My PG kid�s writing is frustrating for him and does not reflect his intellect/potential ability. It�s above grade level but he still needs more instruction and frankly more practice. What would you recommend? Would something like Sylvan Learning or another type of tutoring center be a good fit? We are looking to make a lot of headway in a short time frame. Thanks!

onlineg3 has writing classes (among others): see www.onlineg3.com/placement-and-progression, choose the 'Writing' tab. You could ask them what would be a good fit for your DC.

The classes are online (with voice and chat), synchronous. Some shorter classes are available during the summer.

How old is your son, and what is the nature of the gap between his written output and cognitive needs? If you can provide some more information, our answers will be more helpful to his specific case.

11 years old; not very fast at writing, doesn�t use same vocabulary as he does with speaking, unable to be very descriptive, he is unsatified with what he produces; I don�t think he�s had enough practice and guidance at school and I don�t think the bar is set high enough at school.

I was delighted to find the nearest Sylvan Learning to me had a tutor who homeschooled her (likely PG) kids and was active in Mensa. She and my son hit it off and she was just amazing with him. She does tutoring by Skype too last time I asked. I can PM her website to you if you're interested.

I looked up alternative writing processes to find one that helped my son see where he was getting stuck. The Cognitive Process Model was a good fit for my son. I had no idea there were multiple writing processes proposed until a desperate midnight google session. Finding a different writing process model was a breakthrough!

How is his written expression when allowed to use assistive technology? E.g., speech-to-text, keyboarding, spellcheck. There are numerous possible sticking points for writing, some of which are mechanical in nature (handwriting, letter formation, spelling, writing speed). Other aspects include idea generation, initiation, organization, and elaboration. You can try to scaffold various aspects of writing diagnostically, to see which kinds of support are most effective at helping his writing to approach his oral language.

Don't give up on writing. I'm sure, your son really has potential! You only need time and some efforts. The best way to improve your writing skills is reading a lot of books, useful articles etc. He should probably try to write short essays on different topics.

Diligence is the mother of success.

Good luck!

Yes please I would love the referal!

Yes! I would love further info. Thanks so much!