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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Enroll today  and unlock the door to extraordinary educational possibilities.

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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Homeschool Writing Curriculum: 17 Actually Engaging Options

The specifics of a writing curriculum will vary, but a comprehensive curriculum should cover a progression of skills, increasing in complexity and sophistication from elementary to high school. Here's which homeschool writing programs best prepare kids to be great writers.

Prisma is the world’s most engaging virtual school that combines a fun, real-world curriculum with powerful mentorship from experienced coaches and a supportive peer community.

The Power of Being a Great Writer  

Living in an era dominated by rapid technological advances and artificial intelligence, it’s harder than ever, as educators and homeschooling parents, to figure out what skills kids will need to succeed in the future.

For example, why should we care about writing in the age of AI? Will technology make traditional skills like writing obsolete? On the contrary, at Prisma we believe the rise of AI makes writing more important than ever . While AI can generate text and even mimic human-like writing, it lacks the nuance, critical thinking, and empathy that are the hallmarks of human communication. The best human writers will always be able to use their command of language arts to influence others.

Plus, the practice of writing skills is important for children’s brain development. As Flannery O’Connor aptly stated, "I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say." The writing process enables us to crystallize our thoughts, stimulating disciplined and critical thinking —a skill that remains irreplaceable by AI. Whether it's a scientist explaining a complicated theory or an entrepreneur pitching their company to investors, the ability to articulate thoughts clearly & with originality is indispensable.

Moreover, writing fosters empathy . Writing, especially creative writing, allows us to imagine and understand different perspectives—an emotional skill that even the most advanced AI lacks. Empathy is vital for personal relationships, teamwork, and any profession involving human interaction.

Furthermore, writing teaches resilience . It's a journey filled with trials and errors. Children learn to handle setbacks, receive criticism, while continuously revising their work, skills that instill adaptability and persistence.

And it's a skill where we see a worrisome trend. According to a recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report, only 27% of students in America achieved or exceeded proficiency in writing. This statistic rings alarm bells about the declining writing skills among our children.

As we guide our children's learning paths at home, our responsibility extends beyond teaching writing. Our aim is to help them appreciate writing as a tool for thinking, empathizing, and persevering. Despite the rise of AI, the art of writing is here to stay. It's not just a skill, it's a compass—a compass that will guide our learners to navigate the evolving landscape of the future with thoughtfulness, empathy, and resilience.

Selecting a Homeschool Writing Curriculum: Key Factors

Choosing a homeschool writing curriculum is a crucial decision, as it will greatly impact your child's development of writing skills. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Your Child’s Interest in Writing: Is your child a very reluctant writer who may need an online app with gamified elements or lots of varied, hands-on worksheets to stay interested? Or is your child a voracious reader & enthusiastic future author who might do better with open-ended journaling, creative writing prompts , and research papers on topics they’re interested in?
• Your Child’s Learning Needs & Style: If your child has any learning differences, such as dyslexia , ADHD, or autism, you should evaluate any possible curriculum for accommodations and supports. Also consider the way your child prefers to learn. Do they like variety or lots of structure? Pen and paper or digital? Visual, audio, or hands-on?
• Level of Interaction: Consider the level of interaction the curriculum offers. Does it provide opportunities for discussions, peer review, or one-on-one feedback sessions? Interaction can often boost motivation and improve learning outcomes. You could even look for programs that offer live online instruction (we share a few options below).
• Alignment with Goals: What are your goals for your child's writing education? Do you want them to homeschool permanently, or do you hope to have them transition to a more traditional high school or college? If so, make sure the curriculum you choose prepares your learner to write aligned to Common Core standards , and make sure you feel comfortable supporting them.
• Flexibility: Look for a curriculum that allows flexibility in pace and approach. Every child is unique and might not fit into a rigid learning structure.
• Incorporation of Writing Process: The curriculum should teach the writing process – brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. This will help your child understand that good writing often involves rewriting and refining.
• Grammar and Mechanics: While the primary focus might be on developing expressive and organized writing, the curriculum should also help your child learn the grammar and mechanics necessary for clarity and correctness. But we personally feel at Prisma that too many grammar drills can be counterproductive, and many writing experts recommend teaching grammar mostly in the context of a real writing assignment after elementary age.
• Integration with Other Subjects: Writing is a skill that can and should be integrated into other subject areas. A curriculum that encourages writing across subjects can foster more meaningful learning experiences. At Prisma, all writing happens in the context of our fun interdisciplinary themes , like Cities of the Future (where kids wrote a speech proposing a new law for their dream city), Build a Business (where kids wrote a business pitch), and Unsolved Mysteries (where kids wrote research-driven podcast & video scripts for a real life mystery).

