TWJ SPRING CLASS REGISTRATION Is OPen!

Spring classes registration is open in early November!

If you plan to enroll your student in spring semester classes, you will find the novel info here, and there is a link to take you to the class schedule. Whether you want your child in a reading & writing class, or a Writing Foundations course, the website lists all of the days and times.
Click here for more info (article link)

Reading & Writing Class Details:

Primary Level:

1/2 Grade Reading & Writing Novel(s):
The Courage of Sarah Noble and by Alice Dalgliesh

Elementary Level:

3/4 Grade Reading & Writing

The Bears of Hemlock Mountain

Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos

by Robert Lawson

5/6 Grade Reading & Writing

Amos Fortune: Free Man

By Elizabeth Yates

Intermediate Level:

7/8 Grade Reading & Writing
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

Advanced Level:

HS Reading & Essay Writing
Various Short Stories (Early American history) by American Authors

Including The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

College Prep Reading & Essay Writing

The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

AND

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Writing Only Courses:

If your child has not had formal writing instruction from our instructors, this course is the starting place for your student. The courses are arranged according to the Learning Level and age range of the student. Please contact the office if you have questions. 916-696-1759

Elementary:

Writing Foundations 13- Elementary Level- Tuesdays 9:30-10:30 am pst/12:30-2:30 pm est

Intermediate:

Writing Foundations 13- Intermediate Level- Tuesdays 9:30-10:30 am pst/12:30-2:30 pm est

Advanced:

Formal Academic Essay Writing- Wednesdays 9:30-11:00 am pst/ 12:30-2:00 pm est

Schedule & Register

YOU DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS WHAT'S NEXT!

I can’t believe it! Our 2022 fall semester is about to end! My how time does fly when we’re having fun. With this semester, we are wrapping up another Basic Adult Training class. As always, it’s been fun learning together.

But the Basic Adult Training class is just the beginning of our journey together. There is so much more that we long to train and equip you for as you blaze the trail (or stay the course) of bringing quality reading and writing instruction to your educational community.

Next semester, which will begin in late January, we will be offering the next level Adult Training classes. Like our students, these classes will meet for 12 weeks. Instruction will include minimal reading, 1 hour of live instruction and mentoring, and some homework to practice and learn the skills we cover.

While our Basic Adult Training class teaches the writing steps and strategies contained in The Write Journey Writing Handbook, the second ATP class will teach “Blending Literature with Writing”. This is the next essential ingredient for teaching quality language arts to students of all ages and grades. Without getting into all the reasons why, trust me when I say, “NOTHING is more effective than teaching reading AND writing TOGETHER.” When you attend this class, you will understand why this is true.

This class is available for all adults who have already attended the Basic Adult Training class. If you have not yet attended the Basic class, that’s the place for you to start. After completing the Basic class, you will be eligible to attend any and all of our ongoing ATP classes. The cost for the class is $75 per month for four months (Jan/Feb/Mar/Apr). You’ll also receive a complimentary copy of The Write Journey Literature Guide, which is currently in the making. Like all of our products, this will be an excellent resource: concise and practical in every way, for students of all ages.

If you have not yet taken the Basic Adult Training class, we hope you will sign up to join the next class that will begin in late January. The cost for this class is the same: $75 per month for four months. The days and times for these classes will be determined after registration. We do our best to accommodate the scheduling needs of adults.

As always, please contact our home office to chat with someone who will be able to answer all your questions. info@thewritejourney.net or 916-696-1759

TEACHING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

The topic of communication is a loaded one. So many different aspects of communication come to mind: speaking, acting, and writing are all means of communicating. Of course, at The Write Journey, we actively teach communication through writing, but many people don’t realize that we also focus on teaching and modeling quality verbal communication. In fact, this is one of our Core Values:

● Communication with Civility-The Write Journey educators model and teach communication skills, including voicing ideas responsibly and listening actively.

As students discuss their novels together in class, they observe and experience quality verbal communication. Think about it. Where can you go or with whom can you meet where you feel safe sharing your ideas, experiences, beliefs, knowledge, and understanding of a topic? Sadly, few places exist that offer honest conversation and dialogue. Imagine how important it is for students to be able to practice communication skills with their peers; this is preparation for real life! That cannot be overstated. As responsible parents and teachers, we do well to provide opportunities for lively discussions in our homes and classrooms. We practice in these ways:

● Discuss a book in depth. Talking about the characters is very safe; whereas talking about one’s personal life may be intimidating.

