What's New (September 2010):

*New Multimedia Project: Audio Poetry  
*New Article: Choosing a Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum
*Intermediate Grade Essay Writing at Bel-Red Bilingual Academy

Upcoming:

*Free Class: Choosing a Homeschool Writing Curriculum

Hi. Welcome to Tote Bag Teaching.  I'm Karen, and I bring more than a decade of experience teaching and tutoring students from pre-k to college, both ESL and native speaking.  I've worn many hats... and carried many tote bags.  I've been a classroom teacher, a tutor, a scorer and scoring supervisor on assessment projects.  This site describes tutoring services, and also contains various resources for 'homeschoolers and other writers' -- among them, literacy lesson plans, curricula reviews, and links to information on various writing assessments.

I started 'tote bag teaching' in Seattle six cheap beats by dre years ago.  I was working intensively with students of differing needs and abilities, and so I was always on the lookout for teaching materials.  I stored my 'stuff' in tote bags and the tote bags on hooks in my apartment.  I like what the tote bag symbolizes: customization and portability.  I assess student strengths and needs, but do not plug them into a prepared curriculum.

I still tutor by tote bag and appointment in the Seattle area.  Some services are now available online: writing coaching, SAT and CLEP test preparation, and homeschool resources.  I teach CLEP through a wonderful online platform called eduFire.  I will be holding a free intro for the new CLEP Composition Course soon -- let me know your time frame if you're interested in the class!  I have also scheduled an intro for rhetorical analysis -- an important CLEP skill -- on August 8.

I have found word of mouth to be invaluable in finding local Seattle families looking for tutoring and homeschool help.  I believe the same is true of internet tutoring.  And so your first online session -- tutoring or homeschool consultation -- is free.  At such time as you want further sessions, just contact me.  If we've interacted via the forums, there's no fee for consultations (only for actual student tutoring).  Feel free to talk to me!   

Thank you for dropping in on me at Tote Bag Teaching.  Click on the links to find out more about tutoring services -- both online and in Seattle.