homeschool creative writing curriculum

Complete Guide to Homeschool Writing Curriculum for Every Budget and Age

Looking for a homeschool writing curriculum that will educate and motivate your child to write with excellence?

It can be a hard road, Homeschool Mama!

Writing is one of the three core subjects (reading and math are the other two) that form the basis of a solid education – which is why it can be so stressful for the homeschooling parent!

We feel the pressure to develop strong writers, but we also want our kids to love writing. It can be hard to achieve both of those things.

Blessedly, there is a mountain of homeschool writing curriculum out there that can fit any homeschool style, education philosophy, budget, and family size!

This blog post is going to be your complete guide to the 12 best and most loved homeschool writing curriculums on the market.

Think of it as a one-stop-shop to explore curriculum you’ve heard of but don’t know that much about – or to discover new curriculum that is just right for your homeschool!

Enjoy and happy homeschooling!

Ultimate Guide To The 12 Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum Options

Below I have provided quick reference information for each curriculum in terms of grade level, materials needed, price, and details. 

Price is for new curriculum and according to prices available to me as I write this. 

1. IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)

For Grades : 1st grade – 12th

What You Need : Teacher’s Guide and Student Book

Price : $55

Details About IEW:

This was the first homeschool writing curriculum that we tried, and I think it truly set an excellent foundation for my then 3rd grader. 

Our co-op at the time taught it every year, but I sat down and did the actual lessons and writing with her during the week. 

I loved that it did such a thorough job teaching kids how to put a keyword outline together for a structured, low-stress writing experience. As a writer myself, I understand how important an outline is to keep you organized and productive!

IEW is also very big on teaching vocabulary words and encouraging students to use more “interesting words” in their writing. To this day, my daughter still includes lots of adjectives and “strong verbs” in her writing because of her experience with IEW. She also carefully avoids using the “banned words” like “big” and “good” – why use those words when there are so many other more descriptive and colorful word choices out there!

Another fun part of IEW is that you can choose what theme you want your child to use for the year. For example, grades 3-5 can pick from “ Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales ,” “ Bible Heroes ,” “ Ancient History ,” or” All Things Fun and Fascinating .”

If you are looking to build a strong foundation in writing, I would recommend IEW for an excellent beginning. It was easy to teach, reasonably priced (definitely use the above links to check for used prices on Amazon), and solid.

I have not used the higher levels, but I have often heard it discussed as the gold standard for homeschool writing. 

Keep in mind that the IEW grammar program is sold separately.

2. BJU Writing & Grammar

What You Need : Teacher’s Guide and Student Workbook

Price : $110

Details About BJU Grammar and Writing:

BJU Writing & Grammar is the next writing program we tried. When our co-op shut down for the pandemic, I realized I was on my own for teaching writing.

We shifted gears to BJU Press because it bundled together grammar and writing, which would be a big time saver. 

My favorite thing about this homeschool writing curriculum is that it teaches the writing process perfectly. My then 4th grader learned the steps of Planning, Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Publishing – steps that she still uses today.

I loved that my kid was being taught to draft an entire piece in one day and that it didn’t need to be perfect! She could just pour out her thoughts on paper or “make the dough” as we called it. And then we would shape the dough during revising and editing later in the week.

This helped very much with her paralysis with writing, because she felt overwhelmed with it being perfect. 

She still uses these writing process steps for her writing today and I even still make her editing checklists similar to what the book had so she can edit her own work. 

I would strongly recommend BJU Grammar and Writing for strong grammar, time-saving, and high-quality writing.

3. Writing With Ease/Writing With Skill

For Grades : 1st – 12th

What You Need to Buy : Writing With Ease (elementary level) only requires a student workbook. Writing With Skill will require a student workbook and Instructor Text (teacher’s guide).

Price : $25 – $50

Details About Writing With Ease and Writing With Skill:

I love this super gentle writing curriculum from A Well Trained Mind and written by Susan Wise Bauer. 

I am on my second round of using Writing With Ease (the elementary level) with my younger children, and I absolutely recommend it as a beautiful introduction to writing. 

Every week I read sections of classic stories to my daughter and I ask her listening comprehension questions that she has to answer in full sentences. She thinks it’s just a fun story and talking time with mom, but there is a specific purpose. 

This process teaches her what a complete sentence is and what a fragment is – which is key information before you sit down to write.

There is also copy work of classic literature, grammar instruction, and writing original thoughts.

I haven’t used the next levels of this writing program from Susan Wise Bauer yet, but if this quote from The Well Trained Mind is any indicator, you need to check it out!

“We offer a variety of easy-to-use resources for teaching the vital skill of written communication. Our Writing With Ease series teaches elementary students how to transform thoughts into coherent paragraphs. Writing With Skill adds many other skills for middle and high schoolers, such as outlining, research, citation, and the construction of full-length essays in history, literature, science, and other subjects. The Creative Writer helps them write a best-selling novel that will get turned into a worldwide blockbuster movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch, which will enable them to support you in your old age.”

There are four levels of Writing With Ease and three levels of Writing With Skill . 

4. WriteShop

For Grades : K – 12th

What You Need to Buy : WriteShop Primary (ages 5-9) requires an activity pack and a teacher’s guide. WriteShop Junior (ages 8-13) can pick from a number of things or bundle them all together: activity pack, teacher’s guide, fold-and-go grammar guide, and time-saver pack. WriteShop 1 & 2 (Middle School/High School) requires a student workbook, teacher’s guide, and dictation/copy work guide.

Price : $41 – $110

Details About WriteShop:

WriteShop is a homeschool writing curriculum that I’ve had my eye on for a long time. In all of my homeschooling blogging circles, I seem to always hear buzz about how incredible this writing program is!

I have done some homework, and it is beautifully laid out, colorful, and so engaging from first sight. It is known for fun activities, engaging writing assignments, and its step-by-step, incremental approach to teaching writing skills.

And as an added bonus, WriteShop focuses on teaching the homeschool parent how to teach writing – in an easily understandable way.

The lower levels enjoy fun, hands-on writing activities to get kids excited about writing! I love that there are supply lists in the teacher’s guides (all regular things you’d have in the house) to teach a writing lesson! 

And the assignments would catch any kid’s attention: science fiction, adventure, and mystery story writing!

There are also additional resources on the website that you can use alongside WriteShop or as a writing supplement to your current curriculum. Check out StoryBuilders and Writing Prompts for some fun springboards for creative writing!

The higher levels allow students to work more independently, and there is even a video course offered.

It may be difficult to know which level you need to start with, so definitely check out the WriteShop placement test .

To find out more about Writeshop, head on over to their website or check out this full review from MeaningfulHomeschooling .

5. BraveWriter

What You Need to Buy : BraveWriter offers bundles of their curriculum that covers multiple kids, but they are very relaxed about what you “need.” It is cheaper overall to buy the bundle, but you can also just start out with one of their books, and go from there. Online classes are also offered. They are taught by homeschool parents, who are also published authors.

Price : $50 – $229 (bundle price)

Details About Brave Writer:

Brave Writer is definitely the most unique writing curriculum that I have researched yet.

This writing program was written by Julie Bogart, a homeschool mom who has 5 homeschool graduates to her credit. 

Brave Writer promotes a “Brave Writer Lifestyle” that focuses on raising kids in a language-rich environment where they will learn to not just be a good writer – but to love writing. There is a large focus on reading great books aloud and a weekly poetry tea time (I love that!), and less of a focus on structured lesson plans and “you have to write this many sentences.”

Parents are encouraged to purchase one bundle and adapt it to teach all the grades in their homeschool. That is a huge time saver!

Learn more at the Brave Writer website or check out this full review at This Simple Balance .

6. Wordsmith

For Grades : 4th – 12th

What You Need to Buy : Each level only requires one book. Level 2 suggests buying a helpful teacher’s guide.

Price : $18

Details About Wordsmith :

Wordsmith is an economical homeschool writing curriculum from Janie B. Cheaney, a published author of six books. 

She provides a simple, easy-to-use curriculum that is broken up over three main books.

Wordsmith Apprentice (4th-6th grade) :

“All the practicality, humor and fun of Wordsmith, but written for the younger student, ages 9-12. An easy to use writing course encouraging students to develop their writing skills as they participate in every role on a newspaper staff: editor, reporter, writer, etc. Children develop a love for writing as they express themselves through sentence and paragraph writing, persuasive writing, and much more. The third edition has a larger font and cleaner type for easier reading. With added examples and delightful new illustrations, developing writing skills is made fun and easy.”

Wordsmith: Building Skills (6th-9th grade) :

“Confidence is what most young writers lack, and  Wordsmith   is designed to lead them to the place where they can read over their own work and think, “Hey—that’s pretty good!”  Wordsmith  is the core book in the series, the one that every student from age 12 and up should complete, especially if their writing skills lag behind the recommended level.”

Wordsmith Craftsman (9th-12th grade) :

Part Three of  Wordsmith Craftsman  is a master class on The Essay, pulling together thought, organization, logic, personal connection, and style.  A well-written essay is rightly considered the mark of an educated, thoughtful man or woman. A student will learn how to apply the TOWER process (Think, Organize, Write, Evaluate, and Rewrite) to a variety of essay types, namely  descriptive, narrative, expository, critical , and  persuasive . The expository section includes a primer on the all-important first step in writing research papers (which will save a lot of freshman-comp angst later!).

There are sample lessons for all three of their books. Hop on over to the Wordsmith website to check them out and see if this homeschool writing curriculum best fits your homeschool!

7. Clear Water Press

For Grades : 6th – 12th

What You Need to Buy : Student Kit and matching DVD or Cloud Access

Price : $258 – $343

Details About Clear Water Press :

ClearWater Press is the perfect writing curriculum for aspiring authors! Students are taught this creative writing course through in-depth video lectures while they work on year-long writing projects.

Below are the details of their three main curriculum books.

