FAQs
You've got questions, we've got answers!
If the general program information in our About page didn't answer your questions, check out some of these frequently asked questions. If you still have questions, please contact us!
Literature Intersessions
1
I'm not sure of the proper placement for my child. Can you help?
Yes! A writing sample is required for all new students interested in courses above our introductory course offerings in order to ensure proper placement. Please see our Writing Sample Requirements page for more information.
​
Additionally, we request a writing sample for any student who has missed two or more sessions to ensure proper placement.
2
What if my student is older than the recommended age range in the course description?
Our age ranges are general guidelines and do not determine class placement; writing skills and areas of growth are more important indications of where a student needs to be placed. Because our program is based on a growth mindset, each teacher meets students where they are and challenges them to reach for the next skill. We promote within the program based on mastery of the concepts presented, not age.
For that reason, some students may fall below or above our general age guidelines.
3
I'm not sure of the proper placement for my child. Can you help?
Yes! A writing sample is required for all new students interested in courses above our introductory course offerings in order to ensure proper placement. Please see our Writing Sample Requirements page for more information.
​
Additionally, we request a writing sample for any student who has missed two or more sessions to ensure proper placement.
4
What if my student is older than the recommended age range in the course description?
Our age ranges are general guidelines and do not determine class placement; writing skills and areas of growth are more important indications of where a student needs to be placed. Because our program is based on a growth mindset, each teacher meets students where they are and challenges them to reach for the next skill. We promote within the program based on mastery of the concepts presented, not age. For that reason, some students may fall below or above our general age guidelines.
1
How many students are in a class?
Our classes average about 10 students.
Introductory and Mastery courses are limited to 12 students. Intermediate, Advanced, and Creative courses may have up to 15 students.
2
What is the format of your class meetings?
Our live class meetings are held in a password-protected chat room. These meetings are TEXT-BASED.
2
How much time should we plan for class work?
Our introductory courses require about 2-3 hours a week, in addition to the 1 hour weekly online meeting.
​
Our Intermediate and Creative courses require about 3-4 hours a week, in addition to the 1 hour weekly online meeting.
​
The Paragraph Writing, Writing About Books, Creative Writing, Expository, and Literature Analysis Classes require about 4-5 hours a week, in addition to the 1 hour weekly online meeting.
​
These time estimates may fluctuate, depending on how quickly your student works and how many edits are required.
3
How often should students expect to submit assignments and hear from their teacher?
All classes have assignments due each day. A Daily Schedule is provided to assist the student in planning and organizing his or her workload.
​
In most instances, students who are on-schedule should expect to email their teacher and receive a response once each day.
3
When are teachers available to return assignments and answer questions?
Students may submit assignments at any time. All assignments that are submitted by 12 pm (noon) on weekdays are guaranteed to receive a same-day response. Any assignments sent after that time will receive a response the following morning. Assignments submitted over the weekend will receive a response on Monday morning.
​
Our teachers are also here to help with any questions you or your students may have. Our weekly class meeting is a great time to ask questions and receive an immediate response, Additionally, teachers monitor their email and answer questions as quickly as possible throughout the week.
4
Do you grade student work?
We do not provide letter grades for assignments.
Our goal and philosophy is mastery, not just completion. Instead of providing a grade, which shows the student has mastered a certain percentage of what he or she has learned, students go through rounds of revisions for each assignment. Students will submit most assignments at least two times, with the goal of revising until their work is as close to mastery as possible.
​
All students who complete the course assignments receive a Certificate of Completion at the conclusion of their session. This certificate lists the skills covered during the session and also identifies whether students are growing, proficient, or have mastered the skills in that course.
1
What if we need to miss an online class meeting?
The expectation is that students attend all class meetings. However, we understand that there absences do occur. Please communicate with your teacher if you know your student will need to miss a class meeting.
After each class meeting, your teacher will send out a class transcript. If your student needs to miss a meeting, he or she will need to carefully read the transcript from the online class and email the teacher with any questions.
​
If your student will need to miss class frequently, please contact our program director.
2
What if we will be gone for several days during a session?
Our classes move rapidly, with assignments due each day. Because of our short timeline, it is imperative that students stay on schedule; this allows an optimum learning environment for students, with the rush to catch up on late assignments. Students have a very difficult time catching up on missing assignments.
​
If you plan to be gone for a week or more with no availability for students to complete their work, please wait to enroll your student in a session that will not have interruptions.
1
What software/hardware does my student need?
You will need a computer (PC, Mac, or Chromebook) with Microsoft Word, Works, or Google Docs.
​
You will need internet access. High speed is preferred but not required.
​
You will need the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. This program allows you to access PDF files, which is the format of our lessons and handouts. You can download and install this free program at the Adobe website.
​
You will need an email account. We strongly suggest Gmail; we have had difficulty with Hotmail and some specialized email domains blocking emails from our staff and dropping attachments. We also suggest that students set up a dedicated email account that is separate from their parents' accounts to ease communication with the parent and avoid lost assignments.
​
It is helpful to have a printer, though you can access all materials on your computer if that is not available.
2
Can more than one sibling take the same class at the same time?
Yes, we have many siblings who sit together at the computer to take a class.
