your Setting - Where is the story taking place?
5. Creating a Strong Plot - What's it all about?
6. Creating Conflict Between Characters - What does the main character want to do?
7. Bringing Your Story to Resolution - Did the main character accomplish his/her goal?
Learn more and REGISTER for the virtual creative writing lessons:
Grades 3 through 5 - Creative Writing for Beginners, beginning Tuesday, August 18th, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Grades 6 through 8 - Creative Writing for Beginners, beginning Tuesday, August 18th, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
NOTE** If these days or times do not work for you, please contact me so I can customize a schedule that does.
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Learning the Basics of Drawing
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 Who doesn't love to draw! Learning the Basics of Drawing is a 7-week online course that will engage students in learning to develop light, tone and value, contour, gesture drawing, composition, and more. For those students that complete the 7-weeks of instruction, they will receive a complimentary copy of Anna's new book, Anna's Friends Love to Draw.
When studying and practicing the lessons in Anna's Friends Love to Draw, students will need to schedule allotted time to practice. They should take time and concentrate on each new step to learn how to draw, and eventually the student of the pencil will develop their own art style.
Although Anna’s Friends Love to Draw is targeted for children, I have written it so anyone who can read can benefit from these lessons.
The lessons topics are:
1. What do you see? - Training your eye to see the detail
2. Tone and Value - There's more than black and white
3. Light – The degrees of light
4. Drawing Silhouettes - Outlining
5. Drawing Contour - Remember Picasso?
6. Drawing Gesture - The beauty of movement
7. Creating Great Composition - Arranging your images on the paper
Students will need a few supplies: drawing pencils and paper, kneaded eraser, and pencil sharpener.
Learn more and REGISTER for these virtual writing lessons:
Grades 3 through 5 - Learning the Basics of Drawing, beginning Thursday, August 13th, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Grades 6 through 8 - Learning the Basics of Drawing, beginning Thursday, August 20th, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
NOTE** If these days or times do not work for you, please contact me so I can customize a time that does.
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JUST FOR FUN - Kids say the darndest things!
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 As a paraprofessional at an elementary school I am met daily with the most enjoyable side of children from three (3) to ten (ten) years old, primarily PreK to second graders.
During those times when I need an emotional pick me up I think of the day when I walked into a Kindergarten class for my afternoon shift to support the teacher.
The children were in the middle of their playtime. One little girl -- I'll call her Jane -- called me over as soon as I entered the room, "Mrs. Williams, come play with us." I scurried over and knelt on my knees, then proceeded to gingerly sit on the floor next to the two girls who were building with some rubber thingies - :). Suddenly I felt a soft circular motion on my back and the sweet face of Jane bending over and staring at me face to face, her pony tail hanging between us. "I'm helping you Mrs. Williams because you are old," she said with the confidence of a college professor.
"Well thank you Jane. That was very kind," I replied as I settled on the floor doing my best to quench the laughter wanting to burst from my mouth.
Now you must know little Jane to understand that she is quite confident in all that she does. She has the motivational gift of teaching. When she sees me in the morning, she runs with open arms to greet me which is one of the greatest joys in my life.
I could indeed write a book about the things children do and say in school!
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How to distinguish between gifts that are similar
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