From Essay Avoider to Confident Writer: Norah’s Writing Journey with Curio

Meet Norah*.
She’s a bright and curious 10-year-old homeschooler working at a 5th grade level. She devours books, asks big questions, and loves learning new things—except when it comes to writing essays.

If you’re a homeschool parent, you probably know a “Norah.” Maybe you’re even raising one.

Norah’s mom wasn’t worried that she couldn’t write—she knew her daughter had ideas. The problem was getting them down on paper. Essays felt too big. Too formal. Too “schooly.” Norah would freeze up the moment she saw a writing prompt that didn’t feel fun or manageable. Sound familiar?

At Curio, we believe writing should be a skill, not a source of stress. That’s why we created tools and classes that gently build confidence through daily writing habits, guided practice, and authentic, real-world topics.

The Turning Point: From Resistance to Routine

Norah started her transformation with our Writing Warm-Up Journal—a simple, low-pressure way to ease into writing each day. The prompts are quick, fun, and age-appropriate. They helped her develop the habit of putting words on paper without the pressure of writing something “perfect.”

From there, she joined our Newbery Book Club, where students discuss award-winning novels and write two essays per book. These aren’t cookie-cutter assignments—we encourage kids to form opinions, back them up with examples, and organize their thoughts clearly. That structure helps lay the groundwork for academic writing without crushing creativity.

And something amazing happened.

By the second month of book club, Norah’s mom noticed a shift. Instead of pushing back against writing tasks, Norah was willing to try—even when the task felt challenging.

Then came the moment that made us all cheer: Norah tackled a writing assignment in her Good and the Beautiful ELA curriculum… completely on her own.

No arguing.
No anxiety.
No stalling.
Just a kid sitting down, thinking through her ideas, and writing an essay—independently.

Sure, she needed to revise a few things (who doesn’t?), but the real win was her confidence and ownership. That’s a big leap for a student who once saw essay writing as an impossible mountain.

Why This Matters

At Curio, we don’t believe essays are the be-all, end-all of education. But we do believe they teach critical thinking, clear communication, and the ability to organize complex ideas—skills your child will use in high school, college, and life.

Whether your child is an essay-avoider like Norah, or just needs support making the leap from “ideas” to “organized writing,” we’d love to walk alongside you.

✔️ Start with the Writing Warm-Up Journal to build routine and reduce resistance.
✔️ Join the Newbery Book Club to make writing more connected and meaningful.
✔️ Explore our related blog posts on writing strategies here.

We’ve seen so many students like Norah begin to own their writing voice. All it takes is a little encouragement, the right tools, and a safe place to grow.

Let’s help your child go from “I hate writing” to “I can do this.”

Curio offers thoughtful, creative classes and resources designed specifically for homeschool families. Explore our full lineup [here].

*All names changed to protect privacy.