Reading, Vocabulary, and Writing—They Are Interconnected
When Jack, one of my sixth-grade students, joined my Writing Critique course at the beginning of February, it was apparent to the other students in the . . .
To Become a Better Writer, You Need to Read More.
Taylor, one of my tenth-grade students, has a love of reading that shines through her writing. I have been fortuitous to have her share her gift with . . .
Punctuation is easy, right?
Do you want to test your punctuation skills? If so, independently punctuate (no writing app help) the following passage: In general the writer who did . . .
How to Write a Proper Paragraph
About four years ago, a parent of one of my students recommended that I have kids write how-to paragraphs on how to write a paragraph. It was a brilliant . . .
The Power of Writing
This past May, I received an email from my 15-year-old son, Jacob, with the subject "Decision." It was the first email I recall receiving from him, so I . . .
Becoming a Better Writer by Utilizing Organizational and Time Management Skills
Last month, I commented on how the pandemic has been good for education in that it has made students more flexible and adaptable. On the flip side, I . . .
Writing Revisions
One topic that came up frequently during the most recent complimentary parent check-in phone calls was revisions: students are not putting enough time . . .
A Special In-Person Writing Class
In August 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Alisa, a fourth-grader in Singapore, began taking writing classes with me. During our first Zoom meeting . . .
A Closer Look at Writing
Most people evaluate writing from a distance: Does it look like a paragraph or essay? How long is the writing piece? But, upon closer examination of . . .
Kindness & Writing
One word has been consuming my thoughts lately: “kindness.” It is a simple word, but kindness itself is so powerful because it can make someone's day, . . .
Learning How to Write: An Opportunity for Kids
The word “opportunity” has been on my mind this month. At the beginning of March, when a parent was enrolling her daughter in writing classes with . . .
The Deterioration of Writing Education
As I was preparing to move into my office in July of last year, my dad shared an article with me, "Burbank and His Plant School," that his mother, Thelma . . .
Writing Critique Classes
Frequently, parents tell me that I have a different approach to teaching writing. I agree with them. Over the past decade, I have made countless . . .
A Dedicated Writing Student: Akiro
Around this time last year, Akiro, a student whom I have been working with for six years this month, sent me a "Thanksgiving" email. Reading it, brought a . . .
The Importance of Word Choice
When I saw "word choice" listed as one of the ten grading criteria on the evaluation form for my son's first graded high school MLA-formatted paper, it . . .
Gratitude for Teachers
Never have I been so eager to wake up at 5:00 a.m. as I was this past Tuesday: my son's first day of a school year with full-time and regular instruction . . .
Are Good Academic Grades Always Reflective of Learning?
Writing involves a lot of thinking. Thus, I encourage my writing students to spend time thinking about what they want to write before they sit down to . . .
Maintaining Balance in My Life
Although the past 14 months have challenged me in so many different ways, they have also been liberating in that they have given me back the balance that . . .