How Writing Wonders Builds Students’ Confidence With Acuity Scheduling
At Writing Wonders, the mission is clear: build confidence in young writers. This online writing service caters to a wide range of students ages 5 to 18, from those who are struggling to read and write to those who love crafting great stories. Their approach is all about making writing fun and engaging, offering instant correction, positive feedback, and helping kids develop lasting learning skills. But for some time, the behind the scenes work was getting in the way of their meaningful curriculum.
Seeking a solution for more teaching, less admin
Writing Wonders’ virtual class offerings are tailored to various needs and languages, including basic words and sentences and grammar and essays. In addition to small group work, students can also schedule private, one-on-one sessions with expert teachers or participate in a writer’s workshop to complete original works of literature.
Running such a diverse and dynamic program, Angie Marino, teacher and founder of Writing Wonders, found herself wearing many hats. “My main challenge was not having enough time in a day to communicate with parents and teach classes,” Marino says. “I continually had to send emails to parents reminding them when their children’s classes were, when new classes would begin, when payments were due, and so forth.”
She hoped that with the right tools, she could reduce the amount of effort spent on those back-and-forths and devote more energy to her classes. “I needed to minimize my administrative work so that I could concentrate more on what I love: teaching!” she says. “I wanted payments, scheduling, and reminders to be automated so that I wouldn’t have to spend time on those things.”
Discovering A+ automations in Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling brought a breath of fresh air to Writing Wonders and their operations. The scheduling software provides a centralized platform where they can showcase their online offerings and empower parents to book independently, freeing up Marino’s time.
“Acuity gave me a place to present all of the classes that we offer, include explanations and information, and embed the opportunity to sign up and schedule classes,” Marino says. “More and more parents are using these features and signing up for classes themselves. Enabling the parents to complete those tasks gives me more time and energy to focus on teaching.”
Before implementing the scheduling software, communicating with parents about their children’s classes took up a huge chunk of Marino’s day. But now, parents are notified automatically about schedules, new sessions, and payments due, relieving that administrative burden. “The automated emails in Acuity have really helped hold parents accountable,” Marino says. “The parents rely a great deal on those email reminders and the information embedded in them.”
Solving scheduling puzzles with subscriptions
One of the standout features for Writing Wonders is the ability to offer subscriptions and packages. With Acuity, they can book several month’s worth of classes quickly and efficiently, ensuring a smooth and continuous learning experience for the students. “I really enjoy scheduling recurring classes,” Marino says. “It takes seconds to do and takes care of administrative tasks for months.” Acuity also facilitates automated payments for these subscriptions, so Marino doesn’t have to worry about reaching out to charge for every class.
“As soon as a parent registers for our monthly subscription, I schedule 8 to 36 classes out. It only takes me about 60 seconds to do, and that student and parent are set for 2 to 9 months straight.”
This setup is mutually beneficial to Writing Wonders and their students, with subscribers receiving a 10% discount, guaranteed weekly spots, video recordings of missed classes, cohesive lesson plans, and more.
Keeping track of these classes across multiple teachers is also a breeze. With a convenient summary email, Marino gets a quick look at all of the upcoming appointments for the week to ensure everyone is prepared and can make adjustments promptly. “Receiving that email on Monday starts my week off right,” Marino says. “It’s a chance to make sure everyone’s classes are set, and shows me if I’ve made any mistakes or if any changes need to be made.”
Lifelong benefits for lifelong learning
For Writing Wonders, Acuity Scheduling has become a vital tool in managing their thriving online writing program. By automating tasks and providing a user-friendly platform for parents and students to engage with, Writing Wonders has been able to deliver high-quality education. The scheduling software has helped streamline operations, improve communication, and enhance the overall experience for teachers, students, and parents alike.
Marino is confident that Acuity Scheduling was a smart choice for the business, one that will continue to support their mission. The time saved and the organizational benefits gained allow them to concentrate on what truly matters—setting students on a path to confident writing.
For teachers and tutors considering scheduling software for their own businesses, she emphasizes, “Acuity has absolutely saved me so much time.”