Cover Story (6th-9th grade) :

“The  Cover Story magazine writing program works  with your student, not against them. Award-winning author Daniel Schwabauer takes 6th–9th graders on a creative journey writing their very own magazine through engaging videos. The optional grammar lessons make Cover Story a full English Language Arts!  Choose to watch Cover Story lessons on Cloud streaming or DVDs.”

One Year Novel (9th-12th grade) :

“Author Daniel Schwabauer takes 9th–12th graders under his wing to write their own compelling original novel—for a high school English credit! His unique approach begins where many writing courses don’t go at all, with an exploration of how Story works . A creative community and support resources help students thrive. Video lessons now available on Cloud streaming only.”

Byline Journalism and Essay Writing (9th-12th grade) :

“In the Byline journalism and essay writing program, students step into the role of a 1930s-era newspaper reporter, training under Editor-in-Chief Daniel Schwabauer, who takes them under his wings to teach them everything he knows. Before they even realize it, they master the dreaded high school essay! Choose to watch Byline video lessons on Cloud streaming or DVDs.”

Head on over the Clear Water Press website to find out more information and see sample lessons !

8. Writers in Residence: Apologia

What You Need to Buy : All in One Student Text and Workbook, answer key, additional workbooks for teaching more than one child

Price : $21 for one student

Details About Writers in Residence :

I have to be honest with you all, I had no idea that Apologia offered anything besides science! Apparently, they do offer a full language arts program through their Writers in Residence series!

I love that it is designed to be used with multiple children at the same time – a huge time and money saver for homeschoolers with multiple kids!

Your students will learn about everything from sentence structure to short stories to persuasive essay writing – all through a Christian worldview lens.

“Thorough and systematic, six units and twenty-four modules are included, with lively and colorful lessons building on previously-taught concepts, skills, and terms. The easy-to-use, “all-in-one” Student Text and Workbook features an engaging tone that’s written directly to the student. Each unit opener includes a focus on a Christian writer, unit overview, and rubric; units include models from professional writers for students to study and use as an inspiration for their own writing. Modules integrate clear, engaging instruction with sidebar notes and a variety of exercises. Assignments cycle through four types of writing tasks: I Remember: assignments focused on the personal narrative I Imagine: creative writing assignments such as short stories, poetry, and novels I Investigate: research skills assignments I Think: tasks that teach opinion and argument writing, including persuasive and argument writing”

To find out more, check out Rainbow Resource, Christianbook.com, or Amazon for reviews, sale prices, and more details!

What You Need to Buy : Student Text and Teacher’s Guide

Price : $45

Details About Jump In :

Jump In is a budget-minded homeschool writing curriculum focused on getting middle school students ready for the expectations of high school writing. It has a gentle, low-stress format that is focused on independent student writing.

“What to do when high school is just around the corner and your middle schooler HATES to write? Jump In: Middle School Composition covers all the basics needed for high school writing in an engaging fashion; humor sneaking in occasionally. Daily lessons will take 5 – 20 minutes to complete. Instruction is written directly to the student and sometimes involves Bible stories or characters. Lessons might start with 10-Minute Writing Plunges that are designed to engage reluctant writers or appeal to eager writers. Or the Plunges can be a break from other assignments or a course by themselves. Plunge prompts are given M-Th with no grading (or turning in). On Friday, the student chooses which one they like best, proofreads it, and gets it ready to hand in.

10. Essentials in Writing

For Grades : K-12th

What You Need to Buy : Student Workbook, Instruction Manual, and access to video lessons

Price : $69-$89

Details About Essentials in Writing :

Essentials in Writing is a video-based course that will take a lot of stress off the busy homeschool parent or the parent who is intimidated to teach writing. 

The format is rather simple. The student watches a video (DVD or streamed) and then completes the corresponding workbook pages. The parent is responsible to look over the work and discuss it with the child.

There are also fun hands-on activities, such as time capsules, that will get kids excited and engaged with the writing process. 

“Looking for a complete English course for all grade levels that is well organized, thorough in explanation, effective in teaching and easy to use in a homeschool or group setting? Then consider Essentials in Writing! Video instructor Matthew Stephens taught English at the elementary and high school levels for years, and he used his experience to good effect in authoring this course. Video lessons featuring Mr. Stephens are the essence of the course, with supporting workbook activities as follow-up. Mr. Stephens is doing the heavy lifting of presenting and explaining the material, leaving only clarification and follow-up questions to the home instructor. Lessons are presented in bite-sized chunks, so each day’s lesson features one main point. The quality of the video and audio is good, showing Mr. Stephens teaching in front of a classroom on a white board. For younger grades, the teacher and student would watch the videos together, then discuss to make sure that the student grasps the main ideas of the presentation. Students at more advanced grades can watch the videos on their own (as the instruction is always directed to the student), leaving only follow-up discussion of the material and assignment to the teacher. Of course, the instructor should preview the video material to ensure knowledge of the material and consistency of approach in working with the student.”

Check out the Essentials in Writing website for more information, sample lessons, and videos!

11. Writing Strands

For Grades : 5th – 12th

What You Need to Buy : One Student Book and One Teacher’s Guide (One teacher’s guide covers all 6 levels of Writing Strands)

Price : $40

Details About Writing Strands :

Writing Strands is a full language arts and writing curriculum from Master Books. It is a newly revised edition that has streamlined and improved on the older version.

The curriculum includes a Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced level and has a Christian Worldview.

You will find clear daily schedules, opportunities for independent work, and writing lessons based on the analysis of literature and scripture.

Here is a snippet of the curriculum description for Writing Strands Book 2:

“This resource covers 180 days of instruction and includes a weekly lesson schedule, student worksheets, and an answer key for the objective questions in the reading lesson portion. Each week alternates between writing lessons and reading lessons; for their reading, students will read biblical passages as well as books chosen and assigned by the parent. A weekly lesson schedule is also included. This comprehensive approach will help students begin to develop a solid foundation in communication as they focus on basic, creative, organizational, and descriptive writing skills. This course alternates a week of writing exercises with a week of reading and discussing books and ideas.”

12. Writing & Rhetoric

For Grades : 3rd and up

What You Need to Buy : Student Edition and Teacher’s Edition

Price : $40 (for one semester)

Details About Writing and Rhetoric :

Writing & Rhetoric is an award-winning series of writing curriculum books.

Each book will only cover one semester, so if you stay on track, you will be doing 2 books per year.

Books 1-6 are for grades 3-6. Books 7-12 are marked for grades 6 and up. 

Here is a description of this overall curriculum:

“Writing needs to be taught just like any other subject, and letting students be ‘free’ to write without a model is often letting them jump in the deep end without learning to swim first! Writing & Rhetoric assumes students learn best by first reading excellent literature and then imitating those writers. Students who complete the entire program will learn to write narrative, expository, descriptive, and persuasive essays while developing their own unique style. Each exercise is designed to teach a skill that can be employed across all subjects. Skills are arranged from simple to complex, and the cumulative nature of each chapter reviews skills from earlier in the book, helping students to build a solid foundation of writing skills.”

Recap: Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum

I don’t know about you, Homeschool Mama, but it’s going to be very difficult to choose between all of these writing curriculums!

I do hope that you found a few that you want to research, dig deeper into, and hopefully use in your homeschool. 

Of course, this is not a complete list of all writing curriculum – I would need a whole book to write out everything that is out there!

Please drop a comment and share if you have a favorite writing curriculum that I didn’t list above!

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Our Favorite Creative Writing Curriculum

You guys. Next year my daughter will be in 9th grade. Do you know what that means? Yep. High School.

As a relaxed homeschooler who teeters on the verge of unschooling, the idea of earning credits and completing an entire curriculum has me shaking in my boots. Long gone are my days of “winging it” and letting the weeks slip by without touching our curriculum. Now, I must keep track of credits and plan ahead to ensure my daughter completes everything needed in order to attend college.

When I sat my daughter down and started discussing which classes she’d take, she had only one request: a creative writing curriculum. As a blogger, I’ve always loved writing, so I was giddy at her request. But even after all of the creative writing classes I’ve taken, I still don’t really know how to teach creative writing. So I set out to find a curriculum that would take the guesswork out of it.

This post is sponsored by WriteShop. I received the products for free & was compensated for my time. All opinions are 100% my own.

Going from relaxed homeschoolers to “semi-strict, gotta-get-this-done homeschoolers” is a huge change. My daughter isn’t the only one who is struggling with the thought of it. I knew there were several creative writing curriculum options on the market and I hoped and prayed that one of them would help us with the transition.

I had a few things that I really wanted included in our creative writing curriculum and I wasn’t willing to budge on them.

• We didn’t want a dry and boring curriculum that would make my daughter despise writing.
• I wanted something that brought her out of her shell and helped her feel more confident in her writing.
•  There were dreams of a curriculum that didn’t require me to spend hours prepping and teaching. It needed to take out all the guesswork and clearly lay out all expectations for her.
• I still needed flexibility, as my other kids are still relaxed, almost-unschoolers . A rigorous schedule would interfere in life’s natural learning process.

 Lucky for me, I found all of these things wrapped up in WriteShop I.

A Creative Writing Curriculum That Sparks Imagination

With WriteShop I, we opted to take the 2 year path so we could enjoy some flexibility in our writing. Each lesson takes 2 weeks to complete so there’s no need to rush through the information. Each concept is presented and built upon until the idea becomes second natural to the student. 

In each lesson, kids will work through a series of hands-on activities to help them thoroughly understand each concept:

Pre-writing activity:.

Activities that are designed to build skills, help kids understand the introduced concepts and help them feel more comfortable with new ideas.

Brainstorm & Write a Practice Paragraph:

Students will brainstorm for the upcoming assignment and construct a practice paragraph.

Jot Down a Sloppy Copy:

The sloppy copy is a great way to help kids focus on getting their pencil on paper and not worry about grammar, spelling and other details. They organize their ideas into paragraphs and add more details and information.

