faq
Why Our Program
Why do you blend literature with writing instruction?
To simply read is not enough. Students must learn to think, process, and draw some conclusions about what they read. They must learn to read with an engaged and questioning mind. We teach them how to do this, and then we give them the opportunity to practice developing these skills.
Doesn’t reading analytically create a dislike for reading? Shouldn’t reading just be fun?
Of course reading should be fun...but fun should not always be the primary goal of reading. Students must learn to ask “why?” as they read and then ponder the possible responses. Thinking is hard work; therefore, most students will not push themselves to think as they read when they are just reading for fun. The skills of reading slowly and carefully must be taught and practiced.
Won’t my child learn to write simply by reading great books?
While reading absolutely contributes to quality writing, it is a false notion to believe that much reading automatically creates a great writer. While reading and writing are both forms of communication, they utilize very different skill sets. Reading simply requires an individual to decode words. Writing on the other hand requires an individual to think deeply, finding words to express his/her thoughts and feelings about any given topic. It requires organizing information and ideas, understanding grammar rules, and expressing meaningful thoughts and responses.
Do your classes meet state standards?
Our classes are rigorous and academic in nature; therefore, our classes often exceed state standards for Language Arts at every grade level because we use classic literature, and we provide individualized instruction for each student as we work towards developing mastery of literary analysis and writing skills. Since state standards fluctuate and because we have students from many different states, we do not specify each state standard. We leave that up to parents and their advisors to determine. As your child participates in our classes, you will find their instruction to be thorough, age appropriate, and often above their peers. As we partner together (The Write Journey educators with parents), students progress at a pace that is comfortable, yet challenging for them personally. Our focus is on creating a healthy, balanced learning experience.
What approach to education do you aspire to?
Our approach to education is somewhat eclectic: a blend of classical, Charlotte Mason, SonLight, . . . and anything else that uses great books as a springboard for great language arts instruction. While our classes focus on teaching students to become excellent writers, we don't overlook the many opportunities a great book offers:
lively discussions
analysis which develops critical thinking
a grasp of proper grammar
a study of literary devices
increased vocabulary to improve communication skills -- both verbal and written
opportunities to explore one's creative (even artistic) side
In our classes, students study excellent books deeply and develop essential communication skills in the process.
Curriculum
Do you teach grammar in your classes?
Yes, we do. We teach grammar primarily in the context of real reading and writing. Students must know proper grammar in order to write and speak properly. We may even have students complete some worksheets, but we do not use grammar workbooks. Grammar does not dominate the content of our instruction; it is only one piece of the language pie. We have found that students who complete grammar workbooks are often NOT strong writers. Much more goes into good quality writing than grammar.
Why do you read only one book per class?
It’s important for students to develop the skills necessary to read analytically. To simply read many books is not enough. Students must learn to think about what they read, process what they read, and draw some conclusions about what they read. They must learn to read one book slowly with an engaged and questioning mind. We teach them how to do this, and then we give them the opportunity to practice developing these skills.
Are the students in your classes required to complete homework?
Most of our classes are academic classes. That means we do assign homework. The homework allows students to implement the instruction they receive in class. We are able to make much more progress towards developing strong writers when each student takes his/her homework seriously. Our enrichment classes often include optional homework.
How much homework is required?
The rule of thumb for homework is approximately 3 hours per week for elementary age students, 4 hours for middle school students, and 5 hours for high school students. Of course this rule of thumb may vary greatly depending upon a student’s work ethic as well as his/her knowledge and ability.
Do students receive grades for their work?
Student assignments will be evaluated by their teacher. For grades 5-12, the grades for essays are based on four criteria: organization, content, grammar, and style. Each teacher will give a numerical score for each of these areas, and they will provide individual feedback on each student’s essays. This allows both parents and students to identify the weak areas of writing as well as the strengths. Individual evaluations are completed at the end of each class.
In-Class Experience
In what ways is the live classroom experience beneficial to my child, whether in-person or online?
Students in our classes learn to listen and follow directions, take responsibility for their homework assignments, and dialogue with their peers in a structured setting. The group dynamic allows for the sharing of ideas and enhances the critical thinking skills needed to formulate solid written responses. They may also make new friends!
Do students have to read out loud in class?
NO. Occasionally students will have the opportunity to read out loud if they want to.
Do you teach grammar in your classes?
Yes, we do. We teach grammar primarily in the context of real reading and writing. Students must know proper grammar in order to write and speak properly. We may even have students complete some worksheets, but we do not use grammar workbooks. Grammar does not dominate the content of our instruction; it is only one piece of the language pie. We have found that students who complete grammar workbooks are often NOT strong writers. Much more goes into good quality writing than grammar.
What if my child has already read the novel that the class will be studying?
Since the novels we study are all classics, occasionally students have already read the book that their class is going to study. Asking your child to read a great classic a second time (or even a third time), should not be problematic. Do they watch a great movie more than once? Reading the novel is essential to the class, but the act of studying the novel creates a new experience.
How do you handle disagreements among students during class discussions?
Discussions among the students are an important part of our classes, and we encourage “friendly debate”. We create a safe environment for students to voice their ideas and opinions. We encourage students to question and challenge each other in a respectful manner. This develops social skills that are necessary in the adult world, teaching students how to appreciate those who disagree with them and teaching them how to respond to being challenged without being personally offended. Our classes are very orderly even in the midst of lively discussions. As educators, our role is to facilitate thinking, questioning, analyzing, and communicating.