Writing Curriculum Guidelines by Grade Level

The specifics of a writing curriculum will vary, but a comprehensive curriculum should cover a progression of skills, increasing in complexity and sophistication from elementary to high school. Here's a broad guideline to assess curriculum options, or if you feel like building your own curriculum from scratch:

Elementary School Writing Curriculum

‍ At Prisma, elementary school writers focus on developing key skills in our live Literacy Labs & completing writing missions connected to our project-based themes. Content covers:

• Sentence Structure: Understanding the basic elements of a sentence, like nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and how to construct simple sentences.
• Paragraph Writing: Introduce the concept of a paragraph, topic sentences, and supporting sentences. Graphic organizers often help in this process.
• Basic Grammar and Punctuation: Understanding the rules of capitalization, the usage of periods, question marks, and exclamation points.
• Story Writing: Introduction to narrative writing, creating simple stories with a beginning, middle, and end.
• Writing for Different Purposes: Practice writing informative, persuasive, and narrative pieces.

Middle School Writing Curriculum

‍ Middle school Prisma learners build up to longer writing assignments to prepare for high school writing, and increasingly complete multiple revisions and use peer feedback to perfect their work. They build skills of:

• Advanced Grammar and Punctuation: Dive deeper into the intricacies of grammar and the use of more advanced punctuation marks like semicolons and colons.
• Essay Writing: Understanding essay structure, crafting thesis statements, and creating coherent arguments.
• Narrative Writing: Developing complex narrative techniques, such as point of view, character development, plot structure, and dialogue.
• Research Skills: Learning how to conduct research, evaluate sources, and incorporate evidence into their writing.
• Revision and Editing: Strengthening the ability to revise and edit their own work for clarity, coherence, and correctness.

High School Writing Curriculum

‍ Prisma high school students develop real-world writing assignments for real audiences, preparing to share their writing with the world and developing college-ready writing skills:

• Advanced Essay Writing: Enhancing argumentative, expository, and analytical writing skills. Practice writing longer, more complex essays.
• Literary Analysis: Writing essays that analyze literature for theme, symbolism, and other literary devices.
• Research Papers: Learning to write comprehensive research papers with proper citation and referencing.
• Persuasive Writing: Developing the ability to write persuasively, shaping arguments and using evidence effectively.
• Creative Writing: Exploring different creative writing genres like poetry, short stories, and script writing.
• College Application Essays: Learning to write personal essays that can be used for college applications.
• Critical Thinking: Developing the ability to critique, analyze, and evaluate arguments in writing.

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• Prisma is an accredited, project-based, online program for grades 4-12.
• Our personalized curriculum builds love of learning and prepares kids to thrive.
• Our middle school , high school , and parent-coach programs provide 1:1 coaching and supportive peer cohorts .

Online Homeschool Writing Programs

Live online writing courses.

If you don’t feel comfortable teaching or designing writing curriculum yourself, an online course can be a great way to give your learner an interactive, high-quality language arts curriculum.

In a nutshell: Marketplace for online courses in all subjects, including writing. You can read teacher reviews and course descriptions to get a good feel of which classes will work best for your child (and try a bunch to see what works!)

Grade Levels: K-12 and above

Cost: Depends on the length, format, and teacher. Expect to pay around $10/class for most offerings, and up to $50/class for private, 1-to-1 tutoring.

Format: Depends on the class and instructor. Some courses may only be live sessions, and others may include asynchronous materials like worksheets, rubrics, and journal prompts.

Pros: Low-lift for parents, high interactivity; and often fun, engaging topics like Comic Strip Stories or Fan Fiction

Cons: If you switch instructors frequently, your child may have gaps in their knowledge or struggle to build momentum with one writing process

Written Out Loud

In a nutshell: Written Out Loud’s three core principles are transforming how kids learn - and love - to write. Prisma partnered with this organization the past two years and we can say that kids LOVE learning to write with this program. Kids write a whole book as part of a team.

Grade Levels: Ages 10+

Cost: Fee per class or camp. Current summer camp offerings are $529.

Format: In virtual courses (or in-person if a homeschool group reaches out to form a class together), kids work in teams to “break” a story in the style of Hollywood writers (decide verbally as a team what the story will look like) and then write their portions, ending in the publication of a full-length book!

Pros: Helps kids love writing, low-lift for parents, high interactivity

Cons: Doesn’t teach more traditional or “academic” forms of writing, so likely will need to be a supplement.

Prisma & Other Online Private Schools

Some homeschooling families choose to enroll in comprehensive online schools like Prisma, especially as their children get older and need more teacher support or rigorous curriculum. Although these options do charge tuition, they offer a comprehensive, intentional, expert-driven approach to academics (including writing) while still offering the personalization, flexibility, and environment of homeschooling.

