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Writing Skills are Critical to Academic Success

Most teachers agree that solid writing skills are critical for academic success. According to the National Writing Project (NWP), “Writing in its many forms is the signature means of communication in the 21st century. Writing is essential to communication, learning, and citizenship. It is the currency of the new workplace and global economy. Writing helps us convey ideas, solve problems, and understand our changing world.”

According to the book, Because Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Our Schools, by NWP and Carl Nagin, “Today, more and more educators as well as leaders in all areas of society have come to understand that writing is central to success in and out of school."

Practice Makes Perfect

Evidence shows that writing improves when a student writes frequently and across different subject areas. Writing also affects reading comprehension. However, for many reasons, students do not generally get enough opportunities to practice good writing.

The Alliance for Education Policy Brief of April 2007, “Making Writing Instruction a Priority in America’s Middle and High Schools” says that “…few students get anything close to the amount of instruction and practice they need to become competent writers.”

Instruction Includes

• SOL/SAT practice prompts
• Creative writing
• Essays and reports
• Summaries and retelling
• Verbal reasoning
• Other (e.g., handwriting, spelling, grammar)

Proven Methodology

Guided by the Institute for Excellence in Writing system, our approach uses proven tools and techniques that involve students in writing different types of compositions. Every composition has four key components: Message, Structure, Techniques, and Self-Assessment.

The degree of improvement centers on getting enough practice with each component, Students receive varied opportunities to practice until it becomes easy.

Theme-Based Writing Options

Experts recommend two primary goals for writing in school: writing to learn and learning to write. A student can deepen understanding of a subject while developing their writing skills by using theme-based topics. Students write to learn the new content, such as history, science, literature, or technology, at the same time that they learn to write.

Series of Writing Units

The program content and pacing varies according to the grade and abilities of each student. Our writing program comprises a series of writing classes:

• Writing 1:   Comprehension, Outlining, Retelling
• Writing 2:   Basic Creative Writing
• Writing 3:   Factual Writing
• Writing 4:   Research, Fused Outlines, Reports
• Writing 5:   Advanced Creative Writing
• Writing 6:   Essay Models, Super Essays
• Writing 7:   Critiques and Reviews

Additional work may be completed in areas such as:

• Practice with SOL/SAT writing prompts
• Verbal reasoning, critical thinking
• Reading comprehension
• Grammar, spelling, usage
• Vocabulary
• Handwriting

Class Locations

• H.K. Lee Tae Kwon Do; 465 Herndon Parkway, Herndon, VA 20171
• Young Speakers Club; 11094 Lee Highway, Suite A-104, Fairfax, VA 22030
• Claude Moore Recreation Center; 46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling, VA 20164

For current dates/times, please View Classes

Instructors

Class instructors have completed Institute for Excellence in Writing training seminars, and have previous professional experience teaching students how to write.

Class duration

Varies, please see class descriptions.

Fee

Varies, please see class descriptions.

Upcoming dates, times, and locations.

To see a list of upcoming class dates/times/locations and to register: View Classes

Questions?

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Testimonials

My son consistently gets A’s on all his writing assignments now. He raises his hand a lot in writer’s workshop at school and knows the answers.   ~ Mom of 2nd grade student

They don’t teach us how to write like this at school. Most of what I’m learning is new to me. It’s actually pretty interesting.   ~ 9th grade student

The writing class is amazing. It taught my son so much. It’s totally different than anything else that I’ve been exposed to. The methodology works.   ~ Mom of 5th grade student

We were very pleased with the lessons and the progress that my daughter made in class. We highly recommend these tutoring classes.   ~ Mom of 2nd grade student

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