First Revision:

Give the kids a chance to edit their own work before you dive into it. This will put the responsibility back on the writer to find and correct mistakes.

Teacher/Parenting Edit:

Using the Teacher Checklist, editing writing has never been so easy! Simply go through the steps and make suggestions as the list suggests. You want in on a secret? Us mamas don’t have to be a word-lover to be able to edit your child’s papers. You just need the perfect creative writing curriculum. ( Hint: this is it!!! )

WriteShop also stole my heart when I found the “Addressing Errors Lesson by Lesson” section of my teacher’s manual. WOWZA! It addresses every single issue I’ve ever came across and it offers solutions to help your child become a better writer.

Final Draft:

Students will create a final draft based on the edits and suggestions of the teacher. They’ll learn new concepts and key points to becoming a better essay writer through each lesson. They’ll even be proud to show off their compositions!

Teaching with a Creative Writing Curriculum that Covers It All

If you’re anything like me, you are  struggling to find the perfect creative writing curriculum. But teaching creative writing doesn’t have to be scary or hard. I kid you not when I say that WriteShop has outdone themselves. I’ve seen plenty of curriculum and I’ve never laid eyes on a Teacher’s Manual that covers everything as completely and thoroughly as WriteShop has done. The sections it covers takes the guesswork out of teaching and editing your students’ work.  Each section is neatly organized and streamlined with only the most vital information.

Sections include:

Lesson Plans

Editing & Evaluating

Positive & Encouraging Comments

Addressing Errors Lesson by Lesson

Common Problems of Mechanics

Student Writing Samples

Skill Builder Keys

Pre-Writing & Lesson Activity Keys

Appendix A: Handy References

Appendix B: Supplemental Activities

Seriously! Have you ever seen anything so thorough? I love the fact that the folks at WriteShop want to make sure ALL of the bases are covered. They’ve thought of the issues I’ve faced, long before I’ve faced them. And even better, they’re ready and waiting with a solution right at my fingertips!

If you’re looking for a comprehensive creative writing curriculum that won’t break the bank, you do NOT want to miss WriteShop! Down to the last details, they’ve gone above and beyond to make it easier for you and your child to fall in love for writing.

Want More From WriteShop?

Grab a free gift.

You don’t want to miss this bundle! It includes a total of 480 writing and essay prompts to inspire both elementary and teen students for an entire calendar year! You get two different products with a total value of $7.00. 

Print the prompts in your choice of three formats: calendars, cards, or strips. Only available for a limited time.

Grab their “Journal All Year!” Elementary Writing Prompt Calendar Scoop up the “Journal All Year!”  Teen Writing Prompt Calendar

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BEST Homeschool Writing Curriculum Picks // Options 2024

• August 9, 2023
• Homeschool Curriculum & Reviews

When it comes to homeschooling, one of the essential skills parents strive to teach their children is effective writing. The ability to communicate thoughts, ideas, and stories in a coherent and engaging manner is a cornerstone of education. As such, selecting the right homeschool writing curriculum becomes a crucial decision for homeschooling families. In this article, we will delve into some of the top writing curriculum options available, each offering a unique approach to cultivating strong writing skills.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you want to do my course on how to homeschool, click here .

BJU Press Writing Curriculum

BJU Press is a well-loved and popular homeschool curriculum. They offer a comprehensive homeschool writing curriculum   for all grades , fostering essential skills in effective communication.

Through a focus on writing and grammar, students enhance their language mastery, expand their vocabulary, and learn to contextualize words.

The curriculum’s holistic approach extends to literature appreciation, guiding students to read literature through a biblical lens and equipping them to handle objectionable elements biblically.

BJU Press Literature introduces diverse genres, hailing from various cultures, nurturing critical thinking skills and an understanding of literary techniques in Scripture.

This integrated program cultivates well-rounded communicators equipped with language precision, analytical acumen, and an ethical framework, ensuring their readiness for both academic and life endeavors.

Check out their program here .

A Gentle Feast Manuscript Writing

A Gentle Feast presents the enriching “100 Gentle Lessons in Manuscript Handwriting” program, thoughtfully tailored for children around the age of 6 who are prepared for formal handwriting instruction.

Drawing inspiration from Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy, the curriculum encapsulates the essence of short lessons, fundamental strokes, and gradual progress.

Infused with the artistic beauty of classical paintings, poignant poetry, and captivating coloring pages, this program transforms handwriting into an engaging and holistic learning experience.

With a strategic approach, the curriculum commences with lowercase letters, enabling students to familiarize themselves with the most frequently used characters in reading and writing.

Notably, the program accommodates left-handed learners, with its unique top-bound design featuring sample letters on both sides of the handwriting lines.

By teaching letters in stroke groups, the program promotes effective muscle memory, facilitating the acquisition of elegant handwriting skills.

Through “100 Gentle Lessons in Manuscript Handwriting,” A Gentle Feast skillfully combines artistic inspiration, pedagogical wisdom, and thoughtful design to nurture a child’s journey towards handwriting mastery, in alignment with Charlotte Mason’s educational principles.

Schoolhouse Teachers 34 Week Writing Program

The Writing Life: Learn to Write Well homeschool course offered by Schoolhouse Teachers provides an essential platform for students to cultivate concise, clear, and influential writing skills, irrespective of their future career paths.

With a comprehensive duration of 34 weeks and tailored for grades 9-12, this text-based program underscores the universal importance of effective written communication.

By focusing on the art of writing and its impact, the curriculum equips students with the tools to convey ideas powerfully.

Minimal supplies are required, with access to corresponding lessons on SchoolhouseTeachers.com and a journal for note-taking and research.

The course’s structure is intuitive, guiding students to download lesson plans and lesson files from the Class Lessons section, enabling a gradual and organized progression through the curriculum.

Through “The Writing Life,” students embark on a transformative journey that enriches their writing abilities, fostering proficiency in articulating thoughts and emotions with clarity and precision.

Creative Writing with ABeka

ABeka introduces students to the diverse and captivating facets of the English language through its Creative Writing program.

This comprehensive curriculum embarks on a journey encompassing exquisite penmanship, the art of figurative language, and the eloquence of poetry, allowing students to refine both the appearance and content of their writing.

Rooted in the belief that writing reflects observation, ABEKA empowers students to keenly observe their surroundings and translate these observations into eloquent prose.

The curriculum equips students with a range of literary tools, including various poem forms, alliteration, and metaphors, enhancing their ability to recognize and adeptly employ these elements.

With 17 penmanship tests and an array of creative writing exercises, this text not only hones students’ writing skills but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the art of expression.

Through ABEKA’s Creative Writing program, students are guided to master the intricacies of written communication, from the aesthetic allure of penmanship to the captivating depths of figurative language, ultimately nurturing a well-rounded and skilled approach to the craft of writing.

Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)

The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) stands as a respected institution dedicated to fostering proficient writers through a full writing curriculum.

Founded by Andrew Pudewa, IEW prioritizes effective communication skills by providing tailored writing programs for various age groups.

From early elementary to high school, IEW’s structured approach equips students with essential writing tools, encompassing organization, reasoning, and persuasive techniques.

IEW’s emphasis on teaching diverse writing forms empowers students to master reports, essays, narratives, and more.

The integration of literature study enhances comprehension and analytical abilities while cultivating a profound appreciation for language.

By offering resources for educators, IEW ensures a holistic writing education that prepares students for academic success and confident expression.

Check out their program here or find a review of IEW here..

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool

Within the framework of Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool , students are provided with a foundational free homeschool writing curriculum course that focuses on developing handwriting skills.

This free course progressively guides students through the process of mastering both letters and numbers.

As the course unfolds, students advance from learning individual letters and numbers to composing words, sentences, and more complex written forms by the culmination of the academic year.

The writing curriculum includes a set of printables and workbooks designed to facilitate offline learning or complement the online course.

These resources offer flexibility in how students engage with the materials, catering to different learning preferences and environments.

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool’s approach to writing underscores its commitment to laying down strong foundational skills.

By enabling students to build proficiency in handwriting, the program equips them with an essential skill set that serves as a cornerstone for future writing endeavors.

Whether students are at the beginning stages of letter formation or progressing towards constructing sentences, this writing option ensures a structured and gradual development of writing abilities.

AOP Writing Options

Explore opportunities to enhance your homeschooler’s reading and writing skills with AOP language arts courses and electives.

This selection encompasses a range of options suitable for various grade levels and curricula.

Monarch’s online platform integrates reading, writing, listening, and speaking lessons, while elective choices like American Literature, British Literature, and Speech are available for grades 3-12.

The LIFEPAC print worktexts offer self-paced learning of essential language arts concepts across grades K-12.

Horizons print workbooks present customizable word lists and writing assignments, with phonics-based programs like Spelling & Vocabulary and Phonics & Reading contributing to comprehension enhancement for grades 1-3 and K-3, respectively.

Writing Strands by Master Books

Experience the comprehensive homeschool writing curriculum  offered by Writing Strands, a composition series interweaving grammar instruction seamlessly.

This user-friendly program features a convenient daily schedule that requires 30 to 45 minutes per lesson, five days a week, effectively saving preparation time.

The systematic breakdown of writing instruction ensures accessibility, covering dialogue, reporting, persuasion, story writing, and more in Beginning levels, progressing to sentence structure, paragraph usage, point of view, and character creation in Intermediate stages.

Advanced levels refine skills in writing reports, short stories, essays, while also exploring literary devices. The program uniquely integrates composition with Bible-based literature study.

Complementing the student experience, the Teacher Companion serves as a vital resource for educators, offering an overview of the Writing Strands system and addressing various writing, grammar, and literature concerns across all levels, making it an indispensable tool for successful writing and literary analysis instruction.

Gather Round Homeschool Writing Curriculum

Gather ‘Round Homeschool offers a versatile array of writing options designed to foster students’ writing skills across different age groups and proficiency levels.

