Middle School Writing with Sugar Changed the World (Fall 2022)

When you bite into a cupcake or stir some sugar into your tea, you probably aren't thinking about the historical tales of what brought that sweetener into your life.

Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos — a husband and wife writing team — weren't, either. Then they discovered that sugar is part of their respective family histories. By the time they finished researching their own connection to the history of sugar, they'd realized it was a part of major world events that stretched back for centuries. It moves through religious ceremonies to slavery to fortunes gained and lost.

Sugar, as the title of this book proclaims, did indeed change the world, and reading this book will provide learners with a chance to question how many of the items we take for granted likely have their own storied past.

Gain Key Academic Writing and Reading Foundations

Students will learn foundational academic writing and reading skills including thesis statements, note taking, topic sentences, paragraph focus, and transitions. They will practice these skills through themed writing assignments based on the book.

Meet Live Weekly

This is a live class, which means we meet weekly to discuss the reading and explore writing tips. Learners can also interact with each other and the instructor between class meetings on our discussion boards.

Provided materials include reading guides and activities to help with vocabulary and comprehension as well as writing tips to apply to short, informal writing assignments.

Practice Writing as a Process

Most importantly, students will compose two multi-draft papers with individual video feedback on rough drafts and the opportunity to revise a final draft.

Schedule

Class runs from March 31-May 25, 2025

We’ll meet via Zoom for a live discussion session each Monday at 12-12:45pm Eastern/11-11:45am Central/10-10:45am Mountain/9-9:45am Pacific

Supplies

To participate successfully in class, learners will need the following:

A copy of Sugar Changed the World by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos (ISBN 978-0-618-57492-6) (used copies are fine; borrowed/library copies are acceptable but it’s preferable for learners to have their own copy so they can take notes in it)
Microphone and camera for in-class participation
PDF Reader
Zoom (free account)
Learners will submit work through Google Drive (a Google (Gmail) account can be acquired for free)

Choose a Pricing Option

$286

Market Rate +25%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$242

Market Rate +10%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$220

Market Rate

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. Pay what works for your family.

$175

Market Rate -20%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. Pay what works for your family.

$110

Market Rate -50%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. Pay what works for your family.

Meet Dr. Michelle Parrinello-Cason

Dr. Michelle Parrinello-Cason is the founder of Dayla Learning. She has a PhD in rhetoric and composition, a passion for helping students find their writing voice, and two homeschooling children of her own.

Michelle has taught in a wide variety of settings including six years as a full-time college professor. She has been teaching virtual and in-person homeschool writing and humanities classes for more than five years.

Michelle believes in meeting students where they are and — as any of her previous students will tell you — believes deeply that there is no such thing as a bad rough draft!

Is this the right fit for your learner?

This class is an advanced option for my Middle School level classes (Middle School Writing Level 3). It’s designed for learners who have some experience with writing academic papers and like reading complex texts. Learners will do best if they have the following skills:

Can write about 350-400 words (about 1.5 pages double spaced) on a single topic
Confidently reads texts at or above 1000L on the Lexile rating
Consistently identifies main ideas and supporting ideas while reading nonfiction texts
Has practiced writing as a process that involves brainstorming, drafting, revising, and proofreading

This class is a good fit for advanced middle school readers who are not ready for high school-level writing or early high school writers who would benefit from more time and supports in writing but still need challenging reading material.

Skills Gained

The class is set up so that students choose which writing prompts they’d like to complete for both of the two primary assignments. This means that students of varying ability levels and familiarity with academic writing conventions can find an assignment appropriate for their level.

All students will learn about the following:

Developing reading comprehension and note-taking strategies
Finding their own writing process
Working on a complete draft in stages that focus on revision
Reflecting on what works to build strong writing habits

Depending on which assignments they choose to complete, students will focus specifically on the following:

Crafting strong thesis statements
Summarizing outside sources in their own writing
Analyzing outside sources
Finding similarities when making comparisons
Conducting independent research to find credible sources
Incorporating sources into writing with appropriate citations

Common Core Standards Alignment

For those who are using Common Core standards, this course meets the following:

All Learners:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.1, 7.1, and 8.1 (citing textual evidence)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2, 7.2, and 8.2 (identifying central ideas)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.3, 7.3, and 8.3 (analyzing details in informational texts)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.4, 7.4, and 8.4 (determining word meaning in context)

Depending on Paper Prompt Chosen:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1, 7.1, and 8.1 (write arguments with reason and evidence)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2, 7.2, and 8.2 (write informative texts to examine a topic)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3, 7.3, and 8.3 (write narratives with details)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.4, 7.4, and 8.4 (write appropriately to audience)
CCS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.5, 7.5, and 8.5 (plan, revise, edit and rewrite)
CCS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.7, 7.7, and 8.7 (conduct short research projects)
CCS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.8, 7.8, and 8.8 (gather information from credible sources)
CCS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.9, 7.9, and 8.9 (draw textual evidence to support analysis and research)
CCS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.10, 7.10, and 8.10 (write routinely over extended time frames)

Upon successful completion of class, instructor provides detailed exit letter suitable for inclusion in portfolio. Families may request numerical grade at beginning of class for a detailed course grade summary, but it is optional.

Individual Support

All students will receive individualized video feedback on all rough drafts that specifically addresses their rough draft submissions.

My teaching philosophy very much focuses on starting with students’ strengths to build confidence and using them to work on improvements over time.

Feedback is tailored to each student’s individual needs and goals. I also encourage a lot of self-reflection and provide opportunities for students to directly communicate their challenges so that facing them with strategies becomes a normal part of the writing process.

Content Note

This book looks at the connection between slavery, indentured servitude, and sugar plantations in a straightforward way that includes tempered descriptions of brutality and mistreatment.

Choose a Pricing Option

$286

Market Rate +25%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$242

Market Rate +10%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. This option allows us to build a more accessible and equitable community of learners by offering discounted pricing options.

$220

Market Rate

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. Pay what works for your family.

$175

Market Rate -20%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. Pay what works for your family.

$110

Market Rate -50%

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities. You can read more about the plan and its goals here, but all options give access to the same classroom experience. Pay what works for your family.