build thier writing skills and their pride


FTC Academy provides fun and enriching

academic writing instruction using

Hip Hop, Black History, and the

African American culture.

Build Their Writing Skills and Their Pride

FTC Tutoring provides fun and enriching

academic writing instruction using

Hip Hop, Black History, and

African American culture.

How It works

You Enroll

Browse through the writing classes and sign up for the class that best suits your son or daughter.

We Connect

Once you sign up, you will receive a welcome email. You will create your child's login and password information.

They Thrive

On the date the class starts, your student will sign in and click onto the link for the virtual classroom .

The Classes

Debate

Your child will learn how powerful techniques of how to properly prepare and deliver a solid point. They will take these skills to the classroom, college, and even their jobs.

Research writing

This class is a perfect prerequisite for your child in preparation for college.

Argumentative Writing

This class is usually best when followed by the Debate course. Your child will learn to analyze and build a solid argument and back it up with evidence.

Narrative writing

Storytelling is the a very valuable forgotten art. In this class, your child will learn skills that will make him both academically and socially successful.

Argumentative Writing

This class is usually best when followed by the Debate course. Your child will learn to analyze and build a solid argument and back it up with evidence.

research Writing

This class is a perfect prerequisite for your child in preparation for college.

Hi, I'm Ray!

However, my students know me as Professor Fowler. I thought you might be interested in getting to know the guy that's teaching these classes (and your kids).

During my 18 years of teaching English at various levels, including middle school, high school, and now my last 10 years at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), I've picked up several valuable skills over the years, but three of the most important are the following:

1. I've learned how to reach and motivate your child, even if they might be less than thrilled about having to write.

2. I've learned how to incorporate Hip Hop, Pop, and African American culture into my lessons in a way that enhances the rigor and value of the lesson.

3. I've learned how to make sure that I make my lessons interesting, informative, and FUN! Student engagement is everything. I learned early on that if I'm bored teaching it, chances are, your child is bored learning it. No one wins in that scenario.

The result is FTC (For the Culture) Tutoring!

The best part, and the part that I am most proud of, is being able to help your child get

real results and improvement

in their writing, using media and literature from amazingly talented and brilliant current and historical figures, who, as a bonus, happen to look like us.

I hope you enroll your son or daughter. I can't wait to meet you all!

-Ray

testimonials

Lorenzo C.

"Prof. Fowler was awesome! I wish I could take his class again."

Divine O.

"Mr. Fowler's class was amazing! He is great with connecting the lesson with real life."

Na'im B.

"I loved Mr. Fowler's class. He was a great instructor and he taught me so much during my time at the school. He is just a really good person."

Narrative Writing

The Narrative class is a great introduction for young writers. The students will produce a Personal Narrative Essay that focuses on an experience that stands out to them in their life. As I do with many of my lessons, I include music as a means of inspiration.

This lesson can be pretty powerful for students because most of them use this as a way to express feelings and emotions that have been weighing on them for a while. I've read some heartbreaking papers over the years. I've read one essay where a student mourns the loss of a grandparent. Then I've read another essay where the student wrote about a touching memory he had with is mother, while another student will wrote about winning the state championship. These essays mean a lot to them and they love to write them.

By the end of the Narrative lesson, the students will know how to:

*Define and articulate Narrative and Descriptive writing terms

*Utilize those terms in a personal narrative

*Apply figurative language in their writing

*Use story elements to tell a compelling story

*Apply descriptive language effective to tell a story

Argumentative Writing

I once delivered a talk at a teacher's symposium at Morehouse College on the topic of effective ways to teach first year and second year college students Argumentation. This course is based on many of those ideas. By the end of the Argumentation lesson, the students will know how to:

*Develop a well written position on a topic

*Write a working thesis then develop it to a completed thesis

*Use evidence from a primary text and other resources to support the thesis

*Use In-Text Citation correctly in an essay

Research Writing

Knowing how to research is a skill you must have in college. If your child knows how to research well before even getting there, it makes life so much easier for him. It cuts down on the learning curve when he arrives. However, I've learned from experience that the research methods taught in high school usually fall short of what's needed in college.

By the end of the Research lesson, the students will know how to:

*Use APA style to format and construct an essay

*Use in-text citations properly

*create a bibliography page

*Use a database to find research material

Debate

One of my most popular instructional units is debate lesson, hands down. I've had students from ten years ago tell me that they still sometimes think about and/or talk to former classmates about the debates we used to have in class. The trick is really finding some great relevant topics, and making sure they're clear on how to participate in the debate. It's a perfect blend of an activity that's challenging, engaging, and fun.

By the end of the Debate sessions, the students will know how to:

*Breakdown an argument and it's components

*Understand basic debate terminology

*Create their own argument with strong supporting evidence

*Research their topic and use relevant information

*Verbally articulate their position and argument

*Analyze their opponents argument and respond with a strong rebuttal

Private Tutoring

Silver

30 minute individual sessions

Meets once a week

Monthly Progress Report for Parent

Initial Diagnostic Test

Individualize Skills Plan

FTC Learning Resources

$199 per month

Gold

60 minute individual sessions

Meets once a week

Monthly Progress Report for Parent

Initial Diagnostic Test

Individualize Skills Plan

FTC Learning Resources

$299 per month