What Can University Students Learn from Middle School Writers?

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As humans, we complicate things. As we accumulate more and more ideas and knowledge, we feel smarter. But are we wiser? Find out what a Middle School student can teach a University student about writing below.

As we accumulate more and more ideas and knowledge, we feel smarter. But are we wiser? Click To Tweet

I am excited to be partnering with Suzanne Davis to bring you a joint blogpost. You can find the second half here.

3 Essential Things Middle School Writers Can Learn from College Writers

Five-paragraph essay

Middle School students are taught a specific structure for an essay.

It is called “The 5-Paragraph Essay” because it consists of five paragraphs.

The structure:
Introduction (one paragraph)
Body (three paragraphs)
Conclusion (one paragraph)

Most of the action happens in the body of the essay.

You make one point and then add two to three supporting or explanatory details.

The thesis holds the most value in the essay.

The thesis holds the most value in the essay. Click To Tweet

A thesis must be arguable.

Someone needs to be able to challenge you on what you have said.

A thesis is a conclusion you have made based on reasoning and evidence.

The point of the essay is to use your body paragraphs to explain and prove your thesis and convince your reader.

👇🏻Here is an awesome video about theses. 👇🏻

6 Sensational Ways to Create a Research Question

The Takeaway

All of this is old hat to you, eh?

However, in college, essays can run very long.

It is hard to see the forest through the trees.

You are dealing with complicated issues with layers of evidence and reasoning.

Still, even the most complicated essay still has to follow the rules of essay writing.

When grappling with this, I find it helpful to think of my larger essay as a series of mini essays.

When grappling with the long essay, I find it helpful to think of my larger essay as a series of mini essays. Click To Tweet

I have one large thesis.

Then my body points, mentioned above, serve as smaller theses supporting the main one.

I am responsible for explaining and proving each thesis.

How better to do this than with a well written paragraph of one point and two to three supporting details?

If you remember nothing else, then remember everything you write should point back and support your thesis.

It is easy to do that in a 5-paragraph essay, why not let that help you write better, longer essays?

Types of Essays

The term “essay” umbrellas many forms of writing together.

Let us tease out the different types of essays.

Persuasive – You aim to convince the reader to agree with your opinion or belief through reasoning and evidence.

Analytical – You are closely reading a text or event, then producing an argument from your analysis of that item.

Explanatory – You are telling a story or explaining something. This does not have an argument. You are giving a detailed description of the topic for the reader.

How to Write Descriptive Scenes

Comparative – You have two texts, people, or events. You go back and forth between them, discussing their similarities or differences. You make a conclusion and thesis from this comparison.

The Takeaway

Although in Middle School students may focus on one type of essay at a time, you as a college student are not required to do so.

Advanced writing allows you to magically put together many kinds of writing to create diverse texts.

Why would a musician want to stick with just one chord progression?

So, the next time you write an essay, try to marry together many types to create a more diverse and persuasive piece.

Start out with explanatory. Progress into comparative. End with persuasive.

Have one section that analyzes through comparison.

Forms of essays can serve as tools in your toolbox to help you write better.

Punctuation and Basic Syntax

In Middle School, a new world opens up to the student.

They have spent their whole life talking and writing in English, but now they are learning about grammar and punctuation.

Things which were formerly random now have meaning and intentionality.

True, most young students cannot appreciate this discovery, favoring video games and ice cream over dependent clauses.

Still, a college student may have a different problem.

They may take for granted all that grammar knowledge they labored to acquire years before.

Sentences with decent grammar become automatic and unintentional.

I do not want to teach you punctuation or syntax here, but I would like to show you how putting attention on it and refreshing your understanding — like a Middle Schooler would do — can transform your writing.

Adverbs and Verbs

I vehemently hate a sentence which overuses the word “is.”

That is easy for him to say.
It was a beautiful day.
I am happy to write this.
The thesis is the most important part.

TO BE TO BE TO BE! I cannot endure. It is not meant to be!

Adverbs and action verbs aid you to viciously annihilate “to be” forms from your writing.

That is easy for him to say. 👉🏻 He easily said that.
It was a beautiful day. 👉🏻 The day shone beautifully.
I am happy to write this. 👉🏻 I am writing this happily.
The thesis is the most important part. 👉🏻 The thesis clearly stands out as the most important part.

If you struggle to understand what an adverb is, then do what a Middle Schooler would do. Watch a funny video about it.

👇🏻I suggest Schoolhouse Rock. 👇🏻

Comma

How daunting it is for any student to comprehend all the usages of the comma. Click To Tweet

How daunting it is for any student to comprehend all the usages of the comma.

Why bother?

Just put a comma when you take a breath, right?

Well, it can help in more ways than one.

1) You can lengthen sentences with it, and encourage the reader to continue the thought.

2) You can add additional information, such as this clause here.

3) You can clarify pieces of information within the sentences, which may cause confusion.

For a full list of usages of the comma, I suggest Purdue Owl (Link).

