" Written expression is fruit from the heart."
Kyra Gartrell
First impressions are extremely important. We are "known" by our fruits; one's writing is a "type" of fruit. Many times our first introduction to someone and impression of someone is through written communication, whether its a letter of request, scholarship essay, college application essay, SAT / ACT essay or just a note to relatives. Writing is personal; it reveals our personality, character, values and command of the English Language. The ability to communicate an interesting piece with clarity, cohesiveness and an inviting style is essential as students progress through middle school and high school, into college or the workforce, and on to their careers.
Homeschool parents rank writing among one of the most challenging subjects to teach at home. All other subjects have answer keys in the back of the book where parents can check right or wrong answers, but many times writing exercise answers are not as clearly defined.
Being a lover of words and writing, knowing the importance of not only being able to write well, but to think and read critically with precise explicitness, ignited the birth of the writing, literature and research & study skills classes. Adrienne Ferrante approached me about teaching a writing class to a group of students when I first arrived in Charlotte after she discovered my backgound of having homeschooled for 9 years (at the time), having taught in and co-lead a 50 family homeschool co-op in Maryland for 9 years, and having been the editor of Christian Home Educators Network Newsletter for 7 years. Since this is my "my love" (beside God, my husband, and family of course), I sprang into action, teaching many of those first students through five consecutive classes; Introduction to Writing (WriteShop I), Intermediate Writing (WriteShop II), Research and Study Skills, Introduction to Composition and Literature, and Advance Composition and Literature. Two new classes are being introduced for the 2011-2012 school year; Intermediate Writing, Level II and WriteShop Jr. for grades 4 to 6.
As a "retired" home educator now (our daughter is now a nurse at Duke University Hospital and our son is in the United States Air Force), it is my desire to assist parents and help prepare students for success in their written communication and English skills.