Introduction

Starting over in a new country is never easy, especially when you’re learning a new language at the same time. That was Lauren’s reality when she moved to the U.S. during the second half of 8th grade. English was her second language, and while she was bright and hardworking, her limited vocabulary and grammar skills made both reading and writing extremely challenging.

With the right kind of middle school writing help, though, everything changed.

Fast forward less than a year, and Lauren entered high school writing at grade level and keeping up with her required reading. Here’s how she did it.

Lauren’s Initial Challenges

When Lauren first started lessons with me, she was:

• Writing at the level of a typical 6th grader, far below her grade expectations.

• Struggling with basic grammar like run-on sentences, verb tenses, and subject-verb agreement.

• Writing short, simple paragraphs with few supporting details or organization.

• Lacking confidence, hesitant to speak up in discussions, and shy about sharing her thoughts.

Her vocabulary was limited, which made both reading comprehension and writing especially difficult.

The Tutoring Approach

Lauren and I worked together on all aspects of reading and writing, focusing on skills that would help her catch up quickly:

1. Grammar Foundations

   • We tackled key areas like:

     • Run-on sentences and sentence fragments

     • Consistent verb tense usage and subject-verb agreement

     • Differences between adjectives and adverbs

     • Irregular past tense verbs and perfect tenses

     • Using “there is” vs. “there are” and relative clauses

2. Writing Structure and Development

   • I taught Lauren how to:

     • Write strong topic sentences and clear concluding sentences.

     • Introduce and support her ideas with detailed supporting sentences.

     • Incorporate textual evidence using the “quotation sandwich” method: context before the quote, the quote itself, and analysis after.

   • We practiced various writing styles, including narrative, persuasive, and descriptive.

   • She progressed from writing short paragraphs to better-organized and more detailed paragraphs that included multiple pieces of evidence.

3. Building Vocabulary and Reading Skills

   • I introduced new vocabulary words through articles and short stories.

   • Lauren practiced using the words by writing sentences, playing Taboo, and creating short stories.

   • We worked on identifying literary elements, summarizing stories, and analyzing poetry.

   • Over time, we moved from shorter texts to reading and discussing a full novel.

Lauren’s Progress and Growth

The difference in Lauren’s abilities was outstanding.

In less than a year,

• Her paragraphs became organized, thoughtful, and significantly longer, filled with well-developed ideas.

• She excelled in adding textual evidence smoothly and confidently into her writing.

• Her vocabulary grew, which dramatically improved both her reading comprehension and writing.

• She became more confident in answering questions about what she had read and sharing her thoughts without hesitation.

Perhaps the most telling sign of her growth? By the end of 8th grade, Lauren's writing was polished, clear, and at grade-level.

Achievements That Made a Difference

Lauren entered high school fully prepared for the higher expectations in her English class. Her improved reading skills allowed her to keep up with her required reading, and her writing was strong enough to meet grade-level demands.

Although she still faced occasional grammar challenges (a natural part of learning English as a second language), the major issues we addressed were gone. Her dedication to her growth and her willingness to learn were what truly set her apart.

Final Thoughts

Lauren’s story is a perfect example of how the right middle school writing help can make all the difference. In less than a year, she went from falling behind to writing confidently and clearly at grade level. Focused support, consistent effort, and personalized strategies helped her grow into a stronger, more capable student, ready to take on high school.

If you know a teen like Lauren who could benefit from this kind of support, I’d love to support their journey too.