Looking Ahead

Sometimes Partnership Means Sharing a “To-Do” List

In order for your students to be ready for their class, you’ll want to check off each item on the following lists.

To-Do List for Parents:

  • In case you have not officially registered your child, register here.

  • Purchase a downloadable TWJ Writing Foundations Handbook from our website. (You may have already done this when you registered.)

  • Purchase student novels. (This only applies to Reading & Writing courses, not Writing Foundations. When purchasing novels, it’s important that you use the ISBN number provided on the website. All students must use the same book for their course work.)

  • Make sure your student has a gmail email account.

  • Accept invitation to google classroom. (Your child’s instructor will send this out two weeks before classes start.)

  • IMPORTANT: Register to attend an online Parent Orientation.

    Dates: (Please attend one or the other.)

    ■ Friday, August 25 at 7:30 (PST)/ 10:30 (EST)

    ■ Monday, August 28 at 2:00 (PST)/ 5:00 (EST)

  • Review your student’s “To Do” list with them. (See below.)

To-Do List for Students:

Starting any new class can be stressful, but knowing what’s expected helps students to be prepared and confident. What do students need to remember to be successful in our online classes?

1. Arrive to class 5 minutes early each week.

2. Use earbuds/headphones.

3. Have writing utensils and paper ready to use.

4. Always ask questions to make sure you understand what’s being asked of you.

5. Make every effort to join in the group discussion.

6. Complete ALL homework. (Younger students require more parental oversight.)

7. Be able to access previous week’s homework during class.

8. Last, but not least, have a positive attitude.

Thank you for partnering with us to begin this semester with great success for all!

See you at orientation!

Planning for the Next Year and Beyond

Are you looking for ways to simplify your language arts this next year?

At The Write Journey, we love to keep it simple. We have a tried-and-true method to cover most, if not all, of the English standards at each grade level, including reading, writing, grammar and spelling. The best part: our teachers do not need new curriculum every year! We practice the same writing methods at every grade level, even though the length of the composition grows with the age and abilities of the student. We study classic novels and award-winning stories, perfect for developing the skills of “studying” literature. And last but not least, we deeply discuss the stories in our class discussions. With strong critical thinking questions and the sharing of ideas to explore the content, students learn a comprehensive approach to the various aspects of English.

The best part - we teach parents to teach the way we teach in our Adult Training Program. This summer, we will have a Writing Handbook Intensive course, and in the fall, our Writing Foundations and Literature course will not only teach the writing methods we use, but also how to couple the writing skills with excellent literature study. This course offers something that a book or video series cannot provide - relationship. Spend time with our founder, Kris Cordell, in a live, online class where you may ask questions, try the methods with your children, and bring your successes and challenges back to the table. We, as homeschool parents, need community, and we invite you to be a part of ours. If you’d like to learn more, check out our Adult Training Program. Of course, if the class is not an option for you, we do have our guides available. There is a ton of great information to help you in your journey raising this generation of students!

Upcoming ATP Class Schedule:

Summer - July 12, 19, 26

Fall - 12 weeks; Wednesdays, Aug 30 - Nov 15

Class Registration Now Open!

Our 2023-2024 class schedule is now open for registration! Check out our fun summer courses to keep writing skills fresh over the summer break, or to get a jump start on the next school year. See our classes at a glance below. Click here to view our full class schedule.

Summer Classes

Creative Writing (grades 3-7)

Creative Writing (grades 8-12)

Elementary Writing Foundations (covers the prerequisite for the 5/6th grade Reading & Writing classes)

Intermediate Writing Foundations (covers the prerequisite for the 7/8th grade Reading & Writing classes)

ATP Writing Handbook Intensive Course

12-Week Classes

Writing Only

Elementary Writing Foundations (grades 4-6)

Intermediate Writing Foundations (grades 7-8)

Formal Academic Essay Writing (high school) (Tuesday or Wednesday)

Reading & Writing Classes

1/2 Grade Reading & Writing

3/4 Grade Reading & Writing

5/6 Grade Reading & Writing (Wednesday or Thursday)

7/8 Grade Reading & Writing (Tuesday or Wednesday)

High School Grade Reading & Essay Writing (Tuesday or Wednesday)

College Prep Reading & Essay Writing

Adult Training Program (ATP)

ATP Blending Literature with Writing

WHY MOVE INTO THE READING & WRITING CLASS AFTER WRITING FOUNDATIONS IS COMPLETE?

Why do we need to continue in classes after the Writing Foundations class is complete? We encourage students to continue on their writing journey after they complete the Writing Foundations class because: who learns every element of writing after only 12 weeks?  Language is complicated, and so are our thoughts and insights. Therefore, we must practice, practice, practice.  Our Reading and Writing classes are divided into two parts.  In the writing portion of class, we discuss how best to communicate our thoughts and messages by practicing the following in our own paragraphs as well as our practice sentences. 

  • Making sure each sentence fulfills it’s purpose

  • Using strong vocabulary

  • How to change our sentence structure

The other half of class is spent learning to analyze literature by reading it slowly. Literary discussions in the younger classes include devices such as, but not limited to:

  • Parts of a story

  • Annotate important aspects of character development

  • Chart other topics brought up in the novel 

In the older classes they look at the complex literary devices, such as:

  • The author’s craft or methods

  • Themes 

  • Point of view

We discuss these using specific examples in our novels and other novels we have read in the past. By learning to relate our novel studies to the outside world, we endeavor to think critically and apply these skills to other areas of study.