The Organized Writer Program
Is the writer in your family demoralized or disorganized?
Concerned about the writing load next school year?
Is writing a source of stress and struggle?
Many writers struggle with executive function weakness which makes it difficult to get organized and stay motivated. These challenges may go unnoticed by teachers or may not be adequately addressed in a classroom setting.
Connect to Learn specializes in executive function coaching and individualized skill-building, all of which can make you a stronger writer.
The Organized Writer Program applies executive function coaching to established writing methods. We break down and build back up the writing process, step by step.
Students of all ages and writing levels will work individually with a supportive and experienced coach, strengthening skills such as planning, focus, problem-solving, self-awareness, frustration tolerance, and task management.
The Writing Process, Step by Step
Over the course of 10 sessions, students will work through the writing process methodically while practicing techniques to strengthen executive function skills.
By the end of the program, students will have a well-developed piece of writing as well as a writing workbook of templates, guides, and resources that can be used for future assignments.
Most writing will be done during sessions with little to no work expected in between meetings. Students can also schedule additional sessions as needed throughout the program.
Click through each part below to learn more about our methodology:
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Session 1: Mythbusting & Goal Setting Students will discuss their past writing experience and instruction, chronic obstacles, and discover if any myths about the writing process have been getting in the way of their expression. They will then establish some goals for this program and either pick from a selection of our prompts or bring in a piece of their own writing that was challenging or meaningful.
Session 2: Understanding Prompts & Expectations To write effectively, it’s vital to slow down step one: truly understanding a prompt and expectations. Deconstructing a variety of sample prompts will help students practice perspective-taking, problem-solving, and planning ahead.
Session 3: Brainstorming & Idea Generation Brainstorming can be both liberating and intimidating, so we’ll practice a variety of exercises to explore new ideas while still staying anchored to the main prompts.
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Session 4: Thesis Development Narrowing the scope of your writing often leaves the biggest impression on readers. We’ll define what exactly makes a strong thesis - and what doesn’t.
Session 5: Outlining = Structure + Fluidity A solid outline establishes the logical structure and flow of an essay. But it can also be used as a dynamic tool throughout the writing process. We’ll practice creating - and adapting - clear guidelines for ourselves as writers.
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Session 6: Elaborate First, Edit Later Although “first draft, only draft” seems tempting, strong writing is an iterative process. We’ll first practice getting thoughts down on paper as a form of flow rather than trying to find the perfect words. We’ll also discuss helpful strategies for time management, focus, and writer’s block.
Session 7: Zooming In & Out As we wrap up a draft, we’ll zoom out again to see how ideas and structure might have transformed compared to the original plan, and how that can be productive.
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Session 8: Editing as Clarifying, Not Judging We’ll practice the nitty-gritty of editing and the necessity of proofreading; first focusing on broad structure, then on finer form.
Session 9: Giving & Getting Feedback Writing is a peer-driven process, so giving and getting feedback only strengthens already strong ideas. Practicing critiques can also reduce some understandable anxiety or defensiveness.
Session 10: Odds & Ends Reflection is a final step that is often overlooked. We’ll debrief the past few weeks, revisit goals and expectations, and discuss any lingering questions or obstacles.
Ready to Write?
Contact us to learn more and join our waitlist: