At Be the Voice of Girls, we believe every voice deserves to be heard — and every story deserves to be told with confidence. That’s why our recent virtual session with special guest instructor Jon was all about strengthening our writing foundation through The Successful Writer’s Pyramid — a simple, colorful, and incredibly powerful way to master English writing, one layer at a time.
With lots of smiles (and a few surprise appearances from Carl’s three curious cats!), the session kicked off warmly. Jon walked the girls through a review of the building blocks of writing: words, phrases, clauses, and how these elements grow into full sentences and vibrant paragraphs. It wasn’t just a grammar lesson; it was a reminder that creativity and structure go hand in hand when expressing yourself, especially in a second language.
But Jon didn’t just teach rules. He shared his own story of overcoming challenges with speaking and confidence when he was young. His message resonated deeply: if he could find his voice, so could every girl in our program. It set the perfect tone for the day’s theme — persistence, courage, and the power of words.
Heroes and Dreams: Sharing from the Heart
One of the most touching moments came when the girls shared their journal entries, describing their heroes and dreams. We heard moving tributes to mothers battling illness with grace, sisters who inspire, grandmothers who stepped in during difficult times, and dreams of becoming comic book artists and storytellers.
Each voice brought its own light, showing just how much strength and creativity lives within our community. When our participants spoke about their dreams — like designing comics to tell powerful stories — we were reminded that writing is not just an academic exercise. It’s a way to dream out loud.
From Grammar to Growth: A Creative Journey
Jon’s colorful Writer’s Pyramid made grammar accessible and even fun. Using examples like ice cream (a favorite theme!) to explain sentence types, he showed the girls how to craft simple, compound, and complex sentences with ease.
Mirey reminded the group that while grammar is important, the spirit of writing is just as critical. As she beautifully put it, “We are trying to be the voice of girls, not just the text!”
The session also touched on the importance of thinking in English rather than translating directly from Turkish, a common hurdle for many second-language learners. Jon and Mirey encouraged the girls to explore new words, find creative ways around language gaps, and keep writing even when it feels challenging.
Building Essays with a Smile (and a Hamburger!)
As we moved deeper into the session, Jon introduced a fun, visual way to think about writing paragraphs: the hamburger model! Just like a good burger needs both a top and bottom bun and a hearty filling, a strong paragraph needs a clear opening, detailed support, and a solid conclusion.
The girls loved this analogy (and, naturally, it sparked a side conversation about ice cream and desserts again!). But beyond the smiles, they learned essential skills they can carry into their schoolwork, their storytelling, and their future leadership roles.
A Bright Future of Storytellers and Leaders
As the session closed, Mirey asked an important question: “Do you still see writing in English as a difficult skill?”
The responses were heartwarming. Some girls admitted it’s still challenging — but now, thanks to tools like the Writer’s Pyramid, they feel more confident and motivated. Others said they are already using the techniques at school and seeing success.
At Be the Voice of Girls, this is exactly the growth we hope to see — not just improvement in English, but a blossoming of self-confidence, leadership, and creativity.
Through sessions like this one, we aren’t just building better writers. We are building the next generation of storytellers, leaders, and changemakers. And we are doing it, one word, one dream, and one courageous voice at a time.
