HELPING YOU HELP YOUR STUDENTS

Here we are: one school year is ending, and a new school year is on the horizon! I’m not sure if that excites you or overwhelms you; my guess is a little of both. I’ve been there, and I get it.

We are here to partner with you as you work to bring quality language arts instruction to your children/educational community. We not only strive to educate students, but we also desire to provide practical instruction to adults.

As a business with well over 75 years of combined homeschool instruction along with over 40 years professional teaching experience, we understand the challenges and the excitement that comes with the territory. We love coming alongside adults who are passionate about pouring into their educational community.

For all of us, plans are in the works for the new school year. If providing quality writing is a priority for your educational community, we are here to help you make that happen. We are open to creating a plan that works for you and your community. Let’s talk about the content of instruction, the time and costs involved, the mentoring and support during training and beyond, etc.

Now is an ideal time to have a conversation about what your needs are and how we might assist you with those needs, so give us a call or send us an email right away. We would love to begin some training with you (or a member of your educational community) this summer.

Call our home office at 916-696-1759 or send an email to info@thewritejourney.net

Let us help you make the 2022-2023 school year the best ever.

EVEN IN A CRAZY WORLD I CAN FIND PEACE

With so much around us seemingly spinning out of control, what can we do to stay encouraged, hopeful, and energetic? We can speak life! This doesn’t mean we ignore realities, but it does mean that we get to choose how we will process those realities. Will we allow ourselves to become consumed with the chaos and confusion? Or will we swing the pendulum the opposite direction and choose to ignore hard realities and pretend they aren’t happening? No. But what do we do? How do we speak life into challenging realities? Together, let’s give it a try:

•  Today I give thanks for _____________________.

•  When I feel anxious, I will pray.

•  When I have a need, I will ask for help. (Send me a message!)

•  I will breathe deeply and slowly . . . with a smile on my face.

•  I will give my loved ones a big bear hug.

•  I give myself permission to enjoy a treat today.

  (That ALWAYS makes me feel better!)

•  I will take time to step outside and breathe the fresh warm air and embrace

  nature.

  Say it, then do it. I’m praying that these small words and actions will shift your thoughts and your heart . . . that you will find hope and peace, even in the midst of the craziness around us.

  While these encouragements aren’t novel or profound, they are simple reminders about what helps to get us through challenges. Never hesitate to reach out to a friend or a professional (or even send me a message) if your heart is so heavy you are beginning to feel desperate. Oftentimes, simple reminders to look up and speak life are what we need to shift our heart and mind, but sometimes those simple reminders are not enough. As we travel the homeschool journey together, I invite you to drop me a note. I’d love to hear from you.

  I believe in you. You are a strong human. You love your family well. Your humble service speaks far more than any school lessons could teach. You’ve got this. One day at a time is enough. You and Jesus make a great team. You’re not alone. You are loved.

  Speaking life,
  Kris krisspeakslife@gmail.com

LEARNING ABOUT LIFE IN THE WOODS

Given a few parameters and some connections to the topic, creativity abounds within our students as they construct benchmark projects that show what they have learned throughout the semester.

While reading Sign of the Beaver, by Elizabeth George Speare, Silas ( TWJ Student) was intrigued by a 13 year old Matt who was left alone in the woods of Maine to survive and protect the cabin he and his Dad had just completed. Like Matt, Silas is an outdoor enthusiast, and he loves adventures of any kind. Therefore, Silas decided to build a cabin made from pretzel rods, ice cream cones and fondant. He did all the notching of the pretzel rods by himself with a Dremel tool. He also set up the garden behind the house using the detail of the corn, which Matt had to tend to daily in our story. Surprisingly, Silas recreated corn stalks using yellow Twizzlers! I found the most impressive aspect of this project to be Silas’s confidence in using the Dremel. In his video, Silas switches hands while using it and still makes the cut skillfully.

By creating and completing this project, Silas creatively practiced several skills:

1. He had to think about the details given in the book regarding the cabin: What did it look

   like; how was it constructed; and what did the surrounding area include? With that

   knowledge, he then had to decide how it would work in real life.