Best Online Writing Apps & Websites for Homeschoolers  

Choosing an online program is great if you want something your learner can do at their own pace with minimal supervision from you. These programs can also be great at motivating learners by providing gamified elements (like points, badges, and achievements).

Essentials in Writing

In a nutshell: Former schoolteacher Matthew Stephens’ popular online program delivers direct instruction & writing practice aligned with the traditional way of teaching writing.

Grade Levels: K-12

Cost: $69-89

Format: A video-based online course with corresponding workbooks

Pros: Low-lift for parents with a consistent structure

Cons: May not be enough variety or interactivity for easily bored learners

Night Zookeeper

In a nutshell: A highly engaging game-based online world for kids to explore writing through mini games, interesting writing prompts, and drills

Grade Levels: Ages 6-12

Cost: Subscription costing about $9-13/month, depending on if you pay annually or monthly

Format: Learners sign on to the platform and explore the online activities freely. Parents can view insights into their progress on the back-end.

Pros: Both reluctant and enthusiastic writers tend to LOVE this platform, and the subscription model makes it easy to try out.

Cons: Doesn’t offer as much instruction as more traditional programs.

In a nutshell: No Red Ink is used in 60% of school districts and although the platform is primarily built for teachers, homeschool parents can register for teacher accounts and provide their children access to this interactive, comprehensive writing program.

Grade Levels: Grades 3-12

Cost: Free version, plus a premium version with additional features

Format: A mix of targeted exercises to help students master sentence structure & grammar, scaffolded writing and revising activities for a range of genres, and diagnostics & quizzes to assess your learner’s skills

Pros: Research-driven, interactive, and incorporates learner interests (kids take a fun quiz at the beginning to tailor the curriculum to what they like to write about), plus built-in assessment (a rarity for writing platforms!)

Cons: Since it’s built for teachers, may not be user-friendly for solo homeschooling parents

Online Grammar & Comprehension Practice

At Prisma, we use grammar apps to supplement our more in-depth writing assignments. Some of our favorites are:

• IXL : We like their initial diagnostic and that you can assign individual skills to learners to practice. The format is not the most exciting or engaging, though.
• Freckle : Elementary school-age writers enjoy the gamified elements of this math & language arts platform.
• Quill : Built around the research-backed strategy of sentence combining & revising as a way to learn key grammar and mechanics, this tool is both free and highly effective (though it may get boring if used too often!).

Best Traditional Homeschool Writing Curricula

Brave writer.

In a nutshell: Brave Writer is a writing curriculum designed to help children discover their own unique voice in writing. It emphasizes creativity and individuality, incorporating various elements of language arts such as grammar, spelling, literature, and writing. This curriculum is by far the most popular one with Prisma parents!

Grade Levels : Pre-K to 12th grade

Cost: Individual online classes range from $99 to $199 per course. Home study courses are available from $79 to $149.

Format: Online classes, home study courses with lesson plans and teacher’s guides, and resources for self-study. The courses take a unique approach, focusing on having lots of conversations before getting writing out on the page.

Pros: The curriculum is flexible and customizable to meet the needs of each student. It also encourages a positive attitude towards writing, reducing stress and resistance. It’s great for engaging and empowering young writers.

Cons: The less structured format may not work for all families. Parents may need to be more involved and excited about teaching writing to ensure progress and there is no built-in evaluation or assessment.

The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)

In a nutshell: IEW is a tried-and-true homeschool curriculum option that employs a method that builds writing confidence and competence. It uses a structured and systematic approach, focused on helping students create quality writing pieces.

Grade Levels: K to 12th grade

Cost: The cost can range from $19 for single items up to $249 for a comprehensive level course.

Format: Mostly DVD-based courses, workbooks, and some online classes.

Pros: Provides clear instruction and step-by-step methods that are easy to follow. It is suitable for a variety of learning styles and abilities. The curriculum covers a broad range of writing styles.

Cons: It can be perceived as rigid by some and may stifle creativity for others. It is more traditional, we have found, than many Prisma parents are looking for. It might be too intensive for students who are not used to structured learning.

Classical Composition

In a nutshell: Based on the ancient principles of storytelling and rhetoric, Classical Composition is a rigorous writing program that leads students step-by-step through the process of writing. If you resonate with the classical approach to homeschooling, you’ll likely be drawn in by this approach.

Grade Levels: 4th to 12th grade

Cost: The cost can vary, but most books range from $15 to $30. DVDs range from $55 to $85.

Format: Textbooks and DVDs.

Pros: It provides a thorough, rigorous program that can help students become proficient writers. It's ideal for parents who prefer a traditional, structured approach to teaching writing, similarly to IEW.