The Takeaway

Relax and consider grammar and punctuation as colleagues in your writing endeavor. Click To Tweet

Grammar and punctuation are there to help you write more clearly.

They are FOR you.

Use them or do not use them, but do not think about it like a contest.

You are not winning points for the more commas you use or the number of three-syllable adjectives.

If that were true, I would be failing!

A Middle Schooler is not losing sleep over their semicolon usage, I promise.

A proofreader will tell you that your grammar should clarify your speech and reflect on you.

It should not overwhelm your writing or be hyper-correct just for the sake of it.

Relax and consider grammar and punctuation as colleagues in your writing endeavor.

For a humorous and often times emotional look at punctuation, read this:

There is a fun — yes, fun — podcast on grammar. Check it here:

Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips

I have covered a lot here.

The innocence and simplicity of the writing of a Middle Schooler, who is just starting to layer on the sophistication, offer a lot of value to the University student.

So many things that young adults take for granted can actually be a huge tool for success.

Try some of these in your own writing today.

👇🏻Read the other half of this article on Academic Writing Success. 👇🏻

3 Essential Things Middle School Writers Can Learn from College Writers

Two Hobbits

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In preparation for my upcoming course, I decided to watch the Hobbit movies. I did not intend to use them in my course, but I wanted to get a feel for them. The movies were enthralling and entertaining. No one would argue they represent the book. They are crazy different — like ice versus ice cream. The movies and the book have their own value. Still, I was gripped by how different the presentation of Bilbo was between the book and the movies. Bilbo was more heroic in the movies but less believable.

I should preface this by restating that the movies have a completely different feel. They are an adult fantasy with serious tone and dark shading. The true Hobbit was a children’s book that was twice more lighthearted than the movies. For example, the movies only contain one song at the very beginning. However, the book has many transcripts of songs by the dwarves, the elves, men, and even Bilbo himself, as well as mentions of singing and smoke rings throughout the tale. Since the movies are very grave and serious, many of the scene transformations are understandable.

Trolls

At the beginning of the book, Bilbo gets himself and the dwarves into a bad situation with the trolls. His first attempt to burglarize did not go well, to say the least. Gandalf returns silently. He tricks the trolls into arguing longer by throwing his voice around (c. 2, p. 38-9). However, in the first movie, it is Bilbo who detained the trolls and postponed their dwarf dinner. Gandalf even praises him for it as a way of defending his choice of Bilbo.

In that same chapter, Bilbo receives his sword (an elven dagger). The movie makes this scene very dramatic between Gandalf and Bilbo: “I can’t take this,” Bilbo said. “I have never used a sword in my life.” Gandalf replies, “I hope you never have to, but, if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life but when to spare one.” However, the book merely relates, “Bilbo took a knife in a leather sheath. It would have made only a tiny pocket-knife for a troll, but it was as good as a short sword for the hobbit” (c. 2, p. 41).

Gollum

This sword scene becomes very significant later on, right when Bilbo is about to escape from Gollum. In the movie, Bilbo nearly slashes Gollum’s throat under the protection of the invisibility ring. He recalls the words of Gandalf and backs down. But, this all comes from the imagination of the screenplay writer.

The book scene reads as follows:

He must get away, out of this horrible darkness, while he had any strength left. He must fight. He must stab the foul thing, put its eyes out, kill it. It meant to kill him. No, not a fair fight. He was invisible now. Gollum had no sword. Gollum had not actually threatened to kill him, or tried to yet. And he was miserable, alone, lost. A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo’s heart… And then quite suddenly in another flash, as if lifted by a new strength and resolve, he leaped.

(c. 5, p. 81)

In the book, this tense decision takes place within Bilbo’s mind. He never lifts the sword. Also, it comes from a place of desperation and not from the power of the sword. Bilbo’s conflict is one of method and not so much morality. Though both scenes share the feeling of pity within Bilbo, the one from the movie puts Bilbo in this position of power — holding a life in his hand. The tone of the movie is darker. Whereas, the book celebrates survival, the movie praises victory above all — victory over the enemy or victory over your own rash desires.

Reunion

This difference is only solidified by what happens when Bilbo returns to the dwarves after the scene with Gollum. The dwarves viciously condemn Bilbo for wanting to go home while they think he has run away: “I’ll tell you what happened,” said Thorin. “Master Baggins saw his chance and he took it. He’s thought of nothing but his soft bed in his warm house since first he stepped out of his door. We will not be seeing our Hobbit again. He is long gone.” In reality, Bilbo was invisible and could hear them. He returns to the fold, announcing that he has returned in order to help Thorin reclaim his home, since did not have a warm house to return to. Once again, Bilbo is victorious over a knee-jerk reaction to run away (which happened before Gollum). This scene didn’t take place in the book. The reunion, in the book, was quieter and less dramatic; thus, it makes for a believable scene but far less Hollywood-esque.