Among these options are the Essay, Report, Paragraph, Vikings, and Underground to Canada Writing Tracks, each available in both printed and digital formats at $14.95 and $12.95 respectively.

The Essay Writing Track facilitates the development of persuasive essay-writing abilities, while the Report Writing Track hones research and presentation skills.

The Paragraph Writing Track focuses on concise and effective paragraph composition.

For those intrigued by specific themes, the Vikings and Underground to Canada Writing Tracks offer engaging content.

These options cater to Early Readers, Early Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School levels, accommodating various developmental stages.

Whether families prefer tangible printed materials or the convenience of digital resources, Gather ‘Round Homeschool ensures accessible and engaging writing resources that empower students with essential writing tools and techniques.

Writing with Ease from Well-Trained Mind

The Writing With Ease Four-Year Guide offers a carefully structured homeschool writing curriculum for students to develop elegant writing skills over four graded levels of assignments.

Its adaptable approach allows integration of personal reading choices for narrations and copywork, enhancing interdisciplinary connections.

While optional alongside the Workbooks, the guide provides an insightful overview of the comprehensive four-year writing curriculum, aiding educators’ understanding and troubleshooting.

Combining the guide with the Workbooks streamlines teaching, offering comprehensive support and efficient preparation.

Whether used alone or with the Workbooks, the guide empowers educators and students with a structured path toward confident writing, fostering fluency and finesse in expression.

New American Cursive Homeschool Writing Curriculum

While writing skills encompass more than just penmanship, New American Cursive from Memoria Press recognizes the importance of neat handwriting as a part of effective communication.

This curriculum teaches students a fluid and legible cursive style while also introducing them to basic writing exercises.

Winning with Writing

Winning With Writing is a secular homeschool writing program designed for grades 1 to 8, corresponding to each grade level.

The curriculum is structured based on a 36-week school year, with each week consisting of five separate daily lessons.

The program covers various writing aspects, including direct and indirect quotations, dialogue, creative writing, how-to writing, personal narratives, descriptive writing, and persuasive writing.

Each level provides ample writing space in workbooks with 36pt. blanks and dotted guidelines.

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This online course will equip you with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence to navigate the exhilarating world of homeschooling like a seasoned pro.

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The Bottom Line

Choosing the right homeschool writing curriculum for homeschooling involves considering factors such as teaching philosophy, learning style, and the individual needs of the student. Whether you opt for a structured approach like ABEKA or a more creative method like A Gentle Feast, each curriculum option offers a unique path to nurturing strong writing skills in the comfort of your homeschool environment. Remember that the key to success lies in finding the curriculum that aligns best with your child’s learning preferences and educational goals.

Rebecca Devitt

Most adults don't particularly want to relive their schooling experience on a daily basis. They would gladly move on to a new life devoid of homework and teachers. Very, very few adults will passionately blog about their schooling some 15 years after graduating. This makes Rebecca Devitt somewhat unique. As it happens, she was homeschooled. And she loved it. Still does. And she wishes every kid could get a taste of homeschooling at its very best. Her website How Do I Homeschool , is a springboard for parents to see what a life of homeschooling could be for both them & their children. When she's not blogging Rebecca is still homeschooling her-adult-self by learning Latin, growing weird vegetables and most importantly looking after her two children Luke & Penny. She has a husband Tristan and is a participant at Wollongong Baptist Church. She's also written a book about why parents should homeschool called 'Why on Earth Homeschool' .

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Our Top Homeschool Writing Curriculum Picks

Hi friends! Today I’m sharing our top homeschool curriculum picks for writing !

The curriculum I’m mentioning today are all things that we have used in the past and enjoyed. Hopefully they will help you get started when researching the best curriculum for your family.

Watch my Top Homeschool Writing Curriculum Picks video here!

Here are links to some of my favorite Science resources:

• IEW Writing
• IEW Writing REVIEW
• WriteShop Writing
• WriteShop REVIEW

Want more info? Stop by my Writing Curriculum Forum where I shared some of my favorite resources and my community piped in with their favorites too!

And don’t forget to check out our COAH Community where we all share and discuss our favorite curriculum too!

Need help getting started homeschooling?

Make sure to check out my Homeschooling 101 book available now! Homeschooling 101 is a step by step practical guide that will help you to get started, and continue on in your homeschooling journey. It is designed to help guide you through all of the steps to getting started, choosing and gathering curriculum, creating effective lesson plans, scheduling your day, organizing your home, staying the course and more! It even includes helpful homeschooling forms!

I love IEW sources!

Thank you! My son comes up with great stories with a ton of detail, but he really struggles with getting them from his brain onto the paper so he hates writing. He’s in a rough place because he’s 6 so just finishing Kindergarten, he’s reading at a 3rd grade level but definitely writing at a Kindergarten level. Most writing programs are tied to reading so they feel really trivial to him and he gets frustrated by that.

Thank you so much for sharing the list!

Thank you for sharing this Erica! I think homeschooling is becoming more popular and in some ways more important these days. Also, great science resources, especially the BJU Press link – lots of helpful info there too.

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Writing Doesn't Have to be a Struggle

• Lessons break down writing into bite-sized pieces so students confidently move step-by-step to complete their writing assignments.
• Repetition of the basics reinforces the concepts until they are learned.

The proven writing program gives you the tools to teach your students how to effectively plan and write a quality essay from scratch, by equipping them with the writing skills needed to easily write a variety of paper and essays. 

ORDER NOW: Complete Curriculum Packages  (includes 1 set of Student Worksheets)

Need extra set(s) of worksheets? Need just a set of Student Worksheets for a class? ORDER NOW: Student Worksheets Only

This is a writing program I believe any parent could comfortably teach-even those who call themselves “non-writing” parents. Rebecca is a customer service dream, readily and efficiently responding to any questions I’ve had via email or phone.

Heather Sanders, The Pioneer Woman Homeschool Blog

TWF Curriculum Descriptions: Click Here to Order Now

The Write Foundation has 5 levels available. Each level can be completed in 1 or 2 years depending on your schedule and your student’s maturity and ability level.

Jr. High and High School Level Courses

• Does your student struggle to easily write a well-written paragraph?
• Can your student take any topic and develop into a well-written paragraph?
• Your student may be able to write fairly decent paragraphs, but does his or her writing meet at least high school if not college level formal writing standards?
• Well-written papers are logical and easily developed when students are equipped with the right writing tools.

Level 1:   Sentence to Paragraph : (Ages 12 - 14,  6th-9th Grade) Students creatively develop descriptive and more complex sentences. They quickly move to writing basic 1-paragraph and then 2-paragraph compositions using the writing process with a variety of brainstorming techniques and outlines.  Samples  /  Assessment Test   /  Order Now

Level 2:   Paragraph Writing : (Ages 13 - 16, 7th-10th Grade) Students improve and develop their paragraph writing skills, while being challenged to quickly grasp more complex pieces of the writing puzzle, and advancing to a basic 5-paragraph college-level essay.  Samples  /  Assessment Test   /  Order Now

Level 3:   Essay Writing  (Ages 14 - 18, 9th-12th Grade) Can your student take any topic and independently write a college-level essay easily and successfully? Students gain a solid foundation of the writing process and writing structure so they can take a complicated subject and make it easy to understand through a well-written essay. Essay Writing  gives them the skills to confidently write to please any professor.  Samples  /  Assessment Test  /  Order Now

Elementary Level Courses

Entry level i & ii: well written paragraphs have well written sentences..

Each lesson uses engaging writing activities and games, which develop and advance students' creative writing abilities and other writing skills.

Does your student struggle to write a basic simple sentence? Does your student need to improve his or her sentence writing skills?   Entry Level I:   Prepare to Write : (Ages 8 – 10, Grades 2-4) Students begin by writing complete basic sentences and quickly develop their basic sentences into creative, more complex sentences using the 9 foundational parts of speech.  Samples  /  Assessment Test   /  Order Now

Does your student write simple sentences? Does he or she need to begin developing higher level sentence writing skills?   Entry Level II:   Creating Sentences : (Ages 9 – 11, Grades 3-5) Students continue developing descriptive, informative sentences from basic sentences using grammar and figures of speech. Students learn to avoid common errors people make when casually and formally writing for school and work.  Samples  /  Assessment Test   /  Order Now

Eight (8) free lessons, a syllabus for each level, free consultations, articles and curriculum information videos are available on this website.

View the syllabus and try free lessons for each level. Print and use the sample writing lessons with detailed lesson plans if you want to try this writing curriculum before you buy it.

ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION TESTS: Determine the right level for your student(s).

• Placement/assessment tests are available to help you determine the right level for your student. /assessment
• Rebecca Celsor is available for free email (rebecca@thewritefoundation.org) consultation to help you determine which level is right for your student(s).
• Get hands-on writing practice using our writing method before you make your purchase. Two (2) free sample writing lessons per level (8 lessons) with student worksheets, teaching instructions with teacher presentation information included, separate teacher presentation pages, and daily schedules are available on this website.
• A syllabus for each of the 4 levels is also available on this website. The syllabi lay out lesson by lesson the writing skills as they are taught, so you can see what types of writing, grammar and figures of speech are covered in each level.
• Articles are also available on this website to help you determine what levels would be appropriate for your children. /age-levels/

New Interactive Digital Format : You type on the Teacher Presentation as your students write on their worksheets. Now a part of each curriculum package in the Additional Resources.

Intimidated about grading?  The Write Foundation offers  Online Grading . 

I am very happy with the results I am seeing. There is noticeable improvement in my son's writing from week to week. To date, this is the most effective writing curriculum I have used in our 13+ years of homeschooling. If you are looking for simple, hands-off writing lessons, this product is not for you. If you want a curriculum that will produce students skilled in all areas of writing, you need The Write Foundation.

Lorie D., The Midlife Housewife

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Any student who loves stories can love writing!

