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I am Ginny Kochis, owner of The Writing Well - former Diocese of Arlington high school teacher turned stay-at-home mother, dedicated to providing engaging learning experiences in reading and writing to Northern Virginia families. I offer private tutoring, classes and workshops for students and parents. My classes and tutoring sessions are based in Christian/Catholic theology, but I teach students of all backgrounds and faiths and do not discriminate on the basis of race or religion,
My qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies from the School of Education at the University of St. Thomas and a Master of Arts in English (concentrating in the teaching of writing and literature) from George Mason University. I am a Teacher Consultant for the Northern Virginia Writing Project and presented various workshops and lectures for teachers focusing on the improvement of writing within the schools. My teaching experience includes seven years in the traditional classroom and three years as owner of The Writing Well. I have served close to 1,000 students of all ability levels: learning disabled, college prep, gifted and talented and ESOL. Currently, I write a column on family literacy for Examiner.com. My written work has also been published in The Journal of the Virginia Writing Project and New Beginnings Magazine, a publication of La Leche League.
I believe that writing is thinking and that composition and literature are inexorably intertwined. Through the study of great literature of all genres, we can come to a better understanding of ourselves. The teaching of these subjects is a holistic pursuit for me; I do not believe one can separate the importance of effective writing and critical reading from the subjects with which they are not typically associated (such as math and the sciences). I also believe that while there are valuable lessons to be learned from set curriculums and guidelines for writing, most students inherently know what constitutes quality composition. I see myself as a guide, then, rather than a teacher: I strive to help students uncover what they already know and apply it to their own efforts.
All genres of literature and forms of writing effectively express ideas – they simply do it in different ways. When I work with students, my goal is to help them determine what venue is most appropriate for the content they are seeking to communicate by studying various forms of composition. We look at literary analysis, argumentative essays, works of fiction, and even poetry to see how these writers craft and express their ideas. Then we enjoy the act of writing, creating our own masterpieces through challenging yet fun and engaging exercises in composition and revision.
My work with individual students takes many different forms, predominantly guided by the needs of the student. Rather than take a student’s writing and inject my own opinions or thoughts, I ask questions to help the student craft an insightful argument and consider how effectively the argument is communicated. This includes looking at the use of textual and/or concrete evidence, as well as the chosen form of the piece (which I firmly believe should always be determined by content) and the grammatical and syntactical structures of the writing itself. Once again, I see myself as a guide to what the student already knows – a new lens with which to look at a piece he has already stared at for hours.
While my philosophy on the teaching of writing and literature does dictate what I offer and how I offer it, I am always more than willing to adapt to the needs of a particular group or client.
I look forward to bringing my knowledge, passion and expertise to a wider audience beyond the traditional classroom. Please contact me for more information on working with The Writing Well.
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Last updated 12 March, 2010
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