Trees

In the book, when the dwarves, Gandalf, and Bilbo escape into the trees (chapter 6), there is no Azog. Bilbo has no chance to defend Thorin. Also, when they are in the forest, the dwarves help and encourage Bilbo to climb to see above the trees (chapter 8). Once again Bilbo is robbed of the Hollywood heroism of coming up with the idea and fulfilling an extremely helpful act all by himself. It seems Peter Jackson feels the “real” Bilbo does not have enough agency or heroism in the original book. I will not even mention how the dwarves, in the book, managed to get into the barrels on their own without their “circus master,” Bilbo, telling them to (c. 9, p. 166) … oh, I guess I just did.

Sick, Sleepy Hero

Heroes never get sick, right? Luckily for Hollywood, Jackson agrees. Not only does the movie lack rest, recovery, and lighthearted distractions, but Bilbo never even gets sick. In the book, he does (chapter 10).

The last film, about the battle, was entirely a figment of the screenwriter’s mind. In the book, Bilbo did not participate in the battle. There were no moments for him to risk his life and be a warrior.

Real War

Tolkien, who truly experienced war and hardship, understood that you cannot live in perfect tension all the time. The movies are nine hours of perfect tension and dark scenes. Who would want to live through the real-life version of that? While Tolkien was at war, he and his friends wrote poetry and stories. Men sang in the trenches. Tolkien himself became ill during the war, but still had to keep on fighting. The reality of war is far better expressed through lighthearted moments, sickness, and recovery than by constant heroism and strife. War and quests for revenge are about wanting to live and survive. If you die physically or spirtiually in the process, then what have you really gained? Jackson’s Bilbo completely lost this desire to live life in the movies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I like Bilbo from the book. He is enough of a hero and warrior: he out-smarted Gollum, killed the spiders, faced the dragon, stole the Arkenstone, and survived. He was an unlikely hero that rose to the challenge. His transformation was a wonder to behold. He did not return as a king, but someone who appreciated his home and knew what he was made of! His love of life increased. All heroes must return to life after the adventure. Tolkien’s Bilbo is ready to do this, but Jackson’s Bilbo will only be able to brew on his victories and all the vanities that come with them.

Bibliography

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit movie trilogy
Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold of Middle-earth by John Garth

A Bad Beginning Can Lead to a Good End

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Dear World Traveler,

I think it is interesting that you have traveled so much. Wow,

I have only been to Russia, where I was born, and America, where I live.

My itinerate dreams are sitting on the shelf beside my stack of books “to be read.”

Your story was amazing.

How did you make it to your flight with just two minutes to spare?

Your story reminded me of that scene in the Hobbit.

Bilbo is content that the dwarves have gone off without him.

Although peeved, he set to work cleaning the kitchen.

Right before his “second breakfast” is consumed, Gandalf comes in.

Now Bilbo learns that the dwarves are actually waiting for him at the Green Dragon Inn.

He runs off and meets them there. He forgets his “hat, a walking-stick or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out,” most especially his pocket-handkerchief. Huffing and puffing he meets the dwarves.

They, on the other hand, are well prepared having already packed the ponies and made a plan.

Tolkien describes Bilbo’s initiation of the journey comically:
“To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, ….and running as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the lane, past the great Mill, across The Water, and then on for a mile or more. …
“I’m awfully sorry,” said Bilbo, “but I have come without my hat, and I have left my pocket-handkerchief behind, and I haven’t got any money. I didn’t get your note until after 10.45 to be precise.
“Don’t be precise,” said Dwalin, “and don’t worry! You will have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs, and a good many other things, before you get to the journey’s end. As for a hat, I have got a spare hood and cloak in my luggage.”
That’s how they all came to start, jogging off from the inn one fine morning just before May, on laden ponies; and Bilbo was wearing a dark-green hood (a little weather-stained) and a dark-green cloak borrowed from Dwalin. They were too large for him, and he looked rather comic. What his father Bungo would have thought of him, I daren’t think. His only comfort was he couldn’t be mistaken for a dwarf, as he had no beard.”

(chapter 2)

Why did Tolkien write it this way?

I believe he did so to make a sharp contrast between Bilbo and the dwarves.

Bilbo is disorganized, unprepared, and reluctant; whereas, the dwarves have a clear mission, plan, having prepared everything already.

We are meant to see the contrast with a bit of humor but also sympathy for Bilbo. Click To Tweet

We are meant to see the contrast with a bit of humor but also sympathy for Bilbo, as one of my students pointed out.

I would argue there is another contrast being prepared for the reader.

Tolkien contrasts this comic scene of Bilbo being unprepared with Bilbo at the end, someone who is self-confident and changed into a real hero. Click To Tweet

Tolkien contrasts this comic scene of Bilbo being unprepared with Bilbo at the end, someone who is self-confident and changed into a real hero.

As Gandalf says: “Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were” (chapter 12).

He even ends up with a red silk handkerchief, far better than the ones he originally owned.

All of this leads me to say that you should be glad of the inauspicious start of your journey.

It very well could lead to a wonderful end…or, at least, a funny story. 😉

All of this leads me to say that you should be glad of the inauspicious start of your journey. It very well could lead to a wonderful end…or, at least, a funny story. 😉 Click To Tweet

Sincerely,

Maria

Conference, Pedagogy, and Being Busy

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Dear Ben,

I know I have not written recently.

