Hands-On Essays FAQs

For those who may be interested in my curriculum, Hands-On Essays, I'm posting answers to frequently asked questions.

What is Hands-On Essays? Hands-On Essays is a writing curriculum that uses a DVD and handbook to help students master the essay and prepare for the written portion of the SAT test. It uses the hand as an outline for a five paragraph standard essay.

Who is the intended audience? The curriculum is geared to middle and high school students.

How many lessons are included in the curriculum? It has sixteen lessons as well as additional information and materials included at the back of the handbook.

Can I see a sample lesson? Yes, you can click on the handbook cover in my sidebar or visit my publisher's website to view a portion of a lesson from the DVD and handbook.

How long are the DVD lessons? The lessons run about 5-10 minutes.

What do you do on the DVD lessons? Do you lecture? No, I don't lecture. I want this curriculum to appeal to middle and high school students so the DVD lessons have an element of fun. The DVD offers teaching and skits filmed in a variety of locations designed to make writing seem less intimidating and more a natural part of life.

How fast does the student move through the curriculum? Students move at their own pace. The idea is to master a concept before moving on to the next lesson. The student can also repeat the curriculum as many times as needed to feel confident writing essays.

How involved does the parent/teacher need to be in the teaching process? Since the curriculum is written to the student you can be as involved as you want to be in the process. If you want to walk through each lesson with your student that's fine. If you want me to come into your home via Hands-On Essays and teach your child to write essays then that works too. You decide what works best in your situation.

Do I need a copy for each student? No. Hands-On Essays is non-consumable. You can use one copy for all of your students.

How does Hands-On Essays address different learning styles?
Auditory- DVD, some lessons require the student to discuss or teach what is learned
Visual- DVD, diagrams in handbook, graphics in handbook
Tactile- Uses the hand as the outline for an essay and some of the assignments ask the student to do other hands-on activities.

Can it be used in co-ops or classrooms? Absolutely! Each lesson follows the same format. Certain portions are easy to adapt to group settings while the assignment for each lesson can be done as homework.

How does Hands-On Essays prepare my student for the written portion of the SAT test? Aside from giving ample practice writing essays, the curriculum also includes a lesson to teach students how to read and understand prompts similar to those found on the SAT test. Another lesson shows students how to manage the 25 minute time allotment on the SAT test in order to complete an essay.

How do I evaluate my student's writing? The handbook includes an evaluation section for parents/teachers that shows you exactly what you are looking for in the assignment for each lesson.

How much does it cost? The curriculum includes both a DVD and handbook which are sold as a set for $50.00.

Where do I buy/order it? You can click on the curriculum cover in my sidebar or click here to visit the Teach4Mastery website for ordering information.

Is Hands-On Essays a Christian curriculum? The goal of Hands-On Essays is to teach students to master essay writing. The curriculum is written by a Christian, but is not designed to be an evangelistic tool. However, the content is very family friendly.

What made you decide to create Hands-On Essays? I started teaching writing classes years ago and when I couldn't find the types of materials I needed I decided to make my own curriculums. Over the years the classes became more popular and I received many requests to teach, tutor, and consult. I couldn't do all of those things so I began considering ways to reproduce what I did with my writing students so that others could benefit without me being physically present. Thus, the idea for a handbook/DVD curriculum was born.

Do you have plans to create other writing curriculums? Yes, I hope to eventually create an entire line of writing products.

Will Hands-On Essays work for a student with special needs? I am not an expert on special needs. However, Hands-On Essays uses many of the techniques that work well for special needs students such as breaking the components of an essay into simple lessons, using hands-on teaching methods, and appealing to all three types of learners.

What makes Hands-On Essays unique in comparison to other writing curriculums? First of all, I am a freelance writer who is absolutely passionate about writing and teaching others to write. I know and love my subject. Passion is a great teacher!

The techniques used in Hands-On Essays aren't just theory. They've been used successfully with middle and high school students. They work!

Hands-On Essays is fun. It's designed to help reduce the stigma so many kids have about writing. Students can laugh while they learn.

Middle and high school students were involved in every aspect of the development of Hands-On Essays. Since the curriculum is written to the student I wanted to make sure that it appeals to students. They helped with every single aspect, everything from content to font and graphics. Nothing was done without student approval.

Thank you for your interest in Hands-On Essays!