Does your child struggle with handwriting, spelling, or organizing their ideas when writing? Many students struggle with writing, especially those with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning challenges. A writing tutor in Boca Raton or Palm Beach can help your child build stronger writing skills using research-based, multi-sensory techniques that are individualized to your child’s needs. Writing tutoring can help your child in the following ways:
How Writing Tutoring Helps Students Improve Sentence Structure
Before learning how to write paragraphs or essays, students need to learn how to write a well-structured sentence. Your child’s writing tutor can teach them that a basic sentence consists of a subject and a predicate, such as “Ella ran.” As part of the writing tutoring, your child may look at models of well-written basic sentences and highlight the subject in one color and predicate in another color. When your child is ready, their writing tutor can teach them how to expand their sentences with adjectives and adverbs, like “Ella ran quickly.” Your child will practice writing many basic and expanded sentences to gain proficiency. Later, their writing tutor can teach them how to write four different types of sentences, including declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory sentences. They can also learn how to further expand their sentences by writing compound and complex sentences.
Teaching Students to Write Simple Paragraphs
When your child is ready, their writing tutor can teach them how to write a simple paragraph. A simple paragraph consists of a topic sentence, three detail sentences, and a conclusion sentence.
An example might be:
There are many different types of desserts. First, you can eat cake. Next, you can eat ice cream. Finally, some people like eating fruit. I love dessert!
Simple paragraphs can be simple, but they should be organized. During your child’s writing tutoring sessions, they can look at models of well-written simple paragraphs and highlight the topic sentence in one color, detail sentences in another color, and conclusion sentence in a third color, before working on writing their own simple paragraphs. Their writing tutor can teach them how to write example, process, reason, and compare/contrast paragraphs, and should give them a lot of practice with three steps in the writing process:
- Brainstorm
- Write
- Self-check
Expanding to Extended Paragraphs
Once your child has grasped how to write a simple paragraph, their writing tutor can teach them how to write an extended paragraph. An extended paragraph expands a simple paragraph while maintaining its organization. In doing so, the student adds three supporting detail sentences after each detail in a simple paragraph to form an extended paragraph. Your child’s writing tutor can teach them how to write example, process, reason, and compare/contrast paragraphs, but now in the form of an extended paragraph.
Writing Five Paragraph Essays
After your child has learned how to write well-structured sentences, simple paragraphs, and extended paragraphs, they should be ready to learn how to write five paragraph essays. A five paragraph essay contains an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. In the introduction paragraph, your child’s writing tutor should teach them how to write an opening, lead-in, and thesis statement.
In writing tutoring, your child will also learn how to integrate transition words and sentences. Furthermore, they will learn how to write various types of five paragraph essays, including example, process, reason, and compare/contrast essays.
Signs Your Child May Need Writing Tutoring
Many parents often ask: How do I know when my child needs writing tutoring? If your child struggles with any of the following skills, they may benefit from a writing tutor:
- Trouble writing a basic sentence
- Difficulty organizing their ideas when writing
- Challenges with spelling
- Trouble with grammar or writing mechanics
- Avoids writing
- Becomes easily frustrated when writing
- Trouble getting started with writing assignments
What Does a Writing Tutor Teach?
There are many skills a writing tutor can teach. Before your child begins writing tutoring, they should receive an initial evaluation to determine the specific aspects of writing they need help with. Then an individualized writing tutoring plan can be developed, and writing tutors can help your child with any of the following skills:
- Spelling
- Sentence structure
- Grammar
- Writing mechanics
- Writing organization
- Paragraph and essay writing
- Brainstorming, writing, and self-checking
Students with dyslexia, ADHD, or dysgraphia may benefit from specialized writing tutoring using research-based, multi-sensory techniques, including the Orton Gillingham method, that are tailored to their individual needs.
Why is Writing Difficult for Students with Dyslexia or ADHD?
Students with dyslexia or ADHD often have difficulty with writing since writing requires a variety of skills, often integrated simultaneously: planning, organizing ideas, creating well-written sentences, recalling ideas when writing, writing at an appropriate speed, remembering spelling rules, and many other related skills. Students with dyslexia and ADHD often have difficulty with many of these skills, but specialized writing tutoring can help them develop all aspects of the writing process.
If your child demonstrates any of these challenges, don’t wait! The writing demands continue to increase as students progress through school, so building their writing skills now with individualized writing tutoring can help them immensely. If you are a parent in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, or other areas of Palm Beach and Broward Counties, Knowledge Plus tutoring can help your child with in-person writing tutoring.
At Knowledge Plus Tutoring, we can help your child build their writing skills using research-based, multi-sensory methods that are individualized to your child’s needs. The tutoring can take place in-person at your home throughout Palm Beach County, including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach, or virtually, and can help your child develop much stronger writing skills.
Writing is one of the most important skills for success in school. Writing tutoring can help your child build this critical skill and thrive academically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my child benefit from writing tutoring?
Any student who struggles with writing organization, sentence structure, handwriting, spelling, writing mechanics, or grammar can benefit from writing tutoring. Students with dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, or other learning disabilities can especially benefit from writing tutoring. A structured, research-based approach to building these skills can help them immensely as they move through school and the writing demands increase.
How can a writing tutor help my child in Palm Beach or Boca Raton?
A writing tutor can help your child improve their overall writing skills, including sentence structure, spelling, writing mechanics, grammar, paragraph writing, and essay writing. During writing tutoring sessions, your child can learn how to brainstorm, write, and self-check their work.
Does Florida’s Step Up For Students Scholarship Cover Writing tutoring?
Yes! If your child qualifies for Step up scholarship funds, you may be able to use these funds to pay for one-on-one writing tutoring.
Learn more about Step Up scholarship tutoring and Step Up tutoring providers at Does Florida’s Step Up Scholarship Cover Tutoring Services? Knowledge Plus Tutoring is a Step Up approved tutoring provider and we would be happy to provide Step Up scholarship tutoring to your child.
Learn more about whether your child qualifies for Step Up scholarship tutoring at Who Is Eligible for Step Up for Students in Florida? Scholarships & Tutoring.
How can I find a writing tutoring program near me?
When looking for a writing tutor, try to find a tutoring program that specializes in writing instruction for students like your child. If they have dyslexia, ADHD, or another learning disability, look for a tutoring program that specializes in working with neurodiverse students using research-based, multi-sensory techniques.
Dr. Emily Levy holds her Doctorate Degree in Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She has been helping neurodiverse students in grades prek-12 build their writing skills through specialized writing tutoring for over twenty years.
