Grammar in Context

Editing Like a Pro

Grammar, punctuation, and syntax are an often misunderstood part of the writing process. 

Many learners associate these concepts with endless grammar worksheets and red marks all over their drafts. Unfortunately, grammar drills don't usually work, and memorizing parts of speech might help you in a trivia round but it probably won't improve your writing. 

This class approaches the final polishing stage of writing as a chance to consider the impact of grammar, punctuation, and syntax choices in context. 

Learn to think like an editor and see these nuanced parts of writing as subtle nods toward audience and purpose. 

We'll talk about specific writing conventions, how and why to follow them, and how and when we might decide to ignore them. Our work will culminate in a final project that puts participants in the editor's chair and asks them to edit the same piece of writing for different audiences. 

Course Details

Ages 

13-18

(Younger middle school learners may participate if they have previous writing experience and a genuine interest in the topic.) 

Schedule 

November 23-December 20, 2026 with live meetings on Wednesdays from 11-11:45am Eastern. 

Supplies 

  • 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)

Time Commitment

Class meets for 45 minutes each week for 4 weeks.

There will be readings (optional and required) available each week for an additional 1-3 hours of available work. 

The final project will take most learners 3-5 hours to complete in the final week of class. 

Pricing options

This class uses a sliding fee scale for pricing options in order to build more equitable access to these educational opportunities.

Is this the right fit?

This class is designed to be accessible to a range of students, and the final project is adaptable to meet a variety of needs in terms of difficulty. To be successful in this class, students should be able to: 

  • Write about 500 words (about 2 pages double spaced) on a single topic
  • Confidently read texts at or above 1000L on the Lexile rating
  • Participate in group discussions respectfully


This class is a good fit for high school learners and experienced middle school writers who want to practice sentence-level writing practice with a focus on language usage and structural choices.

This class is not designed for learners who are at the very beginning of their formal writing experience. Writing style is something that's best developed in writers who already have practice with a writing process and have gained confidence in producing meaning in written texts. Those who are still working on these skills may benefit from a Middle School Writing Foundations course instead.

Skills Gained

Students will practice editing strategies that address syntax, grammar, and punctuation.

The class will culminate in a final project that allows students to practice editing for different purposes.

Individual Support

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.

Meet Your Teacher!

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!