If your question is not answered in the FAQs below, please feel free to reach out and ask!
Live Online Classes
Who are live online classes for?
Virtual learning is for anyone looking for an alternative to traditional schooling. With live instruction, students can interact, ask questions, and work alongside a real person (Melissa) from the comfort of their own home.
Who are live online classes NOT for?
Unfortunately, I am not equipped to accommodate students with special needs or those under 9 years old. While I teach students with learning challenges, I am unable to offer IEP (an Individualized Education Program) at this time.
Class Size
Class sizes range from a minimum of four students to a maximum capacity of ten to encourage engagement and allow for individual attention during virtual meetings. Classes with fewer than four students may not be held at the discretion of the teacher.
Feedback & Grading for Live Classes
Each student is given the opportunity to revise their paper once per lesson. The revised (second) submission will be considered the final grade for that lesson. Please note that if a student abuses this opportunity (i.e. not taking the first submission seriously for several lessons), the teacher has the right to take away this privledge.
Writing, Grading, & Feedback
When & Where to Submit Papers:
For Live Classes: Each week, your child will have an at-home writing assignment. The final draft should be completed and submitted to the IEW Gradebook by the day before their next class meeting. For example, your child’s class meets on Wednesdays, so the assignment is due on Tuesday.
For Grading Packages: Families who purchase a grading package have a set period to submit their assignments. For example, if you buy a five-paper package, your child has 60 days to submit all five assignments for grading and feedback. The KWO, rough draft, final draft, and checklist are submitted to Melissa via email.
Grading Timeline:
I always aim to return papers within 72 hours (3 days) of submission. The only exception to this is for the Level C classes. Because there are several weeks with significantly longer assignments, grading for those weeks may take longer; however, your child will be notified in advance of the timeline.
How Grading Works:
IEW uses checklists found in your child’s workbook. Each week, it is their responsibility to ensure they’ve met the IEW requirements for that lesson. Feedback is how we learn and is meant to encourage writing habits. Every assignment has pre-determined points, which can be found at the end of each lesson. *Note for Live Online Classes: One (1) point will be removed for each day of unexcused late work.*
Important Note:
All assignments must be submitted using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Handwritten papers, Apple Pages, Notes, and other word-processing software are not accepted at this time. (Updated 2025.)
Parent Expectations
At Home Support:
In my opinion, there is no such thing as too much support! (My friends at IEW agree.) Although I do want your child to work towards independent writing, s/he must first gain writing confidence. Having someone support their efforts at home makes all the difference.
At Home Editing:
One of the steps each week is for your child to submit a rough draft to you. Please know that you do not have to be an expert or editor. Be on the lookout for any glaring mistakes, such as missing punctuation, mispelled words, or missing requirements from the weekly checklist.
Encouragement and Accountability:
Please make sure that your child is keeping up with their homework each week. Offer encouragement and let them know how important progress is…none of us are perfect!
Student Expectations
In-Class Behavior:
Respect is an important part of a safe, engaging learning environment. Please show up on time, prepared for the day’s lesson for each meeting. Please treat others with kindness and remember that we are ALL learning together!
In-Class Participation:
To have the best experience possible, students must contribute to the class discussions. Students can help encourage one another and learn to work together when everyone is involved.
At Home:
Every step in writing is important, which is why there are daily activities to help you with your assignments each week. Be sure to work through the KWOs, rough draft, and final draft each week. Submit when complete!
Financial Expectations
Live Online Class Fees:
Meeting costs are the same regardless of the class. Each live meeting is $13-$17 per class, depending on the level. This includes class time, grading, feedback, software (Zoom, IEW Class Management, etc.), and all the work taking place behind the scenes.
5-Paper Grading Package Policy & Fees:
Payment is due after all five papers have been graded or within 60 days, whichever comes first. If you do not submit all five papers within 90 days, you will be charged the full amount, and unused paper submissions will expire.
Semester Grading Package Policy & Fees:
This package includes grading for up to 15 papers (Level A & B) and 16 papers (Level C). Payment is due after all included papers have been graded or by the end of the semester (16 weeks), whichever comes first.
All papers for this package must be submitted within 20 weeks of purchase. Any papers not submitted by that time will expire, and the full package fee will be charged regardless of completion.
Extensions are not offered for unused submissions, but families may upgrade to the full-year package if additional time is needed.
Full-Year Grading Package Policy & Fees:
This package includes grading for up to 30 papers (Level A & B) and 32 papers (Level C). Payment is due after all included papers have been graded or within 9 months of purchase, whichever comes first.
All papers must be submitted within 12 months of the purchase date. Any unused submissions after that point will expire, and the full package fee will be charged regardless of completion.
This policy ensures consistency, planning, and timely feedback for students throughout the school year.
Pay on Time:
Payments are sent out on the first of each month. Failure to pay in 30 days incurs a $25 payment fee. Failure to pay twice may cause your student to be unenrolled from the course.
Refunds for Live Online Classes:
As part of our contract together, once you register your student for the year, s/he is committing to a year of live, online classes. Refunds are made up to one (1) week before the first class of the first semester. Due to the spiral nature of the course, I cannot take on new students during the year, and students learn best when fully committed to seeing the program all the way through.
Unique Circumstances:
I am fully aware that there are circumstances completely out of our control. Natural disasters, loss of income, unexpected medical emergencies, etc. are only a few of these things. If you find yourself in this situation at any time during the school year, please reach out to me via email so we can discuss how best to move forward.
Privacy & Safety
Privacy (Zoom):
Videos are recorded and are made available for no more than 30 days after the class ends. For privacy purposes, we do not keep videos on file after that time. We also ask that you do not share the videos with anyone outside of the students enrolled.
Safety (Zoom):
All students are required to share their faces at the beginning of each meeting to confirm that only students are in attendance.
Privacy (Communication):
Please do not share teacher/parent or teacher/student emails. feedback, or any other type of communication with others. If your child has made a friend in class, please reach out directly to his/her parent if you’re seeking communication between them outside of class.