Some exciting opportunities have come my way.

I have been off chasing them.

I hope you are doing well. How did that boat trip go in April?

I just love boats and the water.

I could not think about you without a tinge of covetousness.

Let me go ahead and tell you what has been filling my time and thoughts recently.

International Congress on Medieval Studies

Academia is about taking the raw materials of facts and data and turning them into the brilliant sculpture of argument and conviction. Click To Tweet

I went to a conference in Medieval Studies!

My background is in Early Christian literature, as you know.

I went on behalf of the publisher I work for.

Conferences are such a marvelous environment.

Being surrounded by learning ad scholars is empowering and inspirational.

I love to cut deep into topics while respecting their general value.

All learning needs the safe environment of the conference to try out new ideas and say “unpublishable” things.

Academia is not just learning, but speaking.

It is about taking the raw materials of facts and data and turning them into the brilliant sculpture of argument and conviction.

I really felt that I re-found my voice while I was there.

I also got some interesting books.

  1. Commentary on the Psalms by Jerome (Latin)
  2. Life of Saint Alexis (Old French)
  3. A Roman Women Reader (Latin)
  4. Life of Simeon Stylites
  5. Early Christian Hagiography
  6. Giving Reason
  7. A Rulebook for Arguments
  8. The Annotated Hobbit

Pedagogy of Going Deep

When he comes to me with his questions and concerns, the knowledge he acquires from my feedback will be twice as valuable and connect with him. Click To Tweet

I am going to be teaching a few courses this summer! I am so excited and cannot wait to tell you more about it!

Right now, however, I am in a course for teachers.

This has really gotten me thinking about how to teach.

Going deep is so vital, especially to avoid boredom or shallow knowledge.

I believe the best way to create depth is by making the topic the student’s own.

In a class, you learn about a topic and you get the general overview.

Then comes the magic.

Now the student can work within that new enlarged world of knowledge.

He can discover new things and use new pieces of knowledge within this world.

For example, if I were to teach about the rise of sensibility in the 18th century, I would then offer my students the opportunity to write in the style or show me how to enliven an existing texts with the hallmark tropes of sensibility.

The student is now using the knowledge he just acquired.

In so doing, he will come up with questions and problems.

When he comes to me with his questions and concerns, the knowledge he acquires from my feedback will be twice as valuable and connect with him.

I would rather go deep through questions and problems than just by me talking more.

“I’m busy”

In reading and absorbing myself in historical literature, I have remembered that life did not always run at hypersonic speed. Click To Tweet

So may people have noticed that this seems to be the busiest generation that has ever been.

Hustling and rushing is the norm.

Working for hours on end is expected.

In reading and absorbing myself in historical literature, I have remembered that life did not always run at hypersonic speed.

A desire to regain the peace and quality of this “simpler” life welled up in me.

I am going about this from two perspectives.

1) The sound of silence. A few weeks ago I did a “Dana Girls Week.”

Who are the Dana Girls?

I stopped watching TV, though I allowed myself “radio” in the form of podcasts.

Neil Gaiman gave a great nugget of advice in his Tim Ferriss interview: “write or do nothing.”

This is how my week went.

I wrote or did nothing.

I could hear myself think and found myself less pressured to perform.

Since then I have greatly reduced time on Youtube and have regained much of the peace gained from the experience.

2) Instead of just saying “I’m busy,” I try to define exactly what I am doing.

When I put into words what I am doing, it gives me perspective.

Maybe I am not as busy as I think, or maybe my list is too long and I need to cut down.

Either way it gives me something profitable to say instead of just “busy,” like that is an achievement in and of itself.

I have only scratched the surface.

I do hope to renew our regular conversations as to not let too much time elapse again.

Thank you,

Maria

What This Week Taught Me

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I am excited to share with you my findings this week on Latin and Greek roots, Big Magic, and using the human voice in our writing.

1. Roots

Photo Source

So many people ask themselves whether it is worth it to learn Latin.

It is hard for me to say the truth as a Latin teacher, but…no, it is not always…

We don’t all need chemistry (I never learned it) nor do we equally all need Latin.

That said, the Latin language offers immense value.

I recently had a student ask me to help her learn Latin.

After talking with her, I quickly realized that she did not need to learn the language.

Tables of verbs and vocabulary lists were not going to get her any closer to her goals.

What do you do then?

You want the benefits of Latin, but you don’t need the language.

The answer is roots!

I am teaching her Latin (and Greek) roots systematically.

Through learning roots, young students’ English vocabulary will double!

70% of English words come from Latin and Greek.

Example:
“Hydr” is the Greek root for water. We have words in English that come from this: hydrophobia, hydraulic, hydrogen, hydroponics, hydrodynamics, hydrometer, hydrant.

Now, you cannot take the Latin out of the Latin teacher.

So, I am certainly adding in some information about how Latin works and what makes it special.

Without any memorization, the awareness of how this unique language works is beneficial enough for most students.

