My name is Ali and I am a writer.
I am married to Jim, the most wonderful friend I could ask for. He’s kind, gentle, and full of grace.
We have four beautiful children, an amazing son-in-law, four grandsons, two dogs and two cats. We call ourselves Dr. and Mrs. Dolittle. Our Family is not perfect but we’re growing together, forgiving one another, and living in faith for the Lord.
Ali Dent teaches classical literature to young people, ages 7-18. The club is held in her home one evening a month, where dinner is served, books are discussed, and parents along side their children grow in wisdom and knowledge. Teaching and facilitating literature club, reading, studying, and enjoying great books with young people and their families is a passion Ali has enjoyed since 2002.
Ali influences 13-15 year olds and their parents to tackle 1400 page books like Les Miserable. She asked high school students to choose an element of literature such as theme, plot, characterization or synopsis and create a multimedia presentation to entice their friends to read this classic. Their presentations were exceptional. Ali motivates the kids to stretch beyond their normal limitations. After reading The Princess and the Goblin, 7-13 year olds created original allegories in the form of short stories, comics, and drawings. Every parent remarked that it was the hardest project to date but after her child wrapped his mind around “allegory” he was excited to work on the project and proud to present it at the meeting. Watching the children press into hard projects, learn determination, and realize the courage that lives within, motivates and energizes Ali.
Parents of 13-15 year olds hesitate to believe their children can read books like Les Miserables, Great Expectations, Crime and Punishment and Uncle Tom’s Cabin, but they trust Ali and her years of experience. Julius Caesar is scheduled for April. Ali expects it to be a wonderful evening where the young people once again will amaze her with their insights.
In 2002 Ali began a literature club to meet the scholastic and developmental needs of her own daughter and found that the club far surpassed her expectations. The club became a foundation for literary education, support for mothers and intellectual as well as social development for children. After her daughter completed high school, Ali formed a new literature club for her sixth grade son, and the news brought mothers asking to join whom she had never met before. The club now has two groups that focus on rhetoric and dialectic stages of literary education for high school and junior high school age children. Nine years of success coupled with awareness that there are hundreds of families who would like to have a club like this led Ali to write a book explaining how she created the club and why it is successful so that others can create their own literature club stories.
Ali is a contributing freelance writer for Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family Magazine and Keeping it Personal blog. She received her B.S. in Communications in 1986 from Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Ali served as the editor of “The Senior Times,” a monthly newspaper for senior citizens, from 1987-1990.
Ali enjoys helping others.
1. Living Outside the Lines of Literature was written to help families create an environment in their homes to connect with each other and foster the joy of reading.
2. For my 2012 fiction project, I hope to make a difference by giving entertainment and enjoyment to the readers of the project.
3. Regarding this blog, well, it was created to encourage you. Ali loves a two way conversation. Please leave comments and get a conversation going with Ali.
