Hi! I'm Dana. I'm a writer, entrepreneur, homeschool mom, and former fifth-grade teacher.
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My writing story begins at a young age.
I used to write stories with a childhood friend on the playground and at each other's houses. I have always loved poetry and have been writing it for as long as I can remember.
What is odd is, that even though I loved writing, I never considered myself a writer.
I once had a friend write a paper for me in high school. Oops.
I was never confident in my own writing, and I cannot remember receiving much encouragement for it, despite getting good grades on everything. I had a fear of putting my words out into the world. I was also not interested in competing with certain family members who were considered "the smart ones" and "the writers." Staying out of the line of fire was a skill I had gotten very good at.
So, I kept those dreams hidden and suppressed for a very long time.
In my sophomore year of college, I transferred to a new school to major in journalism and creative writing. But I talked myself out of it and got an education degree instead. It felt safer. And I genuinely wanted to help children and make a difference in their lives, especially after spending a summer as a lifeguard with the "pool rats," kids whose parents dropped them off and left them there for the day.
Writing was a lifeline.
There were moments when I shared my words and along with them I’m sure there were plenty of conversations happening behind my back, critiquing everything I wrote.
But that didn’t stop me. In young adulthood, writing became a lifeline, and I am so grateful for it. I wrote for me and me only. It was a blessing to have that outlet, especially at that time in my life.
Writing is freedom.
When I look back at the writing I did for myself during those years, it is beautiful, because I was completely my authentic self. I wrote without fear of condemnation. My words were safe. Many of the things I wrote then, including my core beliefs about the world, have not changed.
Because I felt so unsafe in other areas of my life, not many people even knew what I really thought or believed about anything. I was happy to keep my mouth shut to keep the peace and avoid conflict or condemnation.
Then came fifth grade.
"Being hired for a fifth-grade position without a valid writing curriculum was such a blessing. Although I did not feel that way at the time."
Teaching children foundational writing turned out to be just the medicine I needed to encourage myself, even as I encouraged and guided the kids.
I remember the things I would tell students who loved writing passionately:
“Age doesn’t matter when you are sharing your stories.”
“Anyone, regardless of age, is a writer.”
“Always keep writing, even if you aren’t sure where it will take you.”
At the time, I had no idea how much I needed to hear those words myself.
Eleven years. One curriculum. Real results.
After accepting that fifth-grade position, I quickly realized I had nothing to work from. Most educational curriculums add "writing" to their repertoire as an afterthought. What I found was incomplete, full of educational word soup confusing new writers, and almost entirely lacking in revision skills.
So I built it myself.
I started from a basic writing manual and spent eleven years perfecting a foundational curriculum that teaches children to think like writers, not just fill out templates. Every year I improved it. Every year the results got stronger.
When my students took the state writing test for the first time, they scored higher than 50% of the national average.
Years later, a former student’s mom reached out and shared this with me; he had attended the Oklahoma Math and Science School and had just been accepted to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He wanted me to read his application essay. He said he would not have been able to write it without the foundation he built in fifth grade.
That moment confirmed everything.
What I know now.
Over the years, I worked with many children who told me they hated writing and were not good at it. I told each of them the same thing at the start of every year: “Even if you still do not like writing by the end of the year, you will be good at it. And like anything, when you are good at something, you enjoy it so much more.”
The joy of watching a child's eyes light up when they publish something they wrote themselves is unmatched.
I have learned as an adult that using your voice to speak truth is one of the most invaluable tools a person can have. Teaching kids foundational writing empowers them to feel confident using their own voice, whether through writing or speaking. I believe confidence in writing carries into every area of life.
Being seen and heard as your authentic self is what every person in the world desires.
Many people never feel safe enough to get there. I was one of them. My wish for you and the kids you are educating is that they get there much sooner than I did. That they can use their unique voice without fear. That they feel completely safe in their world of words.
Give your kids the gift of confident writing.
As a school teacher or homeschool educator, you have the power to create the safe environment children need to develop their authentic voice. This curriculum gives you the tools to do that, step by step, even if you have never felt confident in your own writing.
You never know. Once you watch your kids soar, you might feel empowered to share a little more of your own writing too.
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