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Hello friends! The whole world is homeschooling right now. Some are probably doing it better than others. For me, it’s going about as well as I garden. That is–I look out at it and say, “Yep. It’s still there.” I see my daughters with books–they need to borrow my laptop sometimes for Zoom class–but that’s… Continue reading There is nothing wrong with surviving

Hello friends! One of the most common questions parents have asked me since we started online school is, “How can I best support my child’s writing efforts?” This is a question I ask myself day after day in the classroom. Here are a few guidelines I share with the parents of my students that might… Continue reading Supporting your writer at home

Hello friends! Usually here, we like to talk about the stories our children are writing. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the stories we as parents are telling. Getting good at telling just the right story can be key right now.   Today, I took my 17 year old daughter to an empty mall,… Continue reading We are our children’s storytellers

Hello friends! My brother stopped by the other day for a porch chat. (Porch chats are starting to be really normal now, aren’t they?) We both have kids starting college in the fall, and my brother said how grateful he is that his son Drake can write. Essays, applications, whatever he needs to write, are… Continue reading 4 Reasons Why Writing Camp Works

Hello friends! We hoped online camp would work, but we didn’t expect this. From one mom: “My daughters are waking up excited each morning. This is the first time they’ve WANTED to be on Zoom.” From another: “I feel like I had some free-time for the first time in months because my kids could navigate… Continue reading IT WORKED!

Hello friends! In the middle of this pandemic summer, it’s been a surprising gift to have Hamilton lyrics running through our heads. (You too?)  Almost as a straight up contradiction to the nightly news, the Schuyler sisters sing: “Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now!”  So, inspired by Hamilton,… Continue reading Hamilton Inspired: 3 New Resources

Hello friends! How are you enjoying the 5th month “summer”? In our house, we’ve found more of a rhythm now. Masks are the norm when we go outside, and we still spend most of our time with each other.  But “more” time together doesn’t always mean quality time. It is so easy to be with each other,… Continue reading The 9 most important minutes of your child’s day

I (Carrie) now have a Little Free Library in my front yard. I’ve wanted one for at least a decade, and this was the year my dream came true. (Emily will probably follow suit very soon! She would LOVE it.)      My kids grew up surrounded by books. (I have them in every room of… Continue reading Allow reading to build your writer

Using our imagination for better things than WORRY A little story from Carrie:  From the day my youngest daughter Anna was born, I have been worrying about the day when all of her older sisters would be away at college and she would become an “only child.”  Well last week this dreaded day arrived, but… Continue reading Using our imagination for better things than WORRY

Some things (like growing writers) take time Once I (Carrie) visited Red Butte Garden (this amazing garden in Salt Lake City) during the off season. Instead of vibrant, creative displays of flowers and foliage, there were mounds of dirt and sweaty gardeners with shovels and seeds.  What? This beautiful garden doesn’t just appear like magic?… Continue reading How to Keep Your Child Writing: A Secret from Teachers