DON'T DELAY: JOIN TWJ COMMUNITY FB GROUP TODAY!

We want to take a minute to invite you to join our The Write Journey Facebook Group. This is a private group for parents and educators who long to connect with others in the educational world. Our connections focus on language arts: reading, writing, verbal communication, enrichment opportunities (such as field trips, crafts, hobbies, geography, art, etc.), presentation, and more. We love sharing ideas and experiences related to books and writing.

Whether you’re a parent educator, a professional teacher or administrator in a traditional school, a member of a co-op, or simply a curious individual that loves language arts, we invite you to join our community. While The Write Journey business (formerly “Writing with Kris”) has been offering wonderful reading and writing courses for 20 years now, our Facebook group is new. We hope you’ll join us in creating a platform that encourages and supports you - the educators/parents of the next generation. In doing so, you and your friends will be equipped and empowered to bring quality language arts instruction to your educational community. Together we are making a difference in how our children learn, bringing joy and excellence into their young lives.

Join our TWJ FB group this month and win a free writing assessment for one of your children!!

Christmas Quotes

Quotes for Christmas

Ronald Reagan (Former President of the United States and Former Governor of California)

“Christmas is a holiday that we celebrate not as individuals nor as a nation, but as a human family”.

Bob Hope ( British-American Actor, Comedian and USO Entertainer for the US Troops)

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"

 Charles M. Schulz
"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.”

WELCOMING DECEMBER

It’s December. I what wonder what that means for you:

  •  Crazy busy stress

  •  A welcome break in the routine

  •  A meaningful focus on priorities in life

  •  Fun, family, food

  •  $$$$$

  •  Time with the ones you love

  •  Oppressive expectations from others

 Etc., etc., etc.

I would love to hear what December brings for you. I hope it puts a smile on your face and a spark in your heart. I hope you are able to look and think past the hustle and bustle that may usher in anxiety, and instead choose to focus on the people and the opportunities in order that you might enjoy them – your loved ones, even strangers. But if it’s hard, perhaps a small shift in your perspective or your choices will help this year.

When I was homeschooling our four children, I eagerly awaited the arrival of December. Actually, if I’m being honest, I eagerly awaited the arrival of Thanksgiving because then everything in our household shifted for the remainder of the calendar year. How did it shift? I chose to set aside lists and focus on relaxation and heart-warming moments:

  •  Family movies together

  •  Crafts - even some homemade gifts

  •  Warm, soft, comfy clothes

  •  Sleepovers and staying up late and sleeping in

  •  Plenty of baking - all the family favorites along with an occasional attempt at

    something new

  •  Hot chocolate and toast

  •  Reading together and playing together (or alone for my introvert)

  •  Weaving in reminders about the true meaning of Christmas

  •  A beautiful Christmas choral concert that our children participated in

  •   And the climax was a week at Grandpa and Grandma’s home in the Sierra

    mountains!!

BUT WAIT!!! What about school? Yes, we wove in a bit of reading and writing -- the fun stuff. And the children worked on math lessons “most” days. But the “learning” came naturally. Oh the memories … Now I get to enjoy the same heart-warming moments with my grandchildren.

The holiday season is a special time of year. I pray you find the things that warm your heart, and allow yourself to bask in the joy of the season – even in the midst of the busyness, and sometimes the chaos. Make simple choices that will create special memories as you embrace and enjoy the season. I promise, your children will “learn” much. Welcome December.

Speaking life, Kris

December 2022: Holidays, slow down, gather

A Christmas Literature Guide

The Write Journey Team benefits greatly from the available teaching guides published by Total Language Plus® (TLP). These comprehensive guides offer activities, writing prompts, editing lessons for grammar, and vocabulary lessons as well. We often use this resource as we create our Reading & Writing class assignments. There are both discussion questions to check for comprehension, as well as deeper questions to develop critical thinking skills. If you choose to use one of the guides during the holiday months while students are not in our classes, nearly all of the prep work is done for the parent. And who could not benefit from some extra time during the holidays?! TLP offers a guide with three Christmas short stories, or a guide for older students with the classic Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol. Use the link below to visit the website and consider purchasing whichever format you prefer for your family. You may even explore other options as you plan for your future Language Arts instruction!