Turn Writing Struggle Into Writing Confidence
When Writing Is a Struggle: How an AWA Writing Support Specialist Can Help
If you’re anything like me, you know the writing struggle up close. You’ve watched your student stare at a blank page, completely frozen. You’ve sat beside them as frustration builds, trying to explain the same idea a different way. Maybe writing takes far longer than it should. Maybe assignments end in tears. Or worse, there’s quiet avoidance.
As a parent homeschooling 10 children for 34 years, I’ve been there. And it’s hard. Truly.
But here’s what I want you to know: writing doesn’t have to feel impossible. It can feel supported. And that’s exactly why I want to talk about the AWA Writing Support Specialist, because this kind of support has changed the experience of writing for so many families.
Not Just Help — Real Teaching
A Writing Support Specialist isn’t someone who “fixes” papers. They don’t jump in and do the work for your student. And honestly? That’s a good thing.
What they do is far more powerful: they teach writing as a craft—step by step, clearly, and patiently.
Your student works with someone who understands writing—not just the rules, but how students think. The Specialist is someone who can see where your student is getting stuck, name the confusion, and gently guide the student forward. This isn’t quick tutoring. It’s mentorship. It’s confidence-building. And for middle and high school students who have felt like writing is a mysterious, overwhelming mountain they’re struggling to climb, that difference matters.
Who This Helps (Really Helps)
This support isn’t only for students who are “behind.” It’s for students who…
- Get stuck after the first sentence
- Know what they want to say but can’t organize it
- Panic when they hear, “Write an introduction”
- Need concepts explained in a different way
- Are learning English as a second language or need extra clarity
And honestly, it’s also wonderful for students who are close to mastering writing but not quite there yet, the ones who almost understand, almost feel confident, and almost enjoy writing. Because most of us don’t just want assignments completed; we want our kids to actually understand writing (and even learn to love it).
How It Works
The process of how a Writing Support Specialist comes alongside you is simple:
- You choose a specialist based on your student’s level.
- You email together to set a schedule that works for both of you.
- You schedule one or more live Zoom sessions (30 or 60 minutes).
- Your student works directly with the Specialist using the AWA curriculum, getting real-time support.
What makes this different from traditional tutoring is that nothing is delayed. There is no waiting days to get feedback on the writing or find out what went wrong. The specialist sees the student’s thinking in the moment and helps the student adjust, clarify, and rebuild understanding right then and there.
And parents are welcome to sit in. We actually love parents taking part, because suddenly, you can see exactly where the block is. You hear the language the teacher uses. You understand the strategy that unlocks progress. And that alone brings so much peace to writing days at home.
Meet the Specialists
AWA’s Writing Support Specialists are real educators who understand writing as both skill and craft.
For middle school students, Ms. Natalie Schira offers patient, clear instruction that helps young writers grow in confidence and clarity. For high school students, Professor Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA, brings decades of experience helping writers strengthen their skills, thinking, structure, voice, and clarity.
These are Master Teachers who don’t just correct writing; they guide students on how to think about writing. And that’s a skill that lasts.
Click on the photos to read full biographies…
Prof. Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA, High School/Advanced and Pre-College Writing Support Specialist
Ms. Natalie Schira, Middle School Writing Support Specialist
A Breath of Fresh Air for Writing Days
What I love most about the Writing Support is how it changes the emotional tone of writing. Writing stops being a daily battle and becomes a process. Students learn that confusion isn’t failure. It’s simply the beginning of understanding.
If writing has felt like an endless struggle in your homeschool—or if you want your student to grow in real confidence and real skill—this kind of support may be exactly what makes writing feel doable again.
Because here’s the truth: if you don’t know the “secrets” to writing easily, writing can be hard work. It doesn’t have to feel hopeless. With the right guidance, students can move from fear to clarity, and parents can finally breathe again with ease.
To learn more: Writing Support Specialists with Aquinas Writing Advantage
What are your thoughts on this topic? Join other homeschooling parents and me in the Homeschool Connections Facebook Group or in the HSC Community to continue the conversation.