Blogpost: How to Understand Latin
Through the Eyes of an English Speakers

If you are debating learning Latin, consider roots.

Also, if you would like to learn roots with me, book a free mini-lesson today!

Book a Free Mini-Lesson

2. Big Magic

Big Magic sits you down with a cup of tea and talks with you about creativity — fear, trust, courage, and stamina. Click To Tweet

I am on such a big reading kick right now!

It excites me to share my discoveries with you all.

I read this book called Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert.

I would definitely suggest this for a senior in High School and above.

This book sits you down with a cup of tea and talks with you about creativity — fear, trust, courage, and stamina.

So many lessons to be learned within the pages of this book!

How can I restrict myself.

Let me try here.

a. Setting the right goals.

Gilbert actually made “writing vows” when she was 16 years old.

They were sacred to her, at least.

These vows were very well formed.

Gilbert was clear and concise.

She would dedicate herself to writing, but writing would not financially support her.

Writing was the goal.

Not success and not wealth.

When we come to our task, we want it to reward us.

“If I do this, then something good will happen.”

In actuality, the task itself is its own reward.

At this point very few people read my blog, but that is ok.

I write to help people and not to gain views.

b. The process is the reward.

The writing process is the magic and the joy. Click To Tweet

Gilbert talks about a short story she wrote.

A magazine accepted it!

Then they told her to cut half of it due to size limitations.

Gilbert shortened the piece.

She took out the perfect analogies and the stunning transitions to create something that read completely differently, though still conveyed the same message.

She understood that the process was the benefit.

Her soul was not transformed by the finished product, but by the writing process.

Hammering out pieces and fighting to say things is how writers grow.

Big Magic shows that the process is the magic and the joy.

Success and appreciation are important, but they do not fill you.

The process is the true joy for the soul of a writer.

c. Create for yourself.

Through writing for yourself, you actually lose your ego. Click To Tweet

At the heart of Gilbert’s message she writes that you need to create for yourself.

I do not mean this in a selfish way; in fact, it is a very selfless message indeed.

After all the success of Eat Pray Love, she struggled to write a new book.

Why?

She was trying to write a book for millions of people.

It is impossible.

Then she regrouped. Instead of writing the next best seller, she wrote a book for her 10 closest girlfriends.

The words flowed effortlessly.

In a podcast interview with Tim Ferriss, Jim Collins shared what Bill Allen taught him.

He said that we should not aim for success, but to be useful.

Through writing for yourself, you actually lose your ego.

3. Writing like a Google Search Result

If we write just what anyone else can find through a simple search, then the writing is not meaningful or useful outside an academic setting. The beauty of writing is adding in the human touch. Click To Tweet

So often my young students write like a google search result.

By that I mean they write things that can be found in other places.

Their writing is very descriptive.

When done well and at the right time, this is wonderful and praiseworthy!

This week, though, I found the words to articulate what was missing in so many of these writings.

The human touch.

Google is very powerful.

However, if we write just what anyone else can find through a simple search, then the writing is not meaningful or useful outside an academic setting.

The beauty of writing is adding in the human touch.

We are able to infer and synthesize those facts we collect.

Example:
A computer can tell you how many people died because of smoking. Only a human, however, can tell you that you should stop smoking because it will prolong your life.

Inferences and synthesis aside, humans also provide the emotional touch.

Only humans can articulate how books connect with us emotionally.

Only people can put into words how it feels inside when you are put in front of a moving piece of art.

The human touch can best be seen in arguments.

By argument, I mean simply an opinion combined with reasons for it.

The thesis of an essay spurs on that human voice to rise above the waves of repeated information!

The thesis of an essay spurs on that human voice to rise above the waves of repeated information! Click To Tweet

For my students, I like to highlight in a different color all the sentences that reflect their own voice.

It is always surprising to see how much is in black and how little is in green.

We tell the world’s stories and facts, but forget to add our own human touch.

Next time you write or read your child’s writing, remember to put it through the google search test. 😉

Until next week! Comment whether you have read Big Magic.

What This Week Taught Me

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Another week has passed. I am keeping it short this week. I will discuss rediscovering some old books, The Dana Girl Mysteries, and more on critical thinking in reading comprehension.

The Dana Girls

Mysteries are fantastic tools in developing critical thinking in children! Click To Tweet

I love a good mystery.

I’m an avid Murder She Wrote watcher and a total Psych-O (from the show Psych).

When I was a young girl, I enjoyed a book series called the Dana Girls Mysteries.

They were written by the same team of authors as the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries.

The Dana Girls are now out of print and won’t make it to the silver screen anytime soon, but a worthy read nonetheless.

Written in the 1930s, they have a different style than our modern children books.

The vocabulary is better and the turn of phrase more astute. A small example:

“On the still December air floated the notes of a plaintive whistling in a minor strain. It was not the warbling of a bird, nor did it seem like that of a human being.”

In the Shadow of the Tower, p. 1

Good literature is easy to find; I am not in doubt.

These are just so accessible and short.

