One of Mrs. Spencer's favorite topics, this week Mrs. Larson and Mrs. Spencer share personal experiences coupled with strategies for our young writers on how to read with the purpose of enhancing writing. This week focuses on how to read like a writer. If you have no idea what this means, you have to listen in to hear the difference between how we typically read and how we can improve our writing by focusing on how the professionals do it. Writing is a process, a difficult one, no less, but when we turn to the professionals, we have a lot to learn.

Most kids are reading books this summer assigned by their teachers. Although the books may be excellent reads, students sometimes feel the pressure of reading them and struggle getting started...or finishing. This week, Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Larson tackle this problem with some tips for parents that involve using writing as a tool to help the issue. Listen in for more ideas on getting kids to write more this summer.

Summer camp is one week away and Mrs. Larson and Mrs. Spencer are excited to spend two weeks guiding kids through the writing process. This week, they are discussing what to write about and some practical activities for parents to help their children build new ideas for writing. Listen in for easy and practical ways to incorporate writing into your daily lives.

After spending a week in Kentucky grading papers from all over the country, Mrs. Larson and Mrs. Spencer are back! And excited about a new adventure for parents to advocate at their schools in the Fall. Spending a week talking with college professors, high school teachers and others in the profession of writing instruction, the two came back with new ideas to facilitate more writing instruction and practice for the classroom. Listen in to hear more about the benefits of starting a writing center at your child's school.

In the studio this week, we have Melissa Galvan sitting in for Mrs. Larson. Mrs. Galvan comes to us from Oxford Academy, Cypress. She has experience teaching 7th grade through 12th grade and has a love for teaching like no other. Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Galvan share stories of reading and experiences with kids to encourage more reading this summer. If you are looking for ways to help the kids get reading, listen in and share your family adventures in reading. We can't wait to hear from you!

Summer is here, or almost here! As parents, we all want to know our kids are learning and growing in school. One of the greatest differences in a writing class is that we have solid evidence of what is happening in our classes. This week, Mrs. Larson and Mrs. Spencer share practical ideas on how you can look at the year in review and share in the celebration of growth in writing with your child. Listen in and let us know what you learned from your child and their writing this year.

Maya Angelou writings embraced her passion and commitment to improving the moral standards in the United States. Her poetry inspired all of us to stand up for change and taught us about race, oppression and hatred. Her death last week saddened us as we remember all she stood for and her influential voice. Her words are powerful and we can only barely touch the surface of her life in this short recording. Listen in as we reflect on what we learn from her and share a few of her poems.

With Common Core came new math and our schools are concerned about what it looks like for our kids. Mrs. Larson and Mrs. Spencer talk about why we need to be paying attention to English as well. Literacy is the foundation for everything we want to do in life. You don't have to be an English major but if you are, there are many possibilities. Listen in to why English matters!

Summer is getting close and the weather is beautiful here in So Cal, so Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Larson talk about how to get the kids outside and inspired by the surroundings. Listen in for new ways to encourage writing while camping, hiking, walking the dog or just sitting out in the yard.

Summer is coming and while this is very exciting for the kiddos, it can be very stressful for working parents. This summer, Write Away Academy can help you out with two weeks of fun and academics. We offer two locations in the OC (Los Alamitos and our new location, Fountain Valley), and day care for those parents who do work a full day while the kids play. Listen in to why our camps are the best way for kids to spend some of their summer. If you have been to our camps, give us a shout out to all your friends.