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We understand why both eager and reluctant writers are frustrated by traditional writing assignments.

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Cover Story: A Homeschool Creative Writing Curriculum That is So Much Fun

• Post author: Sharon
• Post published: July 5, 2022
• Post category: Curriculum and Resources / Language Arts
• Post comments: 3 Comments

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew .

I was so excited to have the chance to review Cover Story Cloud Set by Clear Water Press for the Homeschool Review Crew. My daughter is a writer, and we have been eyeing Clear Water Press courses for a couple of years now. So, when this review came up, we jumped on the opportunity to review this homeschool creative writing curriculum.

Table of Contents

Cover story cloud set- homeschool creative writing curriculum, the teacher’s guide for this homeschool creative writing curriculum, videos and student book, the remarkable journal of professor von steuben, who would like cover story, who might not prefer this homeschool creative writing curriculum, my daughter’s thoughts on this creative writing curriculum.

So, what exactly is Cover Story?

Cover Story Cloud Set is a homeschool creative writing curriculum for grades 6-9 . Students work on language arts skills by creating their own magazines. That is why it is called Cover Story!

Through a wide range of writing assignments, kids create a magazine on a topic of interest. Kids create short stories, poems, reviews, editorials, and more.

When the year is over, kids have a completed magazine!

It is a very clever way to work on writing and grammar that is engaging for kids.

For the review, we received physical copies of a Student Book, Teacher’s Guide, and The Remarkable Journal of Professor Gunther von Steuben.

We received 12 months of online instructional videos along with the soft-covered books. However, if, for some reason, you don’t finish it in 12 months, you can purchase an extension to the cloud videos. Because we all know that life happens, and we might need extra time.

The course is taught by Daniel Schwabauer, a published author, and editor for Crosswind Comics. Plus, he has been involved in many areas of writing, from stage plays to non-fiction ghostwriting. So he has a depth of knowledge and a whole lot of enthusiasm. Also another cool thing is that Mr. S created this program for homeschoolers!

A Look Inside Cover Story

So, that was a quick overview of what you get with Cover Story. Now, let’s look at this homeschool creative writing curriculum a little more closely.

When I received Cover Story, the first thing I did was look through the Teacher’s Guide. I wanted to see the details of this program.

Boy, I was VERY impressed with the teacher book . The instructions are very well laid out and detailed!

The teacher’s guide provides:

• Brief description of the program.
• How to teach the course: video lessons with workbook assignments 3 days a week and work in journal 5 days a week.
• One section gives you a heads up on things you will need to do to prepare for specific lessons.
• Suggestions for grading assignments, journal entries, tests, and optional grammar lessons.
• Run time on the videos.
• An outline of all the coursework.
• Weekly lesson guides.
• The reading materials for the Assigned Reading for the course.
• Answer key for lesson activities, unit tests, and grammar work.
• Super helpful sheets to keep track of student grades to help tally up their score at the end of the course.

I can’t express how valuable this teacher’s guide is for planning and grading your student. I was not intimidated by this homeschool creative writing curriculum. It is so well laid out that it makes it simple to assign work and let the videos and student book do all the work!

Videos, Student Book, and Journal:

Now, let’s look at the heart of the program: the videos, student book, and journal.

The course is laid out as follows :

• Unit 1- Works on grammar and the foundations of good writing. It also helps kids pick a theme for their magazine and begin writing things like reviews.
• Unit 2- This unit covers poetry, interviewing, and perspective.
• Unit 3- Students will work on editorials and short stories.
• Unit 4- Discusses the Four layers of meaning, writing personal experiences, humorous pieces, and chronological narratives.
• Unit 5- Works on an advice column and more work on short stories.
• Unit 6- Finishes with more poetry work and completing the magazine with layout and publishing.

With each assignment, students watch the online video (most are 6 to 16 minutes long), complete that day’s Student Book assignment, and then do work in the journal.

Some of the assignments have assigned readings. These readings are found in the student’s book and teacher’s book, which is very convenient.

The best part of this creative writing curriculum is the online videos. The videos are engaging for kids. Mr. S truly speaks to the kids and explains things well.

Each video starts with a skit. The skits are pretty entertaining. After the skit, there is a recap explaining how it ties into the topic for the day. Lastly, the video then gets into the lesson.

After each video lesson, the kids work in their Student Book. These assignments reinforce what was taught, and kids will work on writing assignments for their magazine.

At the end of the core creative writing curriculum is a set of 12 grammar lessons. These are optional, though I find them very helpful for making this a complete language arts program.

The instructor does an excellent job explaining grammar. His focus on grammar is on the practical use of grammar in writing and how it works. He doesn’t want kids to get hung up on specific names of grammar terms.

The lessons do a great job of making sure kids don’t feel intimidated by grammar. In the end, Mr. Schwabauer wants kids to learn how to find answers for grammar, so they can communicate clearly. By making grammar less intimidating, it makes grammar fun and easy.

For example, the video teaches a whole class on sentences in one grammar lesson. The instructor explains the formal names for the types of sentences but breaks them down into common terms for kids. Then, he uses a story to explain why these terms have such formal names, making it more fun and exciting.

One of my daughter’s favorite parts of this writing curriculum is the journal. The Remarkable Journal of Professor von Steuben is a journal on this fictional character. Through his journal entries, students receive writing prompts that help them work on writing techniques in a unique and meaningful way. In addition, students write in this journal from the Professor’s perspective, allowing them to create their own story of who this man is and how his story will end.

The journal entries are short assignments. For example, in the first unit, kids write questions 5 days a week. Through this exercise, students are learning to ask good questions, meaningful questions.

Later, kids will write paragraphs, dialogue, and more.

Again, this is a clever way to engage kids in writing and thinking about writing.

At the end of each unit, kids take a basic multiple-choice question test. They are a quick check-in with their understanding of the material covered. For example, in Unit Test Six, one of the questions is as follows:

To keep your audience engaged, give them story events that produce

A. expectation and surprise. B. surprise and shock. C. relevance and shock. D. exaggeration and timing.

The questions are simple and to the point.

So, who would like Cover Story?

• Busy Moms – With Cover Story, you have little prep work, and the videos teach writing for you. As a parent, you only need to spend some time every four weeks grading work.
• Reluctant Writers – If you have kids that are reluctant writers, this program might get them engaged in writing. There is a purpose to writing: creating their own magazine. The videos may engage them, and the laid-back approach to grammar may be appealing.
• Independent Learners – This program is perfect for kids that like to work independently or to use with kids you want to start teaching to work independently.
• Kids that love creative writing – As I have found with my daughter, this is a lot of fun for kids that love creative writing.
• Enjoy a variety of writing styles – Because kids are creating a magazine, they are learning various writing techniques and styles. Therefore, they work on more than just telling a story.

Is this program for everyone?

No program is for everyone.

However, Cover Story might not be for your family if:

• You like to be very involved in teaching writing . Of course, you could watch and discuss the videos with your kiddos, but this program does lend itself to more independent learning.
• Kids that have no interest in creating a magazine will probably not like this .
• If kids don’t like journaling, they may not like this program . However, there are ways you could modify this.

Thoughts on This Homeschool Creative Writing Curriculum

As you can probably tell, we like this creative writing curriculum. This is a great way to teach writing in a meaningful and engaging way. I love finding authentic learning opportunities, and Cover Story does an excellent job creating this for middle school kiddos.

One thing I love about the program is how easy it is to use. My daughter could easily work on this independently. It has an easy schedule to follow and great tools to help with grading your kids. Plus, I REALLY appreciate the workbook pages to record grades on. Record keeping is a weakness for me, so the pages help a lot.

I also like that Mr. Schwabauer recommends grading at the end of a unit. It might sound strange initially, but since this is a creative writing program, he feels kids might become discouraged. Also, as he mentions, if kids see red marks all over their work, it may stifle their creativity on their next assignment. So, do the correcting at the end so kids can write freely.

My daughter has said she wants to finish the program and continue working on it throughout the summer. She finds the video lessons fun and helpful. Plus, she really enjoys the journal.

When it comes to writing, my daughter is kind of picky with writing programs. My girl has self-published one book and is working on another. She looks for writing programs to help her become a better writer. For her, writing isn’t something to get through and move on; she really wants to improve and gain as much knowledge as possible.

Overall, my girl feels she is getting a lot out of this program. She loves the idea she creates her own magazine on gothic horror of the 20 th century. She is thinking of all the possibilities of things to write about (she is fascinated by H.P. Lovecraft and other early 1900s authors like him).

Cover Story Cloud Set from Clear Water Press makes a fabulous homeschool creative writing curriculum. We loved it. Now check out other reviews from fellow Homeschool Review Crew members. Click the banner below to learn more.

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This post has 3 comments.

I have heard great things about Cover Story, and your review certainly confirmed it! I can’t want to see the progress of your daughter’s magazine!

We are using this curriculum this year, but my daughter isn’t liking the journaling. Do you find it necessary to do the curriculum?

Hi Melissa, I think kids could probably still do the curriculum without the journal. My daughter said she could still do the curriculum without the journal.

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The Creative Writer

The Creative Writer is a series of four courses, each of which should take one school year or 36 weeks to complete. While the target audience is students in grades five through eight, this series definitely can be used with older students too. Volumes Three and Four might even be a better fit for high school students. Volume designations rather than grade levels make it easy to use this series at whatever level is most appropriate for your students.

Lessons in all four courses are presented in two, 18-week sections—the first section on fiction and the second on poetry. Lessons are presented in multi-week units, so students might spend four weeks working on character.

In Level One , fiction units cover plot, character, dialogue, observation, setting, point of view, and writing a short story. The poetry units are introduction to poetry, description, getting the words right, sound, and writing a poem. Distinctions between the two sections often seem fuzzy, but this is intentional. For example, students learn to observe and write descriptively in both fiction and poetry lessons. Likewise, other skills are learned and applied in both realms.