You get all the eloquence of a bygone era in an action-packed mystery for children.

Why am I telling you?

Well I went to a used bookstore the other day.

Whenever I go to one, I always ask if they have The Dana Girls.

This time they actually said yes. I was dumbfounded.

We bought a whole bunch. I’ve been reading through them with great pleasure.

The Dana Girls, Nancy Drew, and The Hardy Boys (original books, not modern ones) are great reads for Middle Schoolers and early High School kids.

They are very easy to read, but also introduce the student to uncommon vocabulary and an older style of talking.

Not to mention, mysteries are fantastic tools in developing critical thinking in children!

Fact vs. Opinion

This deeper thinking about how people say things and not just what they say plays a big role in comprehension. Click To Tweet

I want to continue to discuss with you my thoughts about critical thinking in reading comprehension.

Read the first part of the discussion here!

This week I turned my attention to fact versus opinion.

I am a huge fan of The Thinking Toolbox by Nathaniel Bluedorn and Hans Bluedorn

They have very fun dialogs and exercises to help you get thinking about thinking! 😉

There is not just fact and opinion but also inference.

I found this middle step was the hardest.

A statement of fact is any statement about something which can be directly observed by others or checked for accuracy.

Inferring is a logical conclusion made from verifiable fact.

Opinion is a statement of inference that is not entirely facts.

The Thinking Toolbox, Lesson 4

We went through the different exercises and examples.

I realized often it came down to the tone of the words.

Did the writer sound authoritative?

Did he add something extra, using such language as “must have,” “inevitably,” “probably?”

You can say the same thing but in completely different ways.

That colors the meaning.

This deeper thinking about how people say things and not just what they say plays a big role in comprehension.

This week’s post is shorter.

I have a secret project I am working on that I am excited to share with you soon.

Stay tuned and subscribe in order not to miss anything!

5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Child’s Writing

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Spring is in the air! We all are eager to get at spring cleaning, but should our kids “spring clean” their writing? Here I mention 5 ways to clean up their writing.

Read Older Writings

Take an hour to read what your child wrote this past year. Click To Tweet

Take an hour to read what your child wrote this past year.

What patterns do you notice?

Has the writing improved?

Has the length increased?

Use these questions to guide how you will approach helping your child improve.

Suggest New Readings

If you notice some stagnation in their writing, maybe give your child some new books.

Educational books or literary ones can spark new and better writing.

After they read one of their new books, have a discussion with them.

See what observations or opinions your child has.

Maybe some of these could be written down just for fun and good practice.

Write From a Wacky Perspective

Go on a walk with your child.

Ask them what it would be like to view the world as an ant.

How would everything look different?

Would it be easy or hard?

How would the ant get food or stay safe?

Then ask them to write about this.

Some other wacky perspectives:

  • Life as a fork
  • If our fingers could talk
  • Wake up on the other side of the world
  • Life as a fish in a fish tank at the dentist’s office

No More of This For a Whole Day.

Bad little habits will subside after they intentionally try not to say it for a day. Click To Tweet

This can be done through talking or writing.

Tell your child they cannot say a certain word for the entire day, maybe “is” or “like.”

It needs to be a problem word that they overuse.

For one day they will be thinking so hard about how they talk.

Bad little habits will subside after they intentionally try not to say it for a day. Just watch!

Find a Tutor

Maybe after this process, you have realized that your child has some big issues writing.

You worry that they are not doing well enough.

Many people have been in your shoes.

Help is available!

You can find a tutor in your area or online to help your child write better.

I myself am here to help your child write better.

Send me an email today and set up a free mini-lesson to get your child the help they deserve.

I promise I will reply within 24 hours.

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We all are eager to get at spring cleaning, but should our kids “spring clean” their writing? Click To Tweet

In exchange for doing any of these exercises, you can give your child a reward.

I, however, encourage you to remind your kids that good writing is its own reward.

Being able to describe the world around us and convey information is a true gift.

There is a lot of joy from working hard in school.

👇🏻Check out this video about work as its own reward. 👇🏻

What This Week Taught Me

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Another week has passed! March is over! Here I will discuss visiting my student, reviewing the book Excellent Sheep, and thinking about reading comprehension and critical thinking.

I appreciate your patience as I have been away much longer than planned.

I got sick again and did some traveling.

Those are not excuses.

Overcoming circumstances has been a major goal for me this year.

I want to be able to get things done regardless of the unexpected occurrences that come up.

Thomas Frank mentioned even putting money on the line to force yourself, but I am not ready to do that yet (link).

Visiting a Student

I had the wonderful opportunity to visit a student of mine!

A long time ago, I actually did in-person tutoring, but since then I have remained physically distant from the lovely students I get to teach.

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The experience was wonderful!

It is such a privilege to be welcomed into someone’s home.

All teachers see their students in their lessons, but to cross that threshold into the home is not to be taken for granted.

My student’s personality shined in many settings and scenarios within the comfort of her own day-to-day life.

Those moments that either reminded me of a lesson or taught me something new about her were so enlightening and enjoyable.

