The importance of summer writing time
Just added: a new summer writing intensive
The KidsLearn Substack is written by Suki Wessling, known as “Prof.” Suki to her students. Scroll to the bottom for links to Suki’s work and more information.
So many of my avid creative writers are frustrated by how little time they have to write during the school year, especially as they rise to high school and early college. Summer is a time when they relish the chance to write freely in the style they choose about the topics that interest them.
But then summer creeps along… and summer writing goals get pushed to the side. This summer, I’m inviting students 11+ to join together for a week of writing in which we’ll set a goal, write together, help each other improve our writing, revise to get it ready for the world to see, and finish by publishing our work in the school literary journal, Athena’s Quill.
We’ll have fun together and support each other in achieving our goals. And heck, I’ll even join in and set a goal for myself as well! I hope your student (11+) can join me. Click here for details and enrollment.
FALL 2025 COURSES
Etymology: Building the English Language
All-ages multidisciplinary course
Why is the animal called a cow when it's standing in a field but beef when people serve it for dinner? Where did the word ketchup come from? Why do some Americans not pronounce their Rs like British people? (And why do some Brits pronounce their Rs like Americans?)
The English language is alone amongst all languages in the way it was built and still grows today. Unlike most languages, which grew organically amongst a single group of people, English was thrashed by Vikings, poked by Romans, and burned at the stake by the French. In the process, it became a unique repository of much of the modern history of human movement around the world.
In this fun, interactive course, students join Prof. Suki in lifting up the tablecloth to inspect Beowulf, peeking behind the curtain to understand Shakespeare, and then looking at their own use of the language through a meaning-searching magnifying glass. This is a fun romp through thousands of years of our most peculiar of human communication systems.
Tuesdays, 9-9:50 am Pacific, starting 8/26/25
Semester course with 16 50-minute live webinars
Forums, activities, and text chat all week long
Click here for information and enrollment: https://athenasacademy.com/courses/etymology/
Writer’s Lab
All ages, interactive creative writing course
This all-ages, live workshop is for avid writers of all levels who want to read and write in an interactive community. Our focus is on developing fluency, creativity, and depth in our writing. During our webinar, we focus on collaborative writing support and using writing prompts. In the classroom, students read and respond to examples of published writing, share more of their writing, and support each other. Video and text about writing offer food for thought and inspiration. This mixed-age course allows writers of all skill levels to encourage and inspire each other.
Wednesdays, 2-3 pm Pacific, starting 8/27/25
Semester course with 16 50-minute live webinars
Forums, activities, and exercises all week long
Click here for information and enrollment: https://athenasacademy.com/courses/writers-lab/
Teen Writer’s Lab
13+, interactive teen community
This live workshop is for avid writers 13 and over who want to read and write in an interactive community. Our focus is on developing fluency, creativity, and depth in our writing. During our webinar, we focus on collaborative writing support and using writing prompts. In the classroom, students read and respond to examples of published writing, share more of their writing, and respond to student work. Video and text about writing offer food for thought and inspiration. This teens-only section allows teens to interact and bond with their developmental peers. The low workload outside of class allows teens who are pursuing a rigorous high school curriculum to maintain a connection to their creative side.
Wednesdays, 3:30 to 5 pm Pacific, starting 8/27/25
Semester course with 16 90-minute live webinars
Forums, activities, and exercises all week long
Click here for information and enrollment: https://athenasacademy.com/courses/writers-lab-teens/
Goal-Setting for Teens
Recommended 12+, self-paced online course
Having goals helps teens thrive in a world full of competing options. In this course, we focus on learning how to use goals to improve our personal and academic lives. This description is going to sound dull and possibly a little suspicious to your teen, but teens actually enjoy this short and very interactive workshop. With fun, engaging videos and reading, the course serves to give teens the tools to take ownership of their education and their personal lives. The instructor responds to student work and provides real-time encouragement through forums and private messages. Parents and teens alike find that their relationships improve when teens feel empowered and in control.
Self-paced—start anytime! Navigate the course solo or as a group
Suggested length: 8-12 weeks
Please inquire about group enrollment options
Click here for information and enrollment: https://athenashomeschool.com/courses/goal-setting-for-teens/