Student books are consumable. Some lessons have space for students to do written exercises directly in the book. Students will also maintain a “practice notebook” for ideas, notes, vocabulary words and other written work. Sometimes space to write in the text won’t be sufficient, and students might be better off completing the exercises entirely in their notebook rather than in the text.

The author also suggests that students get in the habit of carrying a little notebook and pencil with them to jot down observations and ideas when they strike. In this digital age, I suspect students would be more likely to either record voice notes or type them into their smartphones as an alternative.

The purpose of each lesson is stated clearly at the top of the first page of the lesson. Lessons are written directly to the student so they need not be presented by a teacher. They often use excerpts from literary works or poems both as examples and as springboards into student exercises. For example, an excerpt from Tom Sawyer and the story of “Rapunzel” are used to teach about plot. The author first walks students through his own selection of plot points for Tom Sawyer then students discover plot points within “Rapunzel” on their own. Whether using literary excerpts or not, author Boris Fishman does an excellent job of first helping students see how authors use techniques before asking students to implement those techniques. When students have to come up with their own ideas, he offers many creative suggestions to make it easier for students to find a starting place.

Most lessons conclude with one or two “Challenge Exercises,” optional activities that reinforce the lesson but stretch students to go even further in working with a particular skill or technique. These are usually so worthwhile that it would be worth slowing down the course if necessary to make time to use them.

The courses are designed to help students develop skills and strategies for writing. While assignments are clearly spelled out they aren’t as narrow and prescriptive as some programs. For example, in a lesson on characterization, Fishman presents ten questions for students to answer about their selected character. Students then use those questions and answers as fodder for writing a 500-word descriptive narration. In a less-structured exercise, students are to spend a short period of time observing a scene with a person or group of people (e.g., dad mowing the lawn for five to ten minutes) then quickly write 500 words either in narrative form or as bullets. You might have picked up on the fact that many of the fiction lessons ask students to write 500-word assignments each week--more if you add the challenge exercises.

Fishman includes some unusual assignments that I would love to try myself such as one that directs students to write two separate descriptions of the same barn—one from the point of view of a happy character and one from the point of view of a sad character.

Students conclude the fiction lessons in Level One by writing their own 1000-word story from scratch.

This is probably a more demanding program in terms of the amount of writing required than are most other programs for students in grades five through eight.

Levels Two through Four gradually become more difficult, and Level One is challenging to begin with! By the time they reach Level Four, students are working at high school or even college level. In Level Four , they learn how to integrate backstory into their fiction. Lessons on fantasy fiction begin with an assignment to first read at least 30 pages each of five different fantasy novels, noticing how fantasy stories differ from ordinary drama then create a plot, characters, and setting for a fantasy short story and compose 500 words of one scene from any part of the story—assignments all for one week. Another lesson has students write a scene from a play that they create. A poetry lesson has students “write a poem that maintains a single metaphor for its duration.”

I have focused thus far primarily on the fiction lessons. While half of the lessons are designated as poetry, there is a tremendous amount of “cross fertilization” between fiction and poetry lessons. Poetry assignments are not restricted to use of rhyme and meter, especially the first year, but are much more open ended with an emphasis on free verse. However, The Creative Writer’s approach to poetry emphasizes learning the craft of poetry—the techniques that make poetry poetry rather than loosely organized prose. Students gradually learn these different elements as they work through the four courses, working on various elements rather than on complete poems most of the time until they reach Level Four . For example, in Level One , this includes learning about rhymes, alliteration, repetition, and other poetic elements. And many lessons involve “word play” that helps students develop more creative and precise vocabulary. Students conclude the Level One poetry lessons by writing their own poem of any sort they choose. Students learn about meter and stress in Levels Two and Three (along with many other topics). By Level Four students should have learned techniques well enough that they are able to tackle the first poetry lesson assignment to write four poems in one week, aiming for a rough guideline of at least 16 lines per poem.

Students can work independently through the lessons, but the program is better used with a mentor assisting or overseeing the student. Either at the end of the units for each semester or at the end of the entire book are sections of “Mentor Materials” with notes on each lesson that help a mentor to assist and evaluate the student. Often, the notes provide tips that might help students focus on the primary objective of the lesson to ensure that they don’t just complete an assignment but really get the point. Students working independently, especially older students, might read through the mentor notes themselves to glean anything that might be helpful.

Students might begin Level One in fifth grade, but any student up through high school who has not been introduced to the basics of creative writing such as plot, character, setting, and point of view could begin at this point. Older students who already have a some foundation might start in Level Two which also presents the basics, albeit more briefly. Level Three shifts from the basics into technique, so students need to have a foundation and some experience writing fiction before tackling Level Three . Levels Two and Three could easily be used by adults who want to develop their own writing skills. While they might be used by students at the publisher’s suggested sixth and seventh grade levels, I think they will probably work better with students a grade or two higher.

While many writing courses are written by teachers, The Creative Writer was obviously written by a writer who loves his craft. He sometimes mentions his own approaches or techniques he’s learned. He reveals how a poetry course requirement first opened up new ways of thinking about his own prose writing. All of this conveys a sense of Fishman serving as a mentor to those using these courses. While the courses are challenging, they are also inspiring and engaging. Students who really want to develop their writing craft are likely to love this series, and reluctant writers might find that they enjoy writing more than they thought they ever would.

Pricing Information

When comparison prices appear, please keep in mind that they are subject to change. Click on links where available to verify price accuracy.

digital downloads (available from the publisher) - $13.50 each

Creative Writer Level One: Five Finger Exercises

• $12.69 at Amazon.com
• $2.32 Used at Amazon.com Marketplace
• $16.95 at ExodusBooks.com
• $12.25 at Rainbowresource.com
• $12.15 at Christianbook.com

Creative Writer Level Four: Becoming a Writer

• $4.23 Used at Amazon.com Marketplace

Creative Writer Level 3: Building Your Craft

• $7.05 Used at Amazon.com Marketplace

Creative Writer Level Two: Essential Ingredients

• $10.04 at Amazon.com
• $4.84 Used at Amazon.com Marketplace
• $18.95 at ExodusBooks.com

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in High School · Language Arts · Writing

A Complete Guide To Creative Writing Curriculum for Homeschool High School

I feel like creative writing is either one of those things kids love or one that they hate. Whichever way your child leans, there is sure to be something to get their creative juices flowing. When it comes to teaching writing, specifically for high school, I have created a collection of your options for creative writing curriculum for high school.

I often feel as though high school writing is solely focused on essay writing, response, and research papers. While all of these are important types of written work, we should not be leaving out creative writing in our homeschool high school studies.

Creative Writing Curriculum Options

One Year Adventure Novel – a high school fiction writing curriculum through which the kids write an entire novel by the end of the year. It’s entertaining, educational, adventurous and fun!

Cover Story – From the same company as the One Year Adventure Novel. While it is listed as a middle school curriculum it is great for your struggling or reluctant high schoolers.

Bardsy Homeschool – an online program with multiple digital helps for writing

Byline Video Writing Program – turns students into time-traveling reporters who practice journalism in the forgotten corners of history. 

No Plot! No Problem – is a low-stress, high velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days.

Writing Workshop for Multiple Ages – Sometimes in our homeschool we just need to focus on a certain subject. In this case, writing. See how multiple curriculum options are used to infuse writing into your homeschool.

Other Ways to Teach Creative Writing

There are more ways to teach creative writing for homeschool high school than with a full curriculum. Here are some writing prompt and project ideas to get you started.

Writing About Nature: A Creative Writing Book for Your Homeschool – The Writing About Nature book will help a wide range of writers who find their passion for nature moves them to document in words the creatures, plants, rhythms and cycles experienced in the great outdoors.

Fairy Tale Retelling – is a great Creative Writing assessment. For this project, students choose a fairy tale. Then, they rewrite the story from the perspective of the villain.

Author Study – In this project, students choose one author to study in-depth. Then, they attempt to replicate that author’s style in an original work.

55 Creative Writing Activities and Exercises – Activities that teach creative writing serve as drills to exercise your student’s writing muscle. When used effectively, they help reluctant writers get past that intimidating blank paper and encourage the words to flow. 

Engaging Homeschool Literature Activities Your Kids Will Love – With these engaging homeschool literature activities, you can create a homeschool learning environment that celebrates the wonder of the written word and the magic of storytelling. Literature can come to life by infusing your homeschool studies with imagination, hands-on activities, and student-led learning. 

37 Creative Writing Prompts for High School – Prompts for poetry, fiction (long and short), and even non-fiction.

The Ultimate Guide to Nature Journaling: Tips for Writing About Nature – A creative writing idea from the Outdoor Nature Challenge

More Writing Options for High School

• Homeschool Writing Curriculum Round Up – a collection of all the writing curriculum reviews here at The Curriculum Choice
• Essay Rockstar – Writing courses for grades 7-12 in The Expository Essay, The Textual Analysis Essay, The Persuasive Essay, The Personal Statement
• Using Writing & Rhetoric for Homeschool Writing –  a 12-book series that will teach students to write and speak persuasively

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The Best Middle School Homeschool Writing Curriculum

Please note, Year Round Homeschooling uses affiliate links. For more information see our disclosure policy .

**Please note resources mentioned in this post may have been received for free or I may have received monetary compensation to write this post. However, the reviews are my personal opinion. For more information, please see my disclosure page .*

As my children get older I believe that it is important for them to do their homeschool work independently, so I am always looking for homeschool curriculum that is easy for them to use and requires very little involvement from me as the teacher. Since we follow a child led homeschooling method my kids get to help choose their own curriculum to ensure that learning is both fun and educational. We enjoy shopping and trying new homeschool curriculum for them to try throughout the year.

