A five-week online writing experience designed for 8 to 12 year olds (although age limits are flexible).

The purpose of Screen Scribes is to encourage writing confidence. Feedback is supportive and constructive. Writing is not graded. At the end of the course, each participant will receive a certificate of completion.  

Enrolment is capped at 5 students. Course begins 18 February and ends 22 March.

To enrol your child, please send the following information by 12 February: 

• Name of child
• Age
• Home Address/Phone
• Name of parent and contact phone/email 
• Email address child will use for the course

Send all enquiries and registrations to Screenscribes@outlook.com  

Cost is $ 55.00, payable on enrolment.  

About the Instructor: My name is Suzanne Chelius. I have been teaching writing for over 15 years, most recently as a tutor at Massey University. I also do plenty of informal teaching of writing in my role as a homeschooling parent of two children, a 10 year old and a 5 year old. 

I see an individual’s relationship with words as powerful. Writing is a way of connecting with a specialised portion of the brain, different to speaking. In my own career as a student and a writer, I have struggled with writer’s block, and I am familiar with the frustration that can come with writing. However, I am also familiar with the elation that can come with writing—the thrill of reaching a reader and connecting! 

In designing this course, I wanted to create an opportunity for homeschooled children to practice writing in a safe and supportive environment.  I wait for their words on the other side of cyber-space, respond positively with questions or constructive feedback, and in turn, these young writers ask questions about their work and/or respond to my comments. As a teacher in this course my aim is not to evaluate, but to encourage and to cultivate writing. 

Course Outline: Screen Scribes is a 5-week online writing course designed for 8 to 12 year olds. The curriculum focuses on bi-weekly positive practice, inviting participants to write in a progression of 10 prompts which move from Personal Reflection to Informational to Creative to Synthesis. The purpose of the course is to increase writing confidence.  Toward this end, my feedback will not evaluate on a grading scale.

To participate, each child will need an email account and a word processing programme.