The 'Teaching Writing for Adolescents' course is a required online methods course for secondary English teachers in Utah, offered by the Utah Education Network in partnership with Southern Utah University. Over 12 weeks, the course covers various aspects of writing instruction, including writing standards, assessment, and classroom applications, with weekly assignments including reflections, research reviews, and practical lesson creation. The course is praised for its affordability, relevant content, and the development of a personal library of teaching resources.

1. Teaching Writing for Adolescents
Course Summary
Utah Education Network
Melissa Edman

2. Course Specifics
 Teaching Writing for Adolescents is a core methods course required
for the Secondary (6th grade through 12th grade) English Language
Arts teacher endorsement in Utah.
 This course is offered entirely online through the Utah Education
Network (www.uen.org) in conjunction with Southern Utah
University. Each unit costs $21.
 The course spans 12 weeks. Weekly assignments are due on
Wednesdays by midnight.

3. Curriculum Covered
Week 1: Course Front-loading
Week 2: Why Teach Writing;
Writing Standards of the New
Utah Core
Week 3: Backward Design; Error
Analysis; Assessing Writing
Week 4:
Task/Purpose/Audience;
Planning & Organizing; Graphic
Organizers
Week 5: Text Structures 1
Week 6: Text Structures 2
Week 7: Mini Grammar Lessons;
Editing
Week 8: Revise/Rewrite
Week 9: Peer Response
Week 10: Publishing and
Technology
Week 11: Giving Feedback
Week 12: Student Reflection;
Course Reflection

4. Assignments Summary
 Each week, assignments generally include the following:
 Personal Reflection: Class members are asked to reflect on their
personal understanding and experience with whatever the weekly
topic(s) is/are and post that reflection on the class discussion board.
Occasionally, students are also expected to comment on other
classmates’ posts.
 Research Review: Academic articles are provided that students
must review. The newly acquired knowledge and understanding is
then applied to another assignment.
 Classroom Application: The culminating assignment each week is
to create a ready-to-use classroom resource or teacher tool
integrating the topics of the week.

5. Personal Experience
 Overall, my personal experience with this course has been very
positive, for the following reasons:
 Hard Deadlines: Knowing that assignments are due weekly makes
sure that I stay on top of things.
 Cost: $21 for a university credit ($63 for this 3-credit class) is
unheard of. It definitely makes continuing education accessible.
 Research: The current research reviewed in this class is current and
relevant to the classrooms and students teachers face today.
 Classroom Ready Lessons and Resources: Because each week’s
set of assignments includes creating a lesson/resource that applies
the week’s topic, each class member completes the course with a
personal library of classroom ready teaching manipulatives and
supplements.