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Imagining Something Different: Moving to a Sliding Fee Scale
(Note: This is the long-winded personal reflection on a big change in my business model. If you just want to see the nuts and bolts,
5 Elements of Narrative Writing: What Should I Teach?
So, you’ve decided to create a narrative writing assignment. Excellent! Narrative writing is one of the core types of academic writing, and getting to practice
What Types of Writing Should I Teach?
I was chatting with a group of homeschooling parents in my Teaching Writing Workshop, and one of them mentioned that teaching ELA feels overwhelming because
“I don’t want to judge their art!” Using Creative Prompts in Writing Projects
I am a writing teacher. I am not an art teacher. However, I know that artistic expression is a fantastic way to get learners engaged
“Tricks and Tips” Set Learners Up for Future Failure
I always struggled with math. My grades didn’t reflect that. I was a straight-A student who excelled in math on paper, but the concepts never
Should I Put a Grade On It?
At the beginning of all of my online classes, I send parents/guardians a form to gather some information about their family’s expectations, preferences, and needs.
Understanding the Common Core: CCRA Reading and Writing Standards
I know that discussions about standards can be fraught, and I completely understand the frustration many families feel about standardized tests, stilted ways of judging
The Metacognitive Read-Aloud: Turning Readers into Thinkers at Any Age
In an earlier post, I talked about how early reading skills are early writing skills, and I pointed to some studies of how reading practices
“Just Let Them Read”: What I Really Mean When I Advise Delaying Formal Writing Instruction
A lot of people are really worried about their learners’ abilities to become strong writers, and I completely understand. Writing is a lifelong skill that
Surprise! You’re Homeschooling!
For a variety of reasons (many of them pandemic-related), I’ve been having similar conversations with lots of worried first-time homeschoolers in the past few days.
What Kind of Online Class Will Work for Your Learner?
Many of us — homeschoolers and not — were dropped into the deep end of online learning in 2020 and forced to sink or swim. For
Book Pairing: Exploring AI and Technology’s Impact
I really like pairing nonfiction and fiction. From a pedagogical standpoint, readers usually tend to gravitate toward one format or the other, and pairing the