We hear many questions, but some we get often! Questions such as:
Why do you read only one book per class? or
Doesn’t reading analytically create a dislike for reading? Shouldn’t reading just be fun?
or even
Why do students write shorter compositions than many other students their age?
Click here to find our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQs) section on our website. You may find the answers to your questions!
Over the many years, Kris has maintained a standard of quality services that result in proven success. That was the intention all along; to create a writing process that enables students to think, communicate, and write well. However, it is founded on the 20/80 business model, and we focus on the 20% of all the writing strategies, methods, tricks, and plans. Our goal is to cover that 20% excellently. But this practice in our business often causes people to question our methods, or at least wonder. You may be wondering about some of the most commonly questions.
We get it. With all of the experts weighing in on standards and making recommendations, should we really focus on the basics? We say yes. Over and over again. We focus on the basics, and teach students to do those basics excellently and with mastery. They even learn to enjoy the subjects of writing and studying literature. If you have more questions, or one that is not listed here, feel free to reach out through a phone call to our office line- 916-696-1759, or send us an email at info@thewritejourney.net any time! We will respond to your questions as quickly as we are able.
Click here to find our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQs) section on our website. You may find the answers to your questions!
In what ways is the classroom experience beneficial to my child, whether in-person or online?
Students in our classes learn to listen and follow directions, take responsibility for their homework assignments, and dialogue with their
peers in a structured setting. The group dynamic allows for the sharing of ideas, and enhances the critical thinking skills needed to formulate solid written responses. They may also make new friends!
Why do you read only one book per class?
It’s important for students to develop the skills necessary to read analytically. To simply read is not enough. Students must learn to think about what they read, process what they read, and draw some conclusions about what they read. They must learn to read with an engaged and questioning mind. We teach them how to do this, and then we give them the opportunity to practice developing these skills.
Doesn’t reading analytically create a dislike for reading? Shouldn’t reading just be fun?
Of course reading should be fun...but fun should not always be the primary goal of reading. Students must learn to ask “why?” as they read and then ponder the possible responses. Thinking is hard work; therefore, most students will not push themselves to think as they read when they are just reading for fun. The skills of reading slowly and carefully must be taught and practiced.
What if my child has already read the novel that the class will be studying?
Since the novels we study are all classics, occasionally students have already read the book that their class is going to study. Asking your child to read a great classic a second time (or even a third time), should not be problematic. Do they watch a great movie more than
once? Reading the novel is essential to the class, but the act of studying the novel creates a new experience.
Do students have to read out loud in class?
NO. Occasionally students will have the opportunity to read out loud if they want to.
Why do students write shorter compositions than many other students their age?
Since great writing has so many components, we have found that asking our students to write shorter compositions (often a single paragraph) results in better quality compositions. Students can concentrate on writing better quality compositions rather than spending the time to write lengthier compositions which lack quality. Once the quality becomes more consistent in single paragraph compositions, we can expect students to write lengthier essays well.
Won’t my child learn to write simply by reading great books?
While reading absolutely contributes to quality writing, it is a false notion to believe that much reading automatically creates a great writer. While reading and writing are both forms of communication, they utilize very different skill sets. Reading simply requires an individual to decode words. Writing on the other hand requires an individual to think deeply, finding words to express his/her thoughts and feelings about any given topic. It requires organizing information and ideas, understanding grammar rules, and expressing meaningful thoughts and responses.
Do you teach grammar in your classes?
Yes we do. We teach grammar primarily in the context of real reading and writing. Students must know proper grammar in order to write and speak properly. We may even have students complete some worksheets, but we do not use grammar workbooks. Grammar does not dominate the content of our instruction; it is only one piece of the language pie. We have found that students who complete grammar workbooks are often NOT strong writers. Much more goes into good quality writing than grammar.
Are the students in your classes required to complete homework?
