The Goods
With COVID still threatening, and gasoline nearly as expensive as the family jewels, I have moved all my classes onto the ZOOM platform. In addition to being a “2022 Safe” zone to learn, I am able to make classes affordable to all. My current 50-minute writing classes focus on Creative and Expository (essay) writing.
CREATIVE WRITING: We explore the elements of story: Characters, feeling, dialogue, exposition, observations, description, story arc -- to name just a few. We’ll often do a short writing exercise together to underline one particular element. Between classes, kids are invited to tackle a short story of their own. A highlight of each session is reading these stories. Depending on the shyness-factor of the young writer, sometimes I present... sometimes, the author. I often read a passage from my own stories from BOOMERANG!
My writing classes are an unusual learning experience -- on both ends of the spectrum. I take enthusiastic writers -- help fine tune their skills and encourage them to venture off the main road into uncharted territory . I also work with “reluctant writers.” Some of these reluctant writers have remained reluctant writers. But there have been a number of 180-degree turnarounds. How? Why? Because there is power and deep satisfaction in writing a good story. Once kids get a taste of this, the seeds of initiative -- alive and well in every child I’ve ever met -- take root..
Oh and the very first thing we do on the very first day is have kids select code names. Why? Uhhhhh... because it’s fun!
EXPOSITORY WRITING (ESSAYS) My expository series focuses on essays: personal narratives, descriptive and persuasive essays. All of these will be common assignments in middle, high school and college -- each highlighting different content but focused around a similar structure. Yes that structure is important -- but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring to read OR write. I introduce methods to make each part of the essay a reward for reader and writer
Fine tuning is a critical element of the literary process. Daughter Natalie’s seven drafts of college essays reminded me of that. With that in mind, we spend several assignments reworking the first draft. In this class they will end up with a portfolio of polished pieces… essays they can be proud of, submit to schools and revisit as finished works. While the finished product is a big part of this class, the skills and discipline involved in revision will be invaluable.
LOW HOMEWORK VERSIONS!
I know some students are attending school full time but still are looking for some help with writing. Say the word and we can accomplish all our goals in class time. I will present the key teaching elements and then we will work on collaborative pieces together.
POETRY
Interested in getting a small pod going writing poetry? Send me an email (boomkids.d@gmail.com) and request a one-page description. Yup, I’ve got a one page on expository writing and creative writing as well.
THE COST
One-on-one classes cost $75 per session. This includes class time, a comprehensive summary of ideas covered in the class issued the following day, and, weekly editing and suggestions regarding the student’s work.
If you have 3-4 family friends interested in giving their children a leg-up in the writing process, the cost per session drops by almost half. Each child will still receive individual suggestions on their own work.
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