Introduction

Learning a new language is challenging. Now imagine learning a new language and having to write essays, analyze literature, and keep up with classmates in school.

That was William’s reality when I first met him in the second half of 7th grade. English was his second language, and although he had a solid foundation, he still struggled with reading comprehension and structured writing.

We started with the basics, which included writing complete sentences, strengthening grammar, and easing into reading texts that matched his age but were more accessible.

A few months later, William’s mom made the decision to homeschool him for 8th grade, with the goal of building his English skills even more in preparation for high school. I continued working with him through the summer and then switched to homeschool English online tutoring, for which I created a personalized curriculum.

After a year and a half of working with me, William was reading high school-level books and writing essays with clarity and confidence. Here’s how we got there.

William’s Initial Challenges

When we first started working together, William was:

• Transitioning from traditional school to a homeschool setting

• Struggling with grammar fundamentals and sentence structure

• Reading below grade level due to vocabulary limitations

• Lacking confidence in organizing thoughts and writing longer pieces

Our initial focus was building strong foundational skills so he could eventually progress to more advanced content.

The Tutoring Approach

For a year and a half, we met once a week for an hour, starting midway through 7th grade and continuing through his 8th-grade homeschool year.

Foundations in 7th Grade

• We focused on building sentence-level grammar skills: avoiding fragments, using correct punctuation, maintaining subject-verb agreement, and being consistent with verb tenses

• William practiced writing structured sentences before moving on to paragraphs

• Reading selections were age-appropriate but on the easier side to help him build vocabulary and confidence

Homeschool Curriculum in 8th Grade

Once homeschooling began, I took over the English portion of his curriculum and introduced more advanced material:

1. Custom ELA Curriculum

   • I selected books and writing assignments tailored to William’s interests and skill level

   • We focused on developing reading comprehension, identifying literary elements, and supporting arguments with textual evidence

2. Genre-Based Reading Practice

   • We explored a range of genres, including historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction

   • I pulled challenging vocabulary from the texts, and we reinforced those words through sentence writing, creative stories, and games like Taboo

3. Writing Development

   • William learned to brainstorm and outline his ideas before writing

   • We practiced organizing paragraphs with clear topic sentences, supporting details, and conclusions

   • He used my “quotation sandwich” method to incorporate textual evidence smoothly: introducing the quote, presenting it, and explaining its relevance

   • Week by week, his essays grew more structured, thoughtful, and detailed

4. Grammar Growth

   • We continued expanding his grammar knowledge with topics like perfect tenses, irregular verbs, adjective vs. adverb use, and relative clauses

   • He practiced writing longer pieces while minimizing previous grammar errors

5. Cultural and Contextual Understanding

   • As part of our reading discussions, we broke down unfamiliar cultural references and historical context to support his comprehension

William’s Progress and Growth

By the end of our work together, William had:

• Made major strides in grammar and sentence structure

• Learned how to write organized, well-supported essays with strong transitions

• Developed the ability to analyze high school-level texts and connect them to broader ideas

• Significantly improved his vocabulary, which made both reading and writing easier

Most importantly, William’s confidence grew! He went from hesitant and unsure to engaged and self-assured, tackling reading and writing assignments with increasing independence.

Final Thoughts

William’s journey shows that with the right pacing, support, and consistent effort, students can close learning gaps and go beyond grade-level expectations.

From sentence-level struggles in 7th grade to reading and writing like a high schooler by the end of 8th grade, William proved what’s possible with dedication and the right guidance.

If you’re interested in homeschool English online tutoring or you're looking to support your teen in English, let’s create a personalized plan that helps them grow with confidence, just like William did.