My daughter loves to write and since she will be entering middle school this fall, I knew it was time to start looking for a writing curriculum for her to use. I’ve seen quite a few and even tried one this last year with my son, but so far we weren’t happy with any of the homeschool writing curriculum that we’d seen and/or tried. One of the biggest struggles that I found while looking for a homeschool writing curriculum was finding one that didn’t include grammar as part of the curriculum. We already have an English curriculum that we love, so using a writing curriculum that included grammar was very frustrating for my kids because it was double the work for them.

I’m fairly confident that writing is in my daughter’s future since she loves to write, so it isn’t a subject that we could just find a curriculum to make work. We had to keep looking and trying different writing curricula until we found one that she loved and that I approved for educational purposes. This turned out to be quite a feat, but thankfully this year the search ended when we discovered Cover Story !

Cover Story is a video based homeschool writing curriculum for Middle School that takes a creative approach to teaching students how to write without worrying about their grammar too much throughout the process. The curriculum includes several key components that will make learning how to write more fun for your students and at the end of the year they will have created a magazine with a theme of their choice!

• Cover Story Videos  – Each lesson throughout the curriculum includes a short video that your student will need to watch before completing their lesson for the day. Kids will be pulled into the interesting and engaging video lessons that include humor, intriguing facts and more! You have the option to purchase either the DVD set or a Cloud Streaming package for the video portion of this curriculum.
• Cover Story Teacher’s Guide – This is one of my favorite teacher’s guides ever! The explanations on how to use the curriculum are simple and straight forward. There is no guess work as to what you and your student need to do for each lesson and there are even weekly lesson guides inside if you like to follow a pre-set plan. Also included in the Teacher’s Guide are your student’s assigned readings which include discussion questions for you to use if you choose, unit tests and answer keys.
• Cover Story Student Book – After watching each video lesson students will read a short written lesson, answer questions, brainstorm themes, write concept and movie sentences, poetry, letters to the editor, conduct interviews, write non-fiction, humor, blog posts and much more!
• The Remarkable Journal of Professor Gunther von Steuben – This journal is unique in that there are some entries already written inside and your student will write in between the included entries 5 days a week. Their entries will range from questions to details and from paragraphs to real-life dialogue, the end of the story from the journal is determined by your student!

My daughter is a visual learner, so because this is a DVD based curriculum, it is the perfect writing curriculum for her! She loves that she is able to pick up her writing curriculum and head upstairs to complete the entire lesson on her own without needing instruction from me. Her favorite part of the curriculum is taking part in building the story inside of The Remarkable Journal of Professor Gunther von Steuben!

After she finishes her lesson, I enjoy listening to what she has learned and checking on her progress through the student book and watching her magazine begin to take form! She chose horses as her magazine theme and I know that she is going to thoroughly enjoy all of the research and writing that will be part of this curriculum!

I’m thankful that we were able to find a homeschool writing curriculum that works beautifully with our child led homeschooling method and that my daughter enjoys! If you are looking for a middle school homeschool writing curriculum that is both fun and educational, I encourage you to learn more about Cover Story here ! They have a High School homeschool writing curriculum for your older students as well, I have no doubt that we will be using the One Year Adventure Novel writing curriculum in High School!

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Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum for Your Struggling Writer!

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Are you looking for the best homeschool writing curriculum ? Does your child struggle with writing? Do you struggle with teaching writing? Are you looking for a program to help you both?

This year we’re playing catch-up with writing, and I need a program that will do the heavy lifting for me. Read on to find out what we picked and why. Maybe this one will be the right program to help your struggling writer, too.

For a full list of your secular homeschool curriculum options, see our Secular Homeschool Curriculum Guide .

My son, W, is very bright, but he has always struggled with writing. In the primary grades (k-2), handwriting and fine motor skills were a serious challenge for him, so getting his ideas down on paper was difficult.

He’s in 4th grade now, and while he can write legibly, he still struggles with the writing process . Maybe it’s a lack of confidence in this subject leftover from his earlier challenges. He has no trouble answering questions and sharing his ideas orally, but he freezes up when it comes to getting his thoughts down on paper.

My goal is to get him excited about writing and help him overcome his obstacles while he’s still young.

I need a homeschool writing curriculum with solid instruction and structure to help him master the writing process while still making it fun, so he will be motivated to learn.

Top 3 Reasons We Chose WriteShop Junior

WriteShop Junior is a comprehensive writing program. It focuses on the writing process, genre, and grammar. I am excited to get started with this program! I hope my enthusiasm + a great program will be the answer to my son’s writing struggles.

1. Because the best homeschool writing curriculum will be FUN – not intimidating

My first priority is finding a program that would motivate my son to write. I gotta face it, he will not learn with drill & kill writing. No matter how wonderful a program looks, if it’s boring and tedious it will always be a struggle – for both of us.

I wanted to find a program that was fun straight out of the box, not one that I would have to put a lot of extra work into to make it enjoyable. WriteShop Junior make is clear the the first priority is making writing fun and enjoyable for your child. A few points that stood out to me:

• Games and guidance, instead of drill and a red pen
• Multisensory activities, not just a pencil and an intimidating blank page
• Interactive grammar lapbooks, much more fun than worksheets
• Tools to help encourage independence – like self-editing, so I’m not the bad guy constantly focused on mistakes

We’re especially excited that he will be introduced to various genres – nonfiction, mystery, fables, personal narrative, and (his favorite) science fiction. It’s different. This should go a long way in getting him motivated to write! 

Kids seem to fear writing more than other subjects – maybe because writing is much more personal, making it feel like more of a personal attack when something is marked as incorrect .

WriteShop Junior promises to lower the stakes and reducing the stress. When your child isn’t so worried about being wrong, he or she can be open learning.

2. Because fun isn’t enough – we need structure, too

While I want writing to be fun for my son, I know that we need a program with structure to make sure he gets the instruction he needs . I also want to make sure that I teach him a complete course ; I don’t want to miss anything essential in his instruction.

WriteShop Junior is one of the best homeschool writing curriculum options, because it focuses on guiding kids through the entire writing process, including:

• Brainstorming
• Self-editing

We’re always homeschooling year-to-year. So I’m not sure if or when W. will return to public school. I do know that I want him to be a stronger writer so that if he does go back to school, he will be on level with his peers . It’s comforting to know that we are using a program to help him keep up with his grade-level peers.

3. Because the best homeschool curriculum makes teaching writing easier

Just as many kids fear writing, many homeschooling parents fear teaching writing. I don’t want to leave anything out in my instruction, and I simply do not have time to come up with a million creative ideas to get my son excited and ensure that he is learning everything he needs to know .

I’m homeschooling three kids this year – I need curriculum that works and makes it easy for me.

WriteShop Junior is ideal because it comes with all of the resources I need. The lightly scripted lesson plans tell me exactly what I need to do. It also comes with topic suggestions and graphic organizers. I won’t have to look for additional resources or materials to supplement the lessons.

*Bonus* reason WriteShop is great for struggling writers…

My son is an asynchronous learner – he’s a year ahead in math, on grade level in reading, and behind in writing. However, a program labeled 2nd or 3rd grade makes him feel defeated and deficient before he even starts.

Look, I know this doesn’t apply to everyone, but it’s major for my son –

I couldn’t bring myself to choose a program with a GIANT NUMBER 3 on the front , even though that’s where he is. That 3 would be a constant reminder of his weakness – not a good thing when trying to build his confidence as a writer.

WriteShop Junior covers grades 3-6, labeled as D, E, and F . I used the simple placement test on the website to determine the correct package for my son – so I know we got the right level for him.

This program meets my son on his level without the shame of having a lower grade level glaring at him from the cover each day. He can develop as a writer and grow his confidence at his own pace. It’s the best of both worlds.

A Little More About WriteShop

WriteShop is a comprehensive writing program that offers curriculum for all ages. Each level strives to make writing hands-on and fun, while also ensuring your child learns all the skills required to write on the appropriate grade level.

Begin any time by selecting the appropriate level in the middle or start in kindergarten and use it all the way through high school. Use the free placement quiz so that you can make sure to start your child with the right program.

• Primary covers grades K-3 (books A, B, and C)
• Junior is for grades 3-6 (books D, E, and F)
• Levels I and II cover grades 6-12 (look for the newest 5th edition)

WriteShop Junior offers just the right balance of ease, structure, and fun, making it our choice for the best homeschool writing curriculum.

Check out the WriteShop website to learn more and take the placement test so you can see where your child needs to start.

Ashley helps parents who want to homeschool find the resources they need to successfully teach their children. Ashley is a former teacher, current homeschooler, published author, and designer behind Circle Time with Miss Fox printables as well as the creator of this website, The Homeschool Resource Room.

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Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum for Middle School

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• Best Basic Program: Writing With Skill s eries, Susan Wise Bauer
• Best Comprehensive Program: Institute for Excellence in Writing Level B program , Andrew Pudewa
• Best Classical Approach: Classical Composition series , Memoria Press

Middle school is a critical period when it comes to learning how to write well. Kids have learned the basics of spelling, handwriting, grammar, and sentence construction in their elementary years, and in middle school it is vital that they use this foundation to build the skills necessary for more complex high school writing. 

If you are homeschooling a middle school student, you may have a lot of questions about where to start when it comes to teaching writing. Many comprehensive language arts curriculums include writing instruction as one component of their programs. If you have a seventh-grader and want to learn more about these comprehensive language arts programs, check out our article Best 7 th Grade Language Arts Homeschool Curriculum . 

While some homeschoolers choose to use a complete language arts program, many others prefer using a writing-specific curriculum in order to help their kids really develop their writing skills during the middle school years. In this article, we’ll tell you about three of our favorite homeschool writing curriculums for middle school students. If you have an older or younger student, check out our related articles, Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum for High School and Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum for Elementary Students . 