Our classes are academic classes as opposed to enrichment classes. That means we do assign homework. The homework allows students to implement the instruction they receive in class. We are able to make much more progress towards developing strong writers when each student takes his/her homework seriously.
How much homework is required?
The rule of thumb for homework is based on the age and ability of the child’s learning level. Of course this rule of thumb may vary greatly depending upon a student’s work ethic as well as his/her knowledge and ability.
Primary Level- 2 hours Elementary Level- 3 hours Intermediate Level- 4 hours Advanced Level- 5-6 hours College Prep- 6-7 hours
Do students receive grades for their work?
Student assignments will be evaluated by their teacher. For grades 5-12, the grades for essays are based on three criteria: organization, grammar and style, and content. Each teacher will give a numerical score for each of these areas, and she will provide individual feedback on each student’s essays. This allows both parents and students to identify the weak areas of writing as well as the strengths. Individual evaluations are completed at the end of each class.
How do you handle disagreements among students during class discussions?
Discussions among the students are an important part of our classes, and we encourage “friendly debate”. We create a safe environment for students to voice their ideas and opinions. We encourage students to question and challenge each other in a respectful manner. This develops social skills that are necessary in the adult world, teaching students how to appreciate those who disagree with them and teaching them how to respond to being challenged without being personally offended. Our classes are very orderly even in the midst of lively discussions. As educators, our role is to facilitate thinking, questioning, analyzing, and communicating.
Do your classes meet state standards?
Our classes are rigorous and academic in nature; therefore, our classes often exceed state standards for Language Arts at every grade level because we use classic literature, and we provide individualized instruction for each student as we work towards developing mastery of literary analysis and writing skills. Since state standards fluctuate and because we have students from many different states, we do not specify each state standard. We leave that up to parents and their
advisors to determine. As your child participates in our classes, you will find their instruction to be thorough, age appropriate, and often above their peers. As we partner together (The Write Journey educators with parents), students progress at a pace that is comfortable, yet challenging for them personally. Our focus is on creating a healthy, balanced learning experience.
Will classes resume meeting in-person at some point?
At this time, The Write Journey does not plan to coordinate and provide in-person instruction by our trained educators. This decision is based on many factors, but the primary factor is logistics. Because of the ever changing Covid guidelines within the various school districts that we serve, we simply cannot accommodate every single guideline for each charter school. In addition, with virtual instruction, we are able to reach students everywhere. We desire to partner with parents and students from every state, and even beyond. Our time is much better spent establishing a consistent plan for virtual instruction without having to regroup with each new guideline that comes along.
Another option: While the classes we offer students will continue to be virtual, we understand that in-person classes are very important for students.That is why we have come up with a plan to support co-ops where families come together in community. We now offer an Adult Certification program to equip and empower other adults to teach our tried and true writing methods. We want to partner with your co-op so you can bring our great classes to your students. If you simply provide a willing individual (no degrees necessary), we will do the training and mentoring. Your co-op can come together to cover the cost to train your very own TWJ writing instructor. Of course this will save your families a great deal of cost. We are excited to partner with your family or your co-op to bring our quality writing methods to your children, if you prefer in-person instruction over virtual instruction.
Who would be a good candidate for the Adult Certification program?
A great candidate for our Adult Certification program is someone who is eager to partner with others to learn how to teach our tried and true writing methods to their own children, as well as students in a local co-op or school. While this undertaking may seem daunting at first, we understand how busy and hectic one’s life becomes when homeschooling is added to the equation. Therefore, we have created a program that is designed to have maximum flexibility for you. At the same time, you must be able to commit to a few hours each week (probably about 4 hours) that you set aside to learn from our instruction and mentoring. Our goal is to help you become a confident writing instructor. We simply need a teachable individual, who is willing to put in a little extra work to learn the skills you will need to teach writing to your children and others. This opportunity is available for ALL adults: parents (and grandparents), co-op leaders and instructors, school teachers, etc. As always, contact our home office for more detailed information.