2. Problem solving several issues, which he described to us during his in class presentation,

   Silas revealed use of critical thinking skills. Not only did this project engage Silas with

   the literature, it also helped him develop real life skills.

This project helped Silas engage with the novel in ways we can not facilitate in class.

Creating connections from the text to real life, students learn new skills . . . just like Silas learned how to use a Dremel, and practice video creation to share his project with others. Enrichment Projects create fun ways for students to demonstrate what they have learned, providing opportunities for them to develop critical thinking, problem solving skills, and life experiences.

Click below to view Silas’ YouTube video showing his project: an entirely edible diorama of the setting of the story. Be sure to turn the volume up at the 2:38 timestamp to hear Silas talk about how he created the scene inspired by Sign of the Beaver written by Newberry medalist Elizabeth George Speare.

Academics for very young children

Parents of littles! When my four children were young and I was homeschooling, there were many articles that piqued my interest. My best intentions to read them were often sidetracked by more pressing matters. With that in mind, I have summarized and identified some findings from the article Early Academic Training Produces Long-Term Harm by Petr Gray, Ph.D..

Several studies in this article support the idea that academic, rather than play- based preschools/kindergartens actually have an adverse effect on young children. Initially, there appears to be academic gains but by 4th grade the students often perform worse than peers who were in a play-based school. These studies did not include any social/emotional studies, only academics.

Interestly, the next study mentioned included a longitudinal study on a group of children in a high poverty demographic. Although this is not my demographic, many of the outcomes make sense to me as both a mom and educator. This study began the same way as the others, however, they did a follow-up with the children at the ages of 15 and 23. The students who participated in the play-based school performed similarly academically to the academic kindergarten, the difference was in social/emotional growth. I’ll end with a direct quote from Dr. Gray:

”Those in classrooms where they learned to plan their own activities, to play with others, and to negotiate differences may have developed lifelong patterns of personal responsibility and pro-social behavior that served them well throughout their childhood and early adulthood.”

Of course you will draw your own conclusions based on this type of research, but my encouragement to you is simple: Relax and enjoy your littles. Play, explore, and encourage their innate curiosity!

Ms. Gina

To read the full article click below

LET'S GET CREATIVE WITH OUR LITERARY OPTIONS

As the semester enters its final weeks, students, parents, and teachers alike find themselves longing for different options to complete the standard tasks. We often try to make lessons more enjoyable and engaging. I have compiled a few ideas to spark interests in homes and classes. Feel free to share any new adventures you plan to explore!

1. Read some Poetry. Poetry does not necessarily require advanced reading or writing skills. However, like well written song lyrics, poetry speaks to the soul. I often pick up a classic compilation of Great American poetry just to find a sonnet that echoes my mood. Try reading some poetry while enjoying a picnic at the park! The change of scenery lends to the atmosphere.

2. Keep a Journal- And perhaps Read Another’s. History is full of personal historical accounts of individuals who kept a record of their daily life in a journal. A quick search and visit to the library may yield a perfect option!

3. Read a Short Story- These brief pieces of literature offer a shorter time investment for great returns! Whether checking out classic American short stories, or even short stories written by new or unknown authors, these literary works allow for great discussions. Students may even feel inspired to write their own!

4. Read magazine articles. Fewer families subscribe to magazines in homes today, but did you know that a local library often carries multiple subscriptions? Articles related to specific topics can bring even more creativity into your lives. There are MANY topics to explore, such as arts and crafts, hobbies, sports, travel, decor, style, family life, recipes, and gardening. Try swapping magazines with friends, or reach out to family members to see what types of magazines they would be willing to lend.

5. Tour a Historical Area, and Read the Pamphlets- When touring a historical setting, such as a capital city, national park, or nature preserve, many written resources are available for the public. While some materials may require purchasing, others are often completely free. Try a new location, and see what types of pamphlets, booklets, and website information is available for guests to learn more.

As we always invite our community to share, feel free to tell other TWJ friends and family about your experiences. We have social media platforms, or you may email us at any time. If children would like to send hand-written letters to our office, we would LOVE to receive them and start a collection of pen pal notes!

Our office address is: The Write Journey, 4303 Perth Road, Fort Mill, SC 29707.