THE PARENT'S ENGLISH LAB
Practical reading, writing, and learning strategies for middle and high school students—and the parents who support them.
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Latest From the Lab
My Student Knows the Material. Why Can’t They Organize an Essay?
by: Virginia TaylorPublished on: 28/09/2026Your student knows the book but cannot start the essay. Try four steps to understand the prompt, write a topic sentence, choose evidence, and explain it.
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How to Help With Your Student’s Essay Without Taking Over
by: Virginia TaylorPublished on: 07/09/2026Help your student improve their essay without taking over. Practical guidance on feedback, modeling, and keeping their ideas and writing their own.
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Why Editing Too Soon Gets in the Way of Good Writing
by: Virginia TaylorPublished on: 10/08/2026When students edit every sentence as they write, good ideas can get lost. Learn why writing the first draft before editing can help students write with more confidence.
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When the Writing Prompt Is the Problem - Helping middle school students understand what an assignment is really asking
by: Virginia TaylorPublished on: 03/08/2026Learn how to help students translate confusing writing prompts, recognize figurative language, and understand what an assignment is really asking. Sometimes students have plenty of ideas—but no idea what the assignment wants from them.
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