Reader Response

The best of both worlds.

You love our innovative, compassionate approach and methods backed by the latest educational research. Now, we’ve taken that same care for supported learning that permeates all of our materials and built a flexible learning experience designed for the independent student.

These courses offer

• Freedom. Students read, write, and post on their schedule (within the confines of the course dates).
• Limited instructor response. Students move through material on their own until the final project. At that point, they'll receive detailed reader feedback from a trained writing coach.

We've scaffolded the learning so a student flies mostly solo, with that instructor support right when students need it—at the end!

Why Choose Reader Response?

These courses offer the same high-quality materials found in our 100% teacher-led courses, reimagined for the self-motivated student. Full of robust learning, each course guides your student along, step by step, to create writing that is meaningful to them. 

• Executive Functioning Practice: A "low-stakes" way for teens to practice planning and managing a project independently—a vital skill for adulthood.
• Total Flexibility: Our easy-to-use digital classroom is open 24/7 during the course dates. Your teen can choose to interact with other writers in the classroom or fly solo.
• Meet Charter School and Other Standards: These courses offer a chance for a reader to provide feedback and note writing growth. Grades available upon request!

The Debut Courses

Literature Study

(For ages 13-18)

Turn "required reading" into a highlight of your student's day with Literature Study. Courses use our award-winning literature manuals to facilitate the perfect blend of academic rigor, discovery, and analysis in novel study.

• The Process: Students read full-length, captivating novels and use copywork and dictation to master grammar, punctuation, and sophisticated sentence structure through direct immersion in world-class writing.
• The Result: By engaging with our signature Think Piece Questions, your teen moves beyond basic plot summaries and into "Big Juicy Conversations" about theme, ethics, and character, building the critical thinking muscles and rhetorical insight they need for high-level academic success.

Media Literacy

Note: There are TWO types of MLA Research Essay: Independent Study (no instructor) and Reader Response (end-of-course instructor feedback)

(For ages 13-18)

Our teens are swimming in a digital ocean of deepfakes and conspiracy theories. We don't just teach "internet rules" (which are obsolete by next Tuesday). We build critical thinking muscles.

• The Process: By analyzing and then creating their own Public Service Announcement (PSA), teens learn how imagery, sound, and editing are used to influence audiences.
• The Result: When you know how the magic trick is done, you’re much harder to fool.

MLA Research Essay

Note: There are TWO types of Media Literacy: Independent Study (no instructor) and Reader Response (end-of-course instructor feedback)

(For ages 15-18)

The ability to research, think, and reason one's way through a long-form essay is essential. We help your teen gain readiness for any kind of academic writing using the latest MLA Handbook guidelines.

• The Process: Teens independently navigate the journey of a 1,500–2,000-word essay as they argue their thesis with thorough analysis and credible source support.
• The Result: A repeatable system they can use for every college paper they’ll ever write.