●  Learn to be great question askers. This skill requires practice. The more we practice asking quality questions, the better we develop the skill.

●  Model active listening. This means asking clarifying questions and repeating information to make sure we understand others accurately.

●  Practice disagreeing and giving reasons why, without becoming emotional. Learn to validate other ideas and perspectives. Make an effort to NOT feel personally attacked when someone disagrees with you.

●  Communicate to gain understanding, not simply to demand agreement. In real life, we must often agree to disagree. Fighting with our words rarely, if ever, accomplishes anything positive.

I hope you keep working on engaging in “Communication with Civility” in your homes and classes. Of course your children are always welcome in our Reading and Writing Classes where we practice learning how to be great communicators both verbally and in writing.

A SPECIAL PROJECT-WHY?

While the word ‘project’ may invoke hesitations, at The Write Journey, we see a project is an opportunity. In our classes, instructors assign an Enrichment Project (EP) as a way for students to explore a specific part of the story that interests them. EPs come in all varieties. What appeals to one may not interest another. However, students often enjoy the projects so much that they eagerly await the final weeks of each semester to begin a new EP. They anticipate the chance to pull out their artistic natures to use glue sticks, paints, baking supplies, costume making skills, and other various creative methods. This is a win for everyone!

After all, isn’t it true that we learn so much by stepping away from the typical learning rhythms. We find benefits from stretching beyond our comfort zone. Reaching beyond the norms. Trying a new skill. Learning a new topic. Writing in a new style. The beauty of the word ‘project’ is in the opportunity. When I take on a project at home, I rarely feel totally equipped, yet I love the aspect of learning to try something new. In fact, the finished product brings a sense of wonder and satisfaction to me. The bonuses lie in the gains of new layers of skills and understanding. The goal need not be perfection, which feels too stressful to me. Instead, I appreciate the process of growth. I even see a bit of a project in me. I hope our readers find a new possible project in the pages of their reading, whatever it is. If it interests the reader, it may just be worth exploring in a deeper way. Happy discoveries!

Watch for the next newsletter that will highlight some Enrichment Projects from our classes. Also, feel free to share YOUR family projects on our social media. Let’s celebrate our wonderful homeschooling opportunities together.

READING SLOWLY & CLOSELY ALLOWS DEEPER EXPLORATION

When asked “Why would The Write Journey choose to only study one novel in class for a whole semester,” I understand the concern. Don’t we want our students to be considered well read? Don’t they need to read many novels to even qualify as well read? If only it were that straightforward! As an avid reader, I could not limit myself to just one book over 12 weeks. However, we study a novel as opposed to simply reading the story to find out what happens. Students that want to gobble up stories may choose to read many alongside our class novel. Let’s look at the purpose of slowly and closely studying literature.

Great literature opens the door to a deeper and more meaningful exploration into many aspects of a novel. In class, we teach students to pay attention to important aspects of their novel. While we may not closely study every aspect on the list in each and every novel, over time, students learn the different components of the greats!

•  The parts of a story

•  The author's craft or methods

•  Strong vocabulary

•  Well-written sentences

•  Conflicts

•  Character development

•  Literary devices, such as tone, similes, metaphors, irony, satire, hyperbole, etc.

•  Theme

•  Genres

• Point-of-view

When a student finds the information that the instructor directed them to seek, they mark the novel. However, they do not underline or highlight entire pages! Instead, students learn to use symbols, abbreviations, and words written in the margin to indicate the purpose for which they marked the page. They also record the information on a chart, which is kept throughout the entire study. This allows the student to easily find that information. Classes deeply discuss short sections of the novel in the classroom discussion, and much of the scheduled time is devoted to that discussion. TWJ highly values interaction, lively discussion, and even discourse. Students are able to critically think through the deeper layers of concepts in the story, which are often highlighted by the instructor to ensure students truly understand all that they read.

So- why study just one novel? Briefly, students gain more. Therefore, less is more. Many past students, when asked to share their favorite all time novel, will state one of the novels from our classes. They develop a close relationship with the text. The story lasts, and it matters. And THAT matters to The Write Journey.