Cons: According to curriculum reviews, it can be challenging and time-consuming. Some students may find it too rigorous or not creative enough.

In a nutshell: WriteShop is a writing curriculum that helps parents teach writing to their children in a step-by-step manner. It focuses on both the creative and mechanical aspects of writing.

Cost: Books and resources range from $7 to $50. Full-set curriculum kits range from $120 to $160.

Format: Books, digital downloads, and online resources.

Pros: The curriculum is easy to use and provides parents with detailed lesson plans. It encourages more creativity than some of the traditional options above while still teaching the technical aspects of writing.

Cons: Some parents have found it to be too teacher-intensive. It requires more preparation than other programs.

Writing Strands

In a nutshell: Writing Strands provides a step-by-step approach to teaching writing, focusing on a broad range of skills such as creative writing, report writing, composition, and critical thinking.

Grade Levels: 2nd to 12th grade

Cost: Individual books cost about $20 each.

Format : Books.

Pros: Even though it’s step-by-step, it is flexible and can be adapted to suit individual student needs. It's also affordable.

Cons: It lacks extensive grammar instruction, and some parents find it lacks depth in certain writing skills. The book-only format may not work for some kids who need more varied types of assignments.

New York Times Writing Curriculum

In a nutshell: This is a modern, real-world-focused curriculum, drawing from The New York Times resources. It emphasizes critical thinking, research, and journalistic writing skills.

Grade Levels: Middle school to high school

Cost: The online resources from The New York Times are often free, but for detailed curriculum materials, cost can vary.

Format: Online, leveraging articles, essays, and multimedia from The New York Times.

Pros: It offers contemporary, engaging, and relevant content. It helps students understand and engage with current events. Great for developing research and critical thinking skills.

Cons: Less emphasis on creative writing. The content might be advanced for younger students. Parental guidance might be necessary due to potentially sensitive topics.

BJU Press Writing & Grammar

In a nutshell: BJU Press Writing & Grammar is a Christian-oriented program that emphasizes grammar and the writing process, incorporating both traditional and creative assignments.

Grade Levels: 1st to 12th grade

Cost: Subject kits can range from $100 to $150, while individual books can range from $15 to $40.

Format: Textbooks, workbooks, and tests.

Pros: The program provides a comprehensive approach to teaching grammar and writing. It's straightforward and structured, providing detailed lesson plans.

Cons: Some parents have found the curriculum to be too rigid and not engaging enough. The Christian worldview integrated throughout the material may not be appealing to everyone.

Well-Trained Mind

In a nutshell: Based on classical education principles, the Well-Trained Mind approach guides parents in crafting a rigorous, comprehensive homeschool curriculum.

Cost: The core book "The Well-Trained Mind" costs around $20 - $30. Other resources' costs vary.

Format: Books and online resources.

Pros: It provides a detailed, rigorous roadmap for classical education at home. It is highly customizable, allowing parents to adapt to their children's learning style and interests.

Cons: It requires significant time and effort from parents. The approach may be too rigorous or structured for some students.

Does Your Writing Curriculum Prepare Your Kids for the Real World? 

At Prisma, one of our learning values is that education should prepare learners for the real world . 98% of Prisma parents say that our school does a better job preparing their learner for the real world than their last school. “The real world problem solving the learners do is unlike anything they do in more conventional schools,” says one parent. “If anyone tells you kids aren't ‘ready’ to consider meaningful topics like the world refugee crisis, neurodiversity, building a business, or scientific research, don't listen!”

When kids see why what they’re learning matters, they’re much more motivated and engaged . When we compartmentalize subjects, we make it unclear for learners how those subjects are used in the real world. When the only writing assignments you are given in school are to write 5-paragraph essays only your English teacher (or parent!) will read, you’re unlikely to grasp why writing is an essential skill in so many careers. Imagine if, instead, you’re asked to write a product pitch for an invention you developed to solve a real-world sustainability problem, like our learners did for the Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge in our interdisciplinary theme Wild Inventions . Prisma learners are still taught foundational writing skills, they’re just asked to apply them to real world problem-solving in an interdisciplinary way.

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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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Contact Rebecca . Rebecca Celsor will answer your questions regarding how to easily teach your child to write.

" It is obvious you are serious about making your homeschool writing product excellent and I appreciate that attitude. You have a wonderful product that has taken the mystery out of essay writing for young people. I am so excited to share this with my son this year. I think I may have my daughter go over more lessons as well. Again, thank you for showing such dedication for your product, it inspires "

• Course Selection Assistance
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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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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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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!

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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: Structure and Style for Students, Year 1 Level B , 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

Structure and Style for Students, Year 1 Level B , 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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