|
|
My Writing Coach Online offers online writing coaching and mentorship, writing assessment and evaluation, editing services, and more. Personalized, not computerized. Your Writing Coach is Deb Evans – you will always know who is working with you and your children… every time! Coaching is available online or in traditional classes on location [Conroe/The Woodlands]. My Writing Coach
offers both the structure students need and the flexibility that busy
families require. We serve writers from students to professionals. | |
|
My Writing Coach Philosophy: 1. Writing is FUN. Learning to write should also be fun. Most writing curriculum is so focused on the mechanics that they all but ignore the reason we write - to communicate - to share information, express an opinion, entertain through a story. It also zaps all the fun out of writing! Mechanics - grammar and punctuation and spelling – are important… Proper mechanics help us to communicate effectively, to make it easier for our readers to understand what we’re saying, but they aren't the reason we write. Writing teachers must understand that writing is, ultimately, expression, communication, art. By accepting that premise, we allow students the joy and freedom that comes with writing. When students enjoy writing… enjoy creating… the mechanics will fall into place. 2. Students need a purpose for writing. It increases their motivation and willingness to work and improve. Our writing assignments are designed to appeal to students’ interests and/or to coordinate with their other classes. We focus on the importance of writing throughout your life and career. 3. The process of writing is vital. We teach writing in separate stages -prewriting/writing/rewriting. It’s important to separate writing from editing. Editing too early in the process stifles creativity and expression. Remember, even bestselling authors need revising and editing. 4. Effective writing instruction must be individualized to the student’s needs and must include specific and timely feedback or assessment. A simple grade will not allow students to improve. They must have the opportunity to revise their work and learn from feedback. Students must have clear, achievable goals. 5. Reading and writing go hand in hand. Students learn the most about writing by reading good literature. Our curriculum includes studying the techniques of influential writers from a variety of genres. Writing should be taught across the curriculum; its importance in all areas of life should be emphasized. 6. Good writing is important. Colleges and Universities annually report an increase in the percentage of students requiring remedial reading and writing classes. Even corporations are reporting sending new employees to remedial writing classes. Students need to develop good writing skills. Although some children are naturally gifted writers, all children are capable of learning fundamental composition skills. 7. We believe that writing is a process. Every written work should go through this same process:
©Deb Evans
Deb
Evans is a 10+ year homeschooling veteran, mom to Kayla, age 16, and
Kristin, age 15, and wife to Mike for 19 years. She has taught
language arts, history, government, photography, and more through multiple
programs including Montgomery College, Extraordinary Education, and The
Lighthouse. Deb also operates www.MyWritingCoachOnline.com
and ExpressiveArtsOnline.com.
Deb is also the mentor for
SuperFriends! a local social club for teen homeschoolers in Montgomery
County. She has owned
DebEvansPhotography.com since 2003, providing “contemporary, fine art
portraiture in your home”. She has a BS degree from UT, is a widely
published writer, and has extensive, professional experience in PR and
marketing, primarily from her life “before kids”. She still works with
select businesses, offering copywriting and marketing consultation.
