Types of lessons
Small group
Perfect for most kids, as long as students are reasonably compatible in writing level. Groups run from 3 up to 6 or 7 depending on enrollment and age; 2nd–3rd grade groups are capped at 4. Minimum two students — if no one else registers and the class is cancelled, anything you have paid is refunded in full.
Semi-private
Siblings (if they get along), or friends within about two years of age. Janet can also pair students from different families — or bring your own pair and save money.
Private
Reserved for very reluctant writers and children with dyslexia and other learning differences.
First grade isn't offered — in Janet's experience, first graders don't yet have the attention span and social skills for group writing.
What it costs
Prices depend on the class type and how many times the class meets in a session. There's no deposit — nothing is due until Janet confirms your child's place, and then it's the full session.
Current session: Fall 2026 — 12 classes.
| Class type | Per class | × classes | Session total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small group | $85 | 12 | $1,045 |
| Semi-private — you arrange the partner | $90 | 12 | $1,105 |
| Semi-private — Janet arranges the partner | $90 | 12 | $1,155 |
| Private | $175 | 12 | $2,100 |
Session total = per-class rate × the number of classes in the session (12 for Fall 2026), plus any arrangement fee for a Janet-arranged semi-private. FSA receipts are available from your account once a session is under way.
Sessions & schedule
Classes run year-round — fall, winter, spring, and summer. The live schedule — the current session's days, times, and open slots — has the latest information. Registration opens about a month before a session starts (Fall 2026 opens Aug 5); Janet then builds each session's groups as families sign up, typically a couple of weeks after registration opens.
How to register
- Register your student online at register.writewithjanet.com — parent details, student details, and the days and times that work for you, all on one form. One registration per student.
- Janet builds the groups. Placement is personal, not first-come-first-served: she waits until enough students register to form compatible groups, then confirms your child's place by email and tells you the cost.
- Pay once you're confirmed, by Zelle or check. Nothing is due before then. Your account keeps a running balance and your FSA receipts.
Looking for a semi-private but don't have a partner in mind? Register and say so — Janet will try to pair your child with a compatible student of about the same age and level. Note that Janet teaches writing itself — not homework help or tutoring.
How a class works
There's no classroom and no rows of desks. Class happens in the living room — a big L-shaped sofa that seats five or six, a few more chairs, and a coffee table for the notebooks. (And, usually, a dog.)
Classes are interactive and focused. A lesson often begins with Janet reading aloud from a story that demonstrates a particular writing technique; the class discusses how that technique would sound in their own writing. Students share work in progress, and the group gives feedback — valuable for the writer, and valuable practice for the one giving it.
Much of the writing is what Janet calls a quickwrite: write fast and furiously for twenty-ish minutes, then read it back looking for the effects the writing created. Students comfortable with Google Docs (usually 4th–5th grade and up) bring laptops and type instead of handwriting.
Janet teaches her own curriculum — a combination of the best of what's out there and her own thinking, adapted to each child. There is no set syllabus, and no tutoring or homework help. Genres usually start with personal narrative, then range through fiction, poetry, script writing, nonfiction, descriptive and persuasive writing, prompt writing for standardized tests, and essay writing for middle schoolers. (Spelling and penmanship aren't the focus — voice and fluency are.)
The goal: confidence and fluency. Students learn to find their own voice, evaluate their own work, and revise — because writing is revising. See what that produces: student writing →
How groups are made
Most important to Janet is building groups that work for instruction: students of similar age and instructional need together. When you register, you'll indicate whether your child is a struggling, average, or high-achieving writer, and whether they have an IEP or 504 — that's what lets her group carefully. Many groups span two grade levels; with highly motivated writers, a larger span works too.
Placement is deliberate, not first-come-first-served — Janet waits until enough students register to build compatible groups, then confirms your child's spot personally.
Ready when you are
Register your student, or take a look at the current schedule and open slots.
Register at register.writewithjanet.com