When I worked in public policy many years ago, one of my jobs was to take long policy papers from think tanks and reduce them down to one or two pages for state lawmakers. I also wrote the scripts for a popular radio show called “Point/Counterpoint” on a very large […]
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I called my mom from college: “I finally have a name for all my school struggles: dysgraphia.” After nineteen years of struggling with my handwriting, spelling, and writing, I finally had a (self) diagnosis. At that point, I had made it from second through eighth grade with an IEP, then […]
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Reading aloud has great value, as any teacher of young children will tell you. Socially, it encourages bonding and a sense of community—picture an adult and children snuggled together on the couch at home, or gathered around a book in a classroom. Academically, reading aloud builds vocabulary and comprehension, stretching […]
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Seasons of transition are typically just plain hard, and the season of transitioning from childhood to young adulthood is no different. It’s hard. Hard for students and parents. If we can learn to anticipate some hard times and understand that the challenges are necessary for moving forward, perhaps we can […]
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Stubborn, willful, or something else? What’s the difference between “won’t write” and “can’t write,” and how are you to know which describes your child? A teacher whose gifted students were referred to my Resource Room Language Arts program once said, “They just won’t write anything for me … they just […]
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I am an 18-year-old homeschool graduate who has a passion for writing! Thus far, my passion has been an energizing catalyst, enabling me to become a published author. With a sincere attempt to rein in self-pride and boundless enthusiasm, may I joyfully share with you some of my accomplished goals? […]
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From the time I was a small child, I have loved telling stories. At the age of 9, I told everyone I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. Imagine then, having two sons who struggled learning to read—let alone write stories. Both of my sons resisted writing […]
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Usually during the primary grades, a child is first asked to pen a composition. This sort of written expression is not unlike personal essays which appear in anthologies like Chicken Soup for the Soul or magazines like Guideposts. The same steps an adult might take to inspire herself and prepare […]
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I’m always more than ready to go outside and dig in the dirt at the first sign of spring. Planting flowers in pots and small flower beds just makes everything beautiful again! The fresh air, crisp wind, and sparkling sunshine are good for my soul. Children naturally love the outdoors. […]
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Writing provides an opportunity for us to communicate with people we may never meet face to face. Helping children become effective writers will equip them to share their ideas and their feelings—and perhaps even influence others. However, many people—children and adults alike—find writing to be a stressful challenge. Writing instruction […]
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