Word Power Advanced Year 4

Welcome to Word Power Advanced, a comprehensive four-year high school program designed to develop skills in grammar, writing, literature, and speech. This engaging curriculum combines weekly Zoom classes, interactive discussions on a moderated Discord channel, and thoughtfully crafted assignments to foster academic growth and meaningful connections among students. Below is an overview of the program and details for the 2025-2026 academic year (Year 4).

Word Power Advanced is included in the Homeschooling Torah membership at no extra charge. To join Word Power Advanced, please purchase the course and complete the registration form, including submitting signed parental permission forms, before our start date of August 31, 2026. Space is limited to 30 students, so we encourage you to act promptly to secure your student’s spot. Priority will be given to current Homeschooling Torah members.

Program Overview

Word Power Advanced spans four years, with each year focusing on a distinct writing style:

• Year 1: Essay Writing – 2023-2024

• Year 2: Creative Writing and Stories – 2024-2025

• Year 3: Non-Fiction Writing – 2025-2026

• Year 4: Novel Writing – 2026-2027

Students may join the program at any point in the cycle, so all students are welcome to join Year 4 (Novel Writing). The curriculum integrates classic literature—fiction, non-fiction, and poetry—analyzed from a Torah perspective and compared to Biblical literature. Through weekly assignments, students will hone their writing and speaking skills, learn how to craft and write a novel, and deliver three speeches. These complementary activities build confidence and proficiency in communication.

2026-2027 Academic Year (Year 4: Novel Writing)

• Start Date: August 31, 2026

• End Date: May 3, 2026 (continuing to May 24 if extra classes are needed for sickness, emergencies, etc.)

• Weekly Classes: Mondays, 4:00–5:00 PM Eastern, via Zoom

• Instructor: Anne Elliott

• Homework: Weekly assignments in reading, writing, grammar, and speech, due each Sunday night

• Materials: All required texts and lesson materials are provided in weekly homework downloads, with grading suggestions for parents.

Literature Selections

This year’s reading list, included in the weekly downloads, features:

• Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan

• Ben-Hur, by Lew Wallace

• The Man Without a Country, by Edward Everett Hale

• The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Arthur Conan Doyle

• In His Steps, by Charles Sheldon

• Classic poetry by Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, Bryant, Lowell, Watts, and others

No additional book purchases are required.

Sample

Click Here for a Sample from Year 2

Key Topics

• Literature: Analysis of world, British, and American literature through a Torah lens, with connections to Biblical texts

• Writing: Development of essays, poetry, and elements of a novel

• Speech: Preparation and delivery of three speeches, plus class discussions

• Grammar: Reinforcement through class discussions and weekly assignments

Community and Technology

Students are invited to join our vibrant HomeschoolingTorah community through a moderated Discord channel, where they can discuss assignments, share ideas, and build friendships with like-minded peers. All discussions are supervised to ensure alignment with Torah principles. The program encourages students to use their communication talents to serve the Kingdom of YHVH and glorify Him.

No software purchases are needed, though a reliable internet connection is recommended for Zoom classes and Discord participation.

Why Join Word Power Advanced?

This program equips high school students with essential communication skills while fostering a love for literature and a commitment to Torah values. Weekly assignments start small and progressively build expertise, ensuring students grow steadily in their abilities. Parents receive comprehensive materials to support learning and assessment at home.

For any questions or additional information, please contact Anne directly. I look forward to guiding your student through an enriching year of learning and growth! ~Anne

Class Schedule:

Class and feast dates are tentative. Emergencies or illness might push a class back a week or two. Here are our plans, “if YHVH wills.”

Class 1 – Class Introduction & Planning Long Projects – August 31, 2026

NO CLASS – Labor Day – September 7, 2026

Class 2 – Allegory and Symbolism – September 14, 2026

Class 3 – Plot and Consequences – September 21, 2026

NO CLASS – Sukkot Break – September 28, 2026

NO CLASS – Sukkot Break – October 5, 2026

Class 4 – Inventing a Plot – October 12, 2026

Class 5 – Testing Ideas – October 19, 2026

Class 6 – Character Motivation – October 26, 2026

Class 7 –Developing Characters – November 2, 2026

Class 8 – Preparing a Short Devotional – November 9, 2026

Class 9 – Speech 1 – A Short Devotional – November 16, 2026

Class 10 – Speech 1 – A Short Devotional – November 23, 2026

Class 11 – Show and Tell – November 30, 2026

Class 12 – Setting in Literature – December 7, 2026

Class 13 – Writing Scenes – December 14, 2026

Class 14 – Writing Dialogue – December 21, 2026

Class 15 – Reading Aloud – December 28, 2026

Class 16 – Professional Communication – January 4, 2027

Class 17 – Speech 2 – Difficult Conversations – January 11, 2027

Class 18 – Speech 2 – Difficult Conversations – January 18, 2027

NO CLASS – Winter Break – January 25, 2027

Class 19 – Reading as an Adult – February 1, 2027

Class 20 – Theme in Literature – February 8, 2027

Class 21 – An Author’s Worldview – February 15, 2027

Class 22 – Evaluating Books Biblically – February 22, 2027

Class 23 – Editing – March 1, 2027

Class 24 – Self-Editing Checklists – March 8, 2027

Class 25 – How to Get a Novel in Print – March 15, 2027

Class 26 – Book Proposals – March 22, 2027

NO CLASS – Spring Break – March 29, 2027

Class 27 – How to Teach Something Useful – April 5, 2027

Class 28 – Speech 3 – Teach Something Useful – April 12, 2027

Class 29 – Speech 3 – Teach Something Useful – April 19, 2027

NO CLASS – Passover Break – April 26, 2027

Class 30 – Finishing Projects – May 3, 2027

NO CLASS – Torah Sisters Retreat – May 10, 2027

(May 17 and May 24 are overflow dates, in case extra classes are needed)