Stories have the power to transform us. Throughout our lives, the stories we have heard may shape our identity. They may shape the perspective we have on life, the past, present, and future, ourselves, and those we love. Stories may raise questions about the war, family secrets, those who were lost, and things we discover through our research.

Take a walk with me for five weeks, through a WWII family story. Each week you will receive access to a new module to help you explore your family & military stories. The target of this course is help you put a story on paper and view it from multiple perspectives to see how you, your family, and the story have grown, found answers, peace, and closure. Finally, you will have the opportunity to witness the changes in one of my stories as I vulnerably talk about moments in my life. 

Course Outline

Introduction

About instructor

Course Introduction

Join our Private FB Group

Week 1 – Why We Write

The Importance of Writing

Holding Space for Stories

Writing Assignment

Week 2 – Identity

Exploring Identity

Retelling Our Stories

Writing Assignment

Week 3 – Perspective

A New Perspective on the Family Story

Writing Assignment – Questions

Writing Assignment – Shaping the Story

Week 4 – Transformation

The Gift of Transformation

Writing Assignment

Week 5 – Legacy and Closure

My Grandparent’s Legacy and Closure

Writing Assignment

Take Your Writing Further

Are you ready to start this journey to explore your family & military stories?

This course offers students the option to join a private FB Group to allow sharing, collaboration, asking questions, and feedback.

Educational Benefits

In this 5 week course, you will explore a family story of your choosing. This course is designed for a 9^th to 12 grade high school student. It has adult topics (war, trauma, relationships etc.). A mature student will benefit from the writing prompts as well as the course material. You do not have to be researching a WWII solider or have any connection to the war to benefit from this course. You can choose to write a story about anything relating to your family.

This Course would suit to fill the requirements for a High School English Course. The course releases new content each week. If you choose you can linger on a lesson or come back to it later. After the 5 weeks the course content will be available to use at your leisure.

What People Are Saying About This Course

Finding the Answers Through WWII Writing: Wonderful course! Explores many angles of writing not usually found in most courses. Looking at different perspectives of people involved in the stories and sharing what impact it has on us. Really thought-provoking! ----- Lisa Alzo

Jennifer, thank you for offering this WWII writing course. Until now, I have been reading my father's unit's morning reports and unit histories, and methodically writing down details and putting together a timeline. Your course has opened my eyes to more than just the words on the page. I can see my father in the reports. I was a typical daddy's girl, so needless to say, I loved my father dearly. I thought I knew everything about him. Now I am beginning to understand more about my father, the person, and how the war impacted him and our family. I never thought about it until I started internalizing your questions and revisiting his life and mine. My father died before I started my family genealogy 20 years ago. In the beginning, I just wanted a picture of him in his uniform; no luck with that. That led me to look at his DD214 again, and to start searching his military history. I watched your Roots Tech presentation as it live-streamed and something told me to contact you. This course is a blessing to me. I'm learning so much through your guidance. My story is developing. Thanks again. --- Marie