Best Basic Program

Writing With Skill s eries, Susan Wise Bauer

In general, we are big fans of the curriculum options offered by Well-Trained Mind Press, and this is especially true when it comes to its Writing With Skill series. Writing With Skill follows the ideals of classical education put forth in The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home , emphasizing a certain amount of dictation, repetition, and subject mastery in its treatment of the writing process. Yet this program is far less rigidly classical than Memoria Press’s Classical Composition series, and the Writing With Skill series in particular serves as a fantastic basic writing program for homeschooled kids regardless of their families’ homeschooling philosophies. Most homeschooling families will find the program simple, straightforward, and effective. 

Writing With Skill does an excellent job of teaching fundamental writing skills that will prepare your middle school student for high school writing. Students learn the fundamentals of outlining; are introduced to such writing forms as chronological narratives and biological sketches; learn to construct literary essays on fiction and poetry-based themes; and are taught the basics of researching and citing source materials. Throughout the program, students learn by imitating the styles and techniques of great writers, both those who wrote classic literature and also those who wrote about science, history, and other topics.

The program itself is easy to follow. It is organized into weekly units and daily lessons with step-by-step instructions. The lesson plan calls for four relatively short lessons per week, but this can be modified if you so choose. There are three levels to the program, and Level 1 can be started anytime in grades 5-8. For Level 1, you’ll need to purchase the Writing With Skill Level 1 Instructor Text and the Writing With Skill Level 1 Student Workbook . 

Since Writing With Skill is not a complete language arts curriculum, you’ll want to have your student read plenty of quality literature and also pair this program with a high-quality grammar program. We recommend the Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind program, as it is produced by the same authors as Writing With Skill and compliments that program really nicely. If your student enjoys creative writing, consider further supplementing with the Creative Writer series by Boris Fishman.

Best Comprehensive Program

Institute for Excellence in Writing Level B program , Andrew Pudewa

Another excellent homeschool writing curriculum for middle school students is the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) program created by Andrew Pudewa. The IEW program is more systematic and broader in scope than Writing With Skill , and it really teaches students the nitty-gritty of how to write well. The IEW produces excellent homeschool programs for kids of all ages. Level B refers to the middle school programs. 

The IEW programs approach writing instruction by focusing on nine structural models central to the writing process: note-taking, paragraph writing, stories, basic reports, writing from pictures, research reports, creative writing, essays, and critiques. The lessons are straightforward and incremental and help students gain confidence in their writing abilities one skill at a time. 

The program teaches writing in a multi-media way that is especially good for visual learners. Each week begins with a video lesson by Pudewa, who shows students how to create an outline for that week’s assignment and then teaches specific techniques pertinent to that assignment. Students then complete the assignment on their own during that week. This format makes for minimal prep and teaching time on the part of parents.

 For the most convenience, purchase all of the Level B Year One required materials as a bundle. You’ll have a choice of purchasing the video lessons on DVD or in a digital format that you can stream online.

Best Classical Approach

Classical Composition series , Memoria Press

If you want a homeschool writing program that is firmly rooted in the methods and ideals of the classical homeschooling model, look no further than Memoria Press’s Classical Composition series. Memoria Press is a leader in Classical Christian homeschool curriculum, and its Classical Composition series teaches students to write using the same techniques taught to William Shakespeare, Benjamin Franklin, and John Milton. 

Like many of Memoria Press’s other programs, the Classical Composition series is based in the progymnasmata , a framework invented in ancient times to teach effective communication. Ancient writers like Cicero and Quintilian learn to write using the progymnasmata, which includes fourteen exercises. Memoria Press uses those same fourteen exercises in its Classical Composition , adapting them for modern students.

Classical Composition is rigorous and especially good for independent and gifted learners. Students learn how to write exceptionally well and will be far above their peers in writing when they enter high school. Yet they also learn about how writing is an artform that has been developing in the Western world since ancient times. Students who complete the Classical Composition series will have a greatly increased ability to understand and analyze the great works of classic and ancient literature because of their immersion in this classical model of composition.  

If your student is beginning Classical Composition in middle school, you’ll want to purchase the Classical Composition III: Chreia & Maxim course materials, which consists of a student book , a teacher guide , and a DVD set . These can also be purchased together as a bundle . Depending on your student’s grade level and prior writing experience, he or she may be ready for a different level of the program. See Memoria Press’s website for more information on the different program levels.

There are many excellent homeschool writing programs for middle school students. If your student is in seventh grade and you are looking for a complete language arts curriculum, check out our article Best 7 th Grade Language Arts Homeschool Curriculum . If you are looking for homeschool writing curriculum for older or younger kids, see our related articles, Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum for High School and Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum for Elementary Students .

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Chris, using WriteShop Primary Book A

Levi has really enjoyed this program. It has taken the pressure off of him to read and write, and just allowed him to be creative … Our kindergarten year has been a pretty rough start up to the last couple of months. But WriteShop has really changed things at our house!

Ashley, using WriteShop I

My 13 yo has gone from tears over more than 2 sentences to beautiful paragraphs in the year and a half that we’ve been using Write Shop.

Heily, using WriteShop I

Thank you very much for creating Write Shop! It has been a pleasure to teach this curriculum and the results are phenomenal. Our son went from hating writing to asking for more!

Dena, using WriteShop I

WriteShop has been a wonderful program for us. I don’t think my dyslexic daughter would have ever learned to write without it!

Nikki, using WriteShop Primary Book C

You know this is a good product when your reluctant writer asks, “Mom, when are we going to write another story?” My son has always struggled with writing. Because of Write Shop, my son has enjoyed writing creative stories, and I am tearing up as I type this.

Zandra, using WriteShop II

Somehow the words fun and writing have become connected, ever since we started using WriteShop. That, along with the progress I’m seeing in my students’ writing, is the highest recommendation I can give.

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Eight Free Creative Writing Lessons

February 17, 2012 by Ami 17 Comments

I know I throw around the word favorite all the time. But this is the truth: teaching creative writing lessons is my favorite. 

I have taught creative writing enrichment for summer school students. I have taught creative writing in various homeschool settings and co-ops. I have taught big students and little students. And I love it. 

Since I love to share homeschool co-op class ideas , I have compiled the creative writing lessons from a co-op class that I taught. 

Creative Writing Lessons for a Homeschool Co-op Class

First, please remember that any teacher can use these creative writing lessons. You don’t need to be teaching homeschoolers. You can be a classroom teacher or a homeschool teacher at home with one student. You can even be a librarian who needs a fun program series.

Second, I used these creative writing lesson plans with upper elementary students (with maybe a few 7th graders thrown in). However, you can adapt and use them for older students or younger students!

Creative Writing Lesson Plans

Creative writing lesson one.

The first lesson focuses on cliché and metaphor. It prompts students to consider how words matter.

Grab lesson one here .

Creative Writing Lesson Two

The second lesson teaches students about sensory details: why they are important and how to include them in their writing. Students will begin using sensory details to evoke smells and sounds and sights.

Grab lesson two here.

Creative Writing Lesson Three

The third lesson introduces showing vs. telling. Students learn how to recognize authors who utilize showing, and students are able to articulate the difference between showing and telling.

Grab lesson three here.

Creative Writing Lesson Four

The fourth lesson teaches students how to capture images. We use examples of poetry and prose to discuss this important writing skill.

Grab lesson four here.

Creative Writing Lesson Five

The fifth lesson introduces the story elements of character and conflict.

Note: You may choose to split this lesson into two lessons since it covers two big elements. I only had nine weeks with my students, so I had to jam character and conflict together.

Grab lesson five here.

Creative Writing Lesson Six

The sixth lesson introduces the students to point of view and perspective. We have fun reading poems and using pictures to write descriptions from different points of view.

Grab lesson six here.

Creative Writing Lesson Seven

The seventh lesson puts everything we’ve learned together. I read the students some fractured fairy tales, and we watch some, too. Students then use the prewriting activities and their imaginations to begin drafting their own fractured fairy tales.

Grab lesson seven here.

Creative Writing Lesson Eight

The eighth lesson focuses on revision. After a mini-lesson, students partner up for peer editing.

Grab lesson eight here .

For our final class day, students bring revised work, and I host coffee shop readings. This is a memorable experience for students (and their teacher).

Creative Writing Lessons FAQ

Since posting these creative writing lessons, I have had lots of questions. I decided to compile them here in case you have the same question.

Q: What are copywork quotes? A: Copywork quotes are simply great quotes that students copy as part of their homework assignments. You can use any quotes about writing. I’ve included my favorites throughout the printable packs.

Q: Can I use this with a younger or older student? A: Absolutely! Just adapt it to meet the needs of your student.

Q: Can I use this for my library’s programming or my homeschool co-op class? A: Yes! I just ask that it not be used for profit.

Do you have any questions about teaching creative writing? What’s your biggest hang-up when it comes to teaching creative writing? I’d love to hear from you and help you solve the issue.

January 7, 2016 at 1:57 pm

Hi Theresa,

As long as you are not profitting from using them, they are yours to use! Enjoy! Wish I could be there to help facilitate all those young writers! 

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COLLEGE APP ESSAY GUIDE

Try Before You Buy

Still unsure whether Essentials in Writing is a good fit or not? Try it before you buy it!

Writing Courses

• Level 1 (ages 6-7)
• Level 2 (ages 7-8)
• Level 3 (ages 8-9)
• Level 4 (ages 9-10)
• Level 5 (ages 10-11)
• Level 6 (ages 11-12)
• Level 7 (ages 12-13)
• Level 8 (ages 13-14)
• Level 9 (ages 14-15)
• Level 10 (ages 15-16)
• Level 11 (ages 16-17)
• Level 12 (ages 17-18)

Literature Courses

• Level 7 (ages 12–13)
• Level 8 (ages 13–14)
• Level 9 (ages 14–15)
• Level 10 (ages 15–16)

Other Services

• Scoring Services
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Home School Resource Center
• Supplemental Writing Program (18-week plan)
• Summer Writing Program (10-week plan)
• EIL Corrective Plans
• Charter Schools
• Homeschool Heroes
• Giving Back
• International Customers
• Terms of Use

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