My son writes how he talks to friends

This is a common concern parents express to us prior to enrolling their children in classes with Smart Solutions. There has been a movement for kids to work through writing seeds in class versus more formal writing such as essays, book reports, etc. Likewise, many school systems are shying away from teaching classics and full class novels; instead they encourage students to choose their own books for independent reading time in middle and high school classes.

While these changes are popular with kids (and many educators), I am not sure this curriculum change gives all students the fundamentals in writing and language usage they need to succeed at higher levels. While I believe in voice and choice to some degree, I also firmly believe kids need to understand grammar, syntax, mechanics, and they should be able to recognize what makes writing "good."

Our classes bring our students back to the basics. We work on grammar rules, mechanics, and voice. We also make sure writing is a recursive process- meaning we spend time working through the five stages of writing while providing ample feedback.

As students strengthen the fundamentals- their writing will sound more fluid and cohesive.