Write with Jen: Portal Mania: Let's Build a Portal to a Fantasy World

I am currently taking a leave of absence from Outschool, but there are many, many wonderful creative writing teachers on this amazing platform.

Hi, there!  My name is Jenn Woolf and I’ve been teaching elementary school kids how to write since 2008.  In 2009 I founded The Children’s Creative Writing Institute and began teaching after school classes.

I like to call myself a writing cheerleader and my mission in life is for every child to discover the joy of writing.  I encourage the most reluctant writers and help the already enthusiastic writers take their skills and craft to the next level.  

When I first started tutoring, I could hear the kids saying, “Ugh, the tutor lady’s here” before the door opened.  For additional emphasis, their body language told me that they would rather be anywhere else.  I shifted from teaching kids how to write to teaching kids how to express themselves.  I created an environment that encourages young writers.  I went from hearing groans to things like, “Hey, Jenn,  guess what? I used an onomatopoeia today!”

I have a B.A. from the University of Rochester and a Masters of Professional Writing degree from the University of Southern California.  Additionally, I’m a fellow at the Los Angeles Writing Project, based at Cal State Los Angeles, and a teacher leader at the Cal State Northridge Writing Project.

Originally from Baltimore, I live in Encino, California with my husband, two daughters, and a beagle named Snickers.  In my spare time you can find me hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, on the tennis court or falling off my surfboard.