Tutoring and Independent Study

Before Great Books Comes Groundwork: 
​A Preparatory Literature Course (9 weeks)

Based on the "scholarly method" of literary study that I describe in my book Before Austen Comes Aesop:  The Children's Great Books and How to Experience Them, this class prepares students for the challenges of formal literature courses.  While some teachers and parents are able to spend time on developing these important literary study skills, many students need more focused instruction than is usually practical in a typical English course.  For most of the semester, we will work on skill-building using classic short tales.  During the last few weeks we will apply these skills to one of two important children's books--either Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, or The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Registration open now for spring semester!
Day:  1x/week -- TBD based on student availability:  Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays
Time:  Classes will last for one hour between 2:00-4:00 p.m. Central time (TBD based on student availability)
Dates:  Will begin the week of January 17, 2022, but calendar still TBD.

* open to students in grades 6-9 (Note:  Older students are welcome, but most of them will find the class too easy.)
*  live class only; uses the Google platform, including Classroom, Gmail, Drive, Chat, and Meet
* 1-5 students
* 50-60 minutes, 18 weeks (1 semester).  Day TBD based on teacher-student availability.
* summer, fall, or winter/spring options
* $250 +$30 non-refundable registration fee
* For more details, click here. 
​* If you are interested in registering for a class, please email me through my Contact Me page.  
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The Denim Beret Writing Program (full-year)

Since 2011, I have been developing and teaching this three-level composition program to students both online and in the classroom.  Unlike most academic writing programs, The Denim Beret teaches students to how to approach writing as an art and craft, like real authors do.  Although its primary focus is on non-fiction writing in general, I also teach most of the variations that students will need to know for success in high school and college.  This course is especially helpful to students who find writing to be intimidating.  It does not assume any knowledge beyond basic sentence construction, so that students begin at step one of the writing process and progress systematically to the end.  By the final lesson, students will be able to confront the blank page with confidence and focus their energies on what they want to say.

* open to students in grades 6-12 (best sequence:  level 1 = gr. 6 or 7; level 2 = gr. 7 or 8;
level 3 = gr. 8, 9, or 10)
* correspondence course with the Google platform:  Classroom, Gmail, Drive, Chat.  Meet will also be used for monthly video chats. 
*   year-round start date; must be completed within one calendar year (7th/8th grades) or within two calendar years (6th grade and special circumstances)
​* $400 + $30 non-refundable registration fee
* For more details, click here. 

Grammar Matters:  A Traditional Course (1 semester)

In my opinion, one of the worst mistakes American schools have made since the 1970 is to  purge systematic grammar from the typical English curriculum.  Over the years I have seen the fruit of this neglect with my students, most of whom struggle to write polished papers because they have not been taught the necessary skills to do so.  This two-level course provides systematic, traditional grammar instruction using the classic, out-of-print textbook series Warriner's English Grammar & Composition.  Students will learn grammar in progressive stages:  basic grammar first in order to provide the language and concepts necessary for a true mastery of English, and then mechanics, usage, and style conventions.     

Registration open now for fall semester -- 3 spots left!
Tuesdays/Thursdays @ 3:00-3:55 p.m. Central time.
August 30, 2022 - January 12, 2023

* live course using the Google platform:  Classroom, Gmail, Drive, Chat, and Meet.
* independent study w/grading option also available
* live classes may be 1-5 students 
* open to students in grades 6-12
​* per level:  1 hour, 2x/week, 18 weeks, start/end dates TBD based on teacher-student availability
* fall or spring semester
* 12 weekly self-graded practice exercises provided following conclusion of course 
*  $300 +$30 non-refundable registration fee
*  For more details, click here. 
*  If you are interested in registering for a class, please email me through my Contact Me page.