Click
here for more info about Deb Evans. Please note that ALL photographs and text on this web site are protected by U.S. Copyright Laws and may NOT be reproduced in ANY manner without express permission. |
Mark Twain said “The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug." Our Services One on One Coaching / Tutoring (online) Ms. Deb will develop a personal, long-term or short-term coaching plan for your individual needs; whether you need help starting and completing a specific assignment, mastery of a type of essay, coaching through a short story or novel project, or help working through your own writing curriculum. We offer personalized tutoring at your own pace via email or web cam! A schedule and fees will be set up based on your needs. Contact Deb for a complimentary consultation and proposal. In-person tutoring is also available in Conroe/The Woodlands. Coaching can be based on an hourly or semester rate based on your needs. Click here for more information on our mentorships. Email with your specific needs. no contracts, no ongoing commitment; just submit your writing assignments as needed for professional review and evaluation. My Writing Coach evaluates submitted essays and reports based on the standard Six Traits of Writing assessment. Student will receive a detailed assessment of his or her work with practical suggestions for improvement. Here’s what we do not do: we do not offer complete proofreading and editing of your papers.* This does not teach a student how to write. Instead we identify areas that need work and coach the student in ways to improve his or her writing and to make necessary corrections. We are available to provide whatever instruction or assistance the students need; however, our goal is to guide students through the writing process, not do the work for them. Why use My Writing Coach Online to evaluate my child’s papers? Writing can be a difficult subject to evaluate. There isn’t an answer key to use. Sure, you can objectively assess whether a word is spelled correctly or a comma is in the right place, but it’s difficult to objectively assess style, structure, word choice… especially when it’s your child doing the writing. Some parents are not confident in their own writing skills and are uncomfortable teaching the subject. [kind of like my efforts to teach math to my kids…it’s not a good idea.] Having an objective third-party resource to review your child’s writing will make your life easier, as well as give you confidence in knowing your child is receiving quality instruction and assessment. We can help with any writing project from short stories to essays to research papers. My Writing Coach is available any time, any day of the week, with a quick turn-around time. Email your project to us in the middle of the night, if that’s when you’re up working on it! I am also available to evaluate your college application essay. This service is best for students who need extra help with their regular writing class assignments and those homeschooling students who would prefer a third-party to review and evaluate their writing. How does it work? Click here for details. *non-academic proofreading and editing is available for writers seeking publication. not instruction.
What our clients say... from a former student, now attending Texas A&M "Deb Evans has been a part of my life for many years, and for that I am so thankful. She has taught me everything from grammar basics to taking a passion in what I am writing about. Once frustrating to me, writing has become my form of expression as well as a great joy in my life. Many English teachers I have had in my life frustrated me with a greater concern for mechanics than content. Deb Evans balances the two perfectly, correcting my mistakes while still caring for my writing as if it were her own. I still rely on her services today, and every time I get her help on a paper I can submit it with confidence no matter how much the teacher likes that red pen;)" Sharon Joncyk and a few words from her mom... I have known Deb Evans for over
8 years. At that time, Montgomery College (now known as Lonestar) offered
classes to homeschoolers. Deb taught "Grammar Bootcamp" and a beginning
writing course. Both my children had always homeschooled, and worked on
unit studies with other families. These were their first "classroom"
experiences. There was some apprehension to be in a classroom- not just
for them, but also me. They immediately took to Deb because of her
charismatic personality and kindness. As a teacher, she taught concepts in
a non-threatening way, took time to explain things, and showed
encouragement. My children did not "like" to write, and that was a big
reason for our looking elsewhere for "help". Within the first few weeks
they were EXCITED to write. I watched small paragraphs become large
paragraphs, short/quick written papers became well-worded, well-thoughtful
essays. from a mom...
... so
apparently YOU are the TEACHING QUEEN - not only do you rock the photog
classes but you can also demolish the wall of fear surrounding ... da da
da dum .... WRITING! Oh the horror - ANYthing but writing!!!!
--- until today! Pull up to
pick up my non-writer, who hops in the car & says: "I love writing". I
almost turned the car around to see if I picked up the right kid!
another mom... Alex enjoyed your camp very much and it's encouraging to see her actually enjoy writing. You do have a gift with these students and your tutoring this summer has been extremely helpful. Judy Dueitt from a mom... you are really good with these kids & it shows ... they LIKE you! highest teen compliment I can think of. C. Darnell another mom... I met Deb Evans during the school year 2008-2009. She is very dedicated to teaching kids about Writing, Literature, and Government. She has taught my oldest son how to pull stories out of his mind, and put these on paper. He has taken a great interest in creative writing and has really enjoyed her classes. He will be taking more classes with Deb during the summer and this following school year. I am happy to know that my son takes a real interest in writing because of the great things he learned from Deb this past school year. I wish her the best in all of her teaching adventures! Brenda Stuart Rodriguez
Interested!? Email Mrs. Deb, your writing coach, at debsclasses@yahoo.com
| |
|
|
||
