Writing Coaching and Tutoring
For Students in Middle School through College
Writing coaching is about supporting students throughout the writing process so they can do their best and acquire tools for future academic and writing success. At Due North Coaching, I meet students where they are. As a writing coach and tutor, I find the tools and techniques each individual student needs to improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills so that they can be successful in all subjects. I help students identify and acknowledge what they already know, and build on those skills to get to the level they want to be at. I bring my knowledge of education, my patience, and my understanding of how to communicate with kids to create an environment in which students are comfortable asking for help, and motivated to do better.
I am a certified English Language Arts (ELA) teacher with over 10 years of experience. I have taught ELA, social studies, nonfiction, media literacy, and have worked with small groups in all academic subjects. I have taught students of varied experiences, backgrounds, and grade levels. My skills have helped new language learners acquire language proficiency, struggling students to reach grade level in their skills, and excelling students to push their thinking and writing even further.
Ways I Help Students
- Coach students to write and edit admissions essays
- Strengthen writing skills and reduce stress from writing assignments
- Improve reading skills and habits
- Prepare for standardized tests (ELA and Math)
- Set academic goals and routines students can stick to
- Provide accountability for student work habits
- Improve organization and executive functioning
Focus on Writing Coaching
As a writer, I understand the power of good writing. As an educator, I understand that creating good writing can sometimes feel daunting, frustrating, or even mysterious. I take the mystery and stress out of writing by supporting students throughout the writing process.
Due North Coaching helps students write essays, fiction, and narrative nonfiction in a way that is organized, detailed, uses their own voice, and reflects their best self. We work together using the following writing process for any assignment:
- Identify how the student can write about this topic like an expert.
- Brainstorm the most important information to include in their writing.
- Organize the student’s writing so their ideas are clear and detailed.
- Learn how to write in their own voice.
- Draft, edit, and proofread to arrive at the strongest version of their writing.
- Share their writing with confidence!
What Clients say About Me
Cristin started working with our 13 year old in the fall of 2020, initially she worked with Finn for an intense week to guide his studying for the TACHS exam (he crushed the exam, which was certainly due to Cristin's guided studying). We decided he would continue working with her on a weekly basis on his ELA classwork, he was all remote from 8th grade and in desperate need of one on one teacher support. They worked on his creative writing projects and she helped him navigate the stressful path of High School application essays. Cristin is an experienced teacher who is patient, she offers the right amount of constructive criticism and has reinforced his knowledge of how to create different writing frameworks. Perhaps most importantly, Finn never complains about his sessions with her, which as anyone who has a sports obsessed 8th grade boy knows is the best compliment there is. After each session Cristin sends some notes on what they worked on and what is on tap for the next week. She is on time and was available outside of their scheduled time to talk if I needed. We will be working with her in the future and I have nothing but glowing words
Lauren McFarland
During the pandemic, my kids (elementary and high school students) struggled with organization and navigation of the new online system. Cristin was very helpful and helped them get organized and set up a system. She also helped them set goals for them selves for topics such as ELA when it came to the areas they would like to further develop. She was patient with them while holding them accountable. She encouraged them when necessary while holding them to a high standard. Grateful for her coaching and tutoring.