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The ability to write is a fundamental component of human communication. We all do it every day — we type emails and add captions to Snapchats; we jot down grocery lists and send text messages; we scribble, we take notes, we write.
But the ability to write well — according to one local startup — is quickly fleeting.
The so-called “writing crisis” is a mounting concern in education circuits across the country, but if Chicago-based edtech company Hooray Learning has its way, students and teachers will refocus some of their energy on how to become better writers.
Their flagship platform, Hooray Writing, is an online digital portal with interactive content and inspiration for students grades 1-12. The goal is to help young writers develop technical skills like spelling and grammar, expand the boundaries of creative and critical thinking, and build confidence in their writing abilities.
“We try to give students a really robust set of tools to get them excited about and interested in the writing process so that they have some sort of investment in what they’re writing,” said Dustin Walsh, CEO and co-founder of Hooray Learning.
Establishing that sense of excitement can be difficult, Walsh said, in part because many people — students, teachers, and parents alike — are insecure about their own writing skills.
That’s why platforms that build genuine interest in writing are so critical, he said.
There are two sides of the Hooray Writing platform: Teachers can use it in the classroom to assign students work, paperlessly organize assignments, and provide feedback, while students can also use the platform independently of the classroom to explore writing on their own time, sharpening their writing chops as they go.
The platform provides students with various muses, from fun videos and starter sentences to creative prompts and Mad Libs, to engage and inspire. Students can share their stories with teachers for feedback, and soon, students with a subscription outside of their school will be able to submit their stories for feedback from Hooray Writing’s own writing experts.
Walsh’s co-founder is Stacy Ratner, who previously co-founded lauded ventures like Sittercity and Open Books. The software behind Hooray Learning was originally created to supplement Open Book’s nonprofit programs.
Walsh said the company is actively seeking out and signing up classrooms in the Chicagoland area to start using the platform. The subscription is free, and Walsh said teachers can easily show students how to use Hooray Writing as well.
Walsh said they already have about 5,000 subscribers.
“We want to get kids to fall in love with learning,” Walsh said. “With technology, you’re giving them access to the world of knowledge through a device that they have in the palm of their hand, and I just think that’s an amazing opportunity for education.”
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