We went to several places.

Those experiences were educational because I found all these little teachable moments.

However, I also learned more about her and how my teachings were fitting into her thinking and life.

Some can say that a big disadvantage to working online is the lack of human contact and “living behind a screen.”

I won’t debate that here.

{Blogpost} Why it is Wrong NOT to Teach Online

I can say that connecting with my student was a joy, and I came home refreshed and more passionate than I have been in a long while.

Thank you to her and her family for that!

Excellent Sheep

During my visit, I was introduced to a few new books.

The book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life by William Deresiewicz stood out to me.

I want to share some of my thoughts and findings about it.

Now, at face value, this not a book for an English tutor of Middle and High School students.

However, I am always thinking about the future for my students and how they can prepare now.

a. The Role of the University

I agree with his thesis that Ivy league schools are not serving us today and are not the answer to success.

He correctly asserts that it is more beneficial to learn how to learn than to gain a diploma.

He lays out the role of the university in the process of learning and growing as a person:

“To put it in the language of computers, you can download all the data you want, but it won’t be any good to you unless you have the software to make use of it. That software, the ability to operate on information—to understand it, to synthesize it into new combinations, to discover and create with it—is what college is meant to ‘install.'”

(p. 174)

b. Student burnout

I found his description of student burnout and overwhelm to be particularly moving.

He painted this picture of the student who does everything asked of him but has no inner voice or life path.

Students were encouraged to rise above the white noise of “what you must do” to find what your own voice is saying to you.

He writes:

“To find yourself, you first must free yourself. You won’t be able to recognize the things you really care about until you have released your grip on all the things that you’ve been taught to care about. And we already know, in the case of today’s young high achievers, what those are.”

(p. 90)

On the other hand, he had the difficult job of telling the reader that not every student is equally worthy to be in college.

More importantly, their perceived worth does not equate with reality.

In a marvelous anecdote about the old days at Yale, he quotes a man who mapped the change in the welcome speeches given to the freshmen.

In 1957, the speech encouraged the student to try because he was chosen among a very few:

“It was the duty of each of us over the next four years to prove that Yale had made the right choice by picking us instead of giving our place to someone else.”

(p. 213)

By 1969, the speech turned into a laudation of each student before they had even done anything.

Wouldn’t we be the wiser for humbling our students before they set out so they can feel a sense of deserving their achievements?

c. Teachers Transform

Lastly, he answers what is the difference between colleges and just on your own book-learning: the teacher.

Teachers need to be truly present — adding in their own experiences and stories into the content (p. 179).

A real teacher is a real person. We can read, but a teacher transforms.

This was a poignant reminder for me.

Crossroads Between Comprehension and Critical Thinking

I have been thinking about the crossroads between reading comprehension and critical thinking.

Now, let me say, I am writing to you at the beginning of my search to articulate this and not at the end.

Stay tuned for something more concrete; in the meantime, just enjoy the ride.

As adults, we take so much of reading comprehension for granted.

Holding all the details in our mind and picking up on subtleties is second nature.

For young students, though, this can often be so hard.

Reading is the cornerstone of writing so this is very important to me.

I want to get to the bottom of it.

I found, when I read with my students, the questions would be part of the problem.

“Who?” or “what?” was a no brainer, but taking it a step further resulted in confusion or shallow answers.

Thinking and reading go hand and hand.

Not just any kind of thinking, but critical thinking.

When I was in college, we did a lot of analyzing of texts.

We found patterns and arguments like prizes inside cereal boxes.

It was the hunt and we were equipped with the tools.

Now I am bringing this into all my lessons.

Temporarily, I have stopped just reading and writing with my students.

We are learning how to think better.

It is going well.

More on this topic to come.

Here are some books I have been consulting or planning to read.

Thank you for reading! Until next week!

What This Week Taught Me

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Another week has passed! It is now March! Here I will discuss effective questions, importance of a schedule, and confidence.

Always Know the Answer to the Question

Recently, I have been reminded of the power of asking questions when you already know the answer. Click To Tweet

There are many kinds of questions in this world.

Some are to learn more information in the first place — Where is he?! Why did you do that?

However, others are to further your understanding — Why did you come home at 5 instead of 6?

Lastly, yet other questions are largely rhetorical and aid the speaker in discussing more about the topic — Why should we care about the pollination process?

Recently, I have been reminded of the power of asking questions when you already know the answer or, at least, half of it.

I am writing an essay with a student.

He knows a lot about the topic, but cannot seem to get it onto the page.

I remind him that he needs to use questions to pull more information out.

These particular questions are deliberate.

He needs to practice the art of question asking and expending his thoughts at the same time.

Let us use an essay on Benjamin Franklin as an example.

The student has already written down all the basic details of Benjamin Franklin’s life.

He has a basic outline, putting special attention onto Franklin’s role in the Revolutionary War.

I know my student knows more and has read more. I want to pull that out of him.

This question is not so much out of curiosity as it is pushing the writer to write more about what he already knows. Click To Tweet

Here is what I will say to him:

Benjamin Franklin convinced the French to give money and support to America.