Will classes resume meeting in-person at some point?
At this time, The Write Journey does not plan to coordinate and provide in-person instruction by our trained educators. This decision is based on many factors, but the primary factor is logistics. Because of the ever-changing guidelines within the various school districts that we serve, we simply cannot accommodate every single guideline for each charter school. In addition, with virtual instruction, we are able to reach students everywhere. We desire to partner with parents and students from every state, and even beyond. Our time is much better spent establishing a consistent plan for virtual instruction without having to regroup with each new guideline that comes along.
Another option: While the classes we offer students will continue to be virtual, we understand that in-person instruction is very important for students. We’ve created easy-to-read handbooks and guides to help you understand the steps and strategies needed for great writing. This curriculum contains the core foundations of our classes. Our methods will equip and empower parents and other adults to teach quality writing and language arts skills in your co-op or home education.
Products
Do you plan to create more materials to use for our educational community?
YES!! While we are in the process of writing a few more handbooks, let us remind you of a couple things:
We value relationships, so we will continue to provide quality instruction through our online classes for students and adults.
Remember: We focus on the 20%. We identify the most important aspects of writing and we create handbooks to help you develop those skills in your students and your educational community.
The handbooks we create and offer you include no-nonsense concise instructions that may benefit from additional mentoring and community engagement to fully understand and apply.
What additional handbooks are you writing, and when will they be available?
Our Student Lesson Guide and Blending Literature with Writing Guide is now available! These are designed to be used as a companion to our TWJ Writing Handbook.
Next comes our Intermediate Level Multi-Paragraph Writing Handbook.
Registration & Payment
What is the cost of your classes and services?
The cost of classes and services varies based on student’s learning level and type. Click here for the Charter School Price List. Click here for the Private Pay Price List.
Are you an approved vendor with charter schools?
Yes! We are approved vendors with many charter schools. Click here to view a list of charter schools we are currently approved vendors with. Because this list is regularly growing, you may also check with your charter school to see if The Write Journey is an approved vendor. If not, please contact us or send an email titled “Charter School Request” to info@thewritejourney.net, and we will pursue the next steps to becoming an approved vendor.
Are you approved to accept ESA/Class Walletfunds?
Yes! We are already approved for the states of Arizona, Arkansas, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia. Contact us with questions, especially if your state has an ESA program, but is not on our list.
Is there a price difference between using Charter School Funds and Private Pay?
Yes, through a discount. In an effort to help families that choose to pay out-of-pocket for homeschooling classes, The Write Journey, LLC has decided to offer our classes at a reduced rate of 10% off for those paying in this manner. While our prices will remain the same for our charter school students, the added expense covers the cost of the additional administrative tasks required to maintain the vendor status. The discount for private-pay individuals may be used by students enrolled in charter schools, but only if the family chooses to pay for the classes out-of-pocket. Discounts only apply to payments out-of-pocket.
How can I pay for classes?
There are multiple ways to pay for our classes.
Charter School Funds
We are a vendor with most charters in the state of California. Contact us to start the process of adding your charter school if we are not already vendors. You will need to order vouchers/purchase orders in three one-month payments. You will be prompted to put in more information regarding your charter school during the registration process. Contact us for assistance if you plan to use charter funds and do not find The Write Journey (or Writing with Kris or Kris Cordell) on your charter school’s vendor list.
Can I use ESA/ClassWallet funds to pay for goods or services?
YES! Many more states are pursuing educational choice for everyone, and we want to be a part of that journey! We are actively researching how to be partner with states in order to be able to offer homeschool families pay for our services and products. Currently, we are an approved vendor in the states of Arizona, New Hampshire, and West Virginia (Utah, South Carolina, and Arkansas coming in fall 2024). Contact us for assistance if you plan to use your ESA or ClassWallet.
Private Funds
We accept PayPal, Credit Card, and Venmo (if enabled on your mobile device) during the registration process. Choose to pay in full or monthly when you register.
Personal Check
Contact us by phone at 916.696.1759 to register.
Do you offer sibling discounts?
No, we offer a 10% discount for those paying out-of-pocket., but we do not combine that discount with any other offers. Use code “PRIVATEPAY” during check out to apply discount.
Do you offer other discounts or specials?
YES! Follow us on Instagram, our Facebook page, our Facebook group, or subscribe to our newsletter (in the footer below) to learn about specials as we offer them throughout the year. Specials may include the following convention discounts, early registration discounts, sales on digital download products, free giveaways on social media, new product discounts, and discounts for referrals. Stay tuned!
Why do you charge a cancellation fee?
While there are a variety of reasons why we charge a cancellation fee, the primary reason is that we strive to keep our class sizes reasonable. When we have 20 students in a class, we begin planning to add another class for additional students. That requires effort on the part of administrators and instructors, and it impacts the plans that parents make for their children. We hope you recognize that we have many moving pieces when offering classes for your children, and many hands involved in coordinating schedules, preparing teaching content, tending to accounting details, etc., and accurate numbers benefit everyone. Thank you for working with us and for understanding that we are doing our best to offer excellent services for you and your children.
Conventions
Will you be at any conventions in 2024?
North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE) | May 23-25 | Winston-Salem, NC
Great Homeschool Conventions Ontario | June 13-15 | Ontario, CA
Arizona Families for Home Education | July 12-13 | Phoenix, AZ
Northern California Homeschool Convention (NCHC) | July 19-20 | Rocklin, CA
Come by and say “Hi” if you attend one of these conventions!