Have you ever watched your teen try to write a strong sentence… only to butcher it with a word they clearly don’t understand?

Yep — this is what happens when students try to “use academic vocabulary” without understanding context.

Words like “juxtapose” or “evoke” sound impressive — but if your teen isn’t using them to express an actual idea, they become noise. And teachers see right through it.

What makes the difference?

💡 Power Phrases.
Sentence starters that give structure and insight.

Instead of "This shows...", we want:

"The author juxtaposes light and dark imagery to emphasize the character’s internal conflict."

When students pair the right words with the right structure, their writing transforms.

Mini Tip: Give your teen three power phrases to try this week. They're like academic training wheels — and teachers love them.

🌟 Want more of these? I teach them step-by-step inside my program, The Essay Clinic (doors open only a few times a year — [join the waitlist here]).