  • How and why did this negotiation initiate?
  • Why was Franklin more effective in this negotiation than John Adams?
  • In what ways did France’s aid help win America the war?
From Benjamin Franklin Historical Society

Reaching past the one-word response, I encourage him to craft a question that will result in a short answer.

Importantly, the question itself contains details and information from his reading.

This question is not so much out of curiosity as it is pushing the writer to write more about what he already knows.

This technique has proved effective.

Scheduling

We all need a plan and a schedule.

The better your schedule, the freer you are to focus on what matters and what you have yet even to discover. Click To Tweet

For most students, this is done for them by parents and teachers.

When students reach high school, they are encouraged to begin to take that task on for themselves.

A student of mine cannot stop using the words “work” and “hassle” whenever I discuss organizing his time.

He is right.

Organization is work and is a hassle.

I have found myself spending more time talking about the long term benefits of this way of life than even about the process itself.

Sure, right now everything is manageable, but later the demands will be heavier.

At the end of the day, though, I want students to stay organized so that they can see school as more than just homework.

School is where you learn skills and find your intellectual passions.

The more you worry over how and when you will get even the minimum done, the more you cannot appreciate the task and process itself.

If you want to do more than the minimum, such as competitions, camps, extra courses, and book reading, then improving your schedule is the place to start.

The better your schedule, the freer you are to focus on what matters and what you have yet even to discover.

Confidence

What holds us back from reaching our desired heights of success is confidence. Click To Tweet

Putting words on the internet takes a lot of courage.

So does writing essays and excelling in math.

What holds us back from reaching our desired heights of success is confidence.

Even if you cannot feel the confidence running through you, you can still manufacture it in the meantime.

Project confidence. You will see how that transforms your work and your life.

I made a video on this topic, check it out.

I write these reflections so that you can take a look into my lessons.

Lessons take place every week and I learn new things from and for my students!

It is a thrill.

If you want to be a part of this process, why not book a free mini-lesson today?

Book a FREE mini-lesson today!

Why it is Wrong Not to Teach Online

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So, obviously the title is a little dramatic, but it got you here. 😉 In this post, I will discuss why it is right to teach online and use technology to our advantage.

Wider Audience

The careful balance of home comforts and outside adventure is best met through working online with people from different places. Click To Tweet

The world is only getting smaller.

Teaching online allows you to reach a much wider audience — kids in Korea, college students in Canada, retirees in Romania, and so on.

This keeps the adventure alive in teaching but also in your life.

Meeting and interacting with people of different backgrounds can be very enlightening and rewarding.

On the other hand, going away from home, even just through a computer, can also help you appreciate your own home more.

The careful balance of home comforts and outside adventure is best met through working online with people from different places.

Portability

I went into online teaching for the portability.

I wanted to be able to travel and keep my own schedule while still teaching.

Working online gives you freedom through portability.

This does not mean you need to live in another country, like I did in Russia, but you can travel with your work.

You can take a week at a B&B or visit your sick aunt, but not sacrifice your job or paycheck.

Convenience

A cup of nice herbal tea next to a computer laptop
Teaching online takes the barriers and hardships away from getting to the students themselves. Click To Tweet

You appreciate this convenience most when the weather is bad.

Snow is on the ground and it is way below freezing, but I sit in my warm home office with no intention of leaving the house.

Convenience comes in other forms.

You are always in touch with your students and files through Skype and cloud storage.

So many times, my students have written me while I am at the store or about to go to a movie.

I can pull up their homework on my phone and type a reply immediately.

Teaching online takes the barriers and hardships away from getting to the students themselves.

Digital Resources

Learning goes from presentation to interaction with live feedback. Click To Tweet

I could write a whole blogpost just on this.

6 Vital Apps for Teaching Online

Oh wait, I did!

Here, I just want to say that technology allows you to have live feedback.

In a classroom, you can present something and the students can work on projects, but online teaching can go a step further.

Everyone can share a board/canvas.

We can work on the same Google Doc or draw on the same digital board.

Learning goes from presentation to interaction with live feedback.

It is an exciting and fun way to learn.

Appeal to the Modern Child

By teaching online you meet the student in a modern arena, in which they are already comfortable. Click To Tweet
Boy accessing futuristic entertainment applications

It is undeniable the world is becoming more digital and technological.

Today’s kids know nothing else but a world filled with technology.

By teaching online you meet the student in a modern arena, in which they are already comfortable.

Taking their technological knowledge and showing them how they can use it to learn better will give them modern skills for the modern world.

Technology used beneficially and responsibly is our gift to young students today. How better to do that than through teaching online.

This is by no means the end of the conversation.

Here I just touched briefly on each header.

In the future, I would like to take each of these in their turn in order to delve deeper.

This is an important conversation for me to have with you because I am an online tutor.

I know that teaching online is one of the best mediums to connect with students and get the results they want and need.

Reap the benefits today and book a mini-lesson with me!

Reap the benefits of online tutoring today & book a FREE mini-lesson with me!