creative writing curriculum homeschool

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

Get Social with WriteShop!

Request a catalog, check out samples, more from my site.

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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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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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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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The Creative Writer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pricing Information

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

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

Creative Writer Level One: Five Finger Exercises

• $12.69 at Christianbook.com
• $10.95 at Rainbowresource.com

Creative Writer Level Four: Becoming a Writer

Creative writer level 3: building your craft, creative writer level two: essential ingredients.

• $10.04 at Christianbook.com
• $11.25 at Rainbowresource.com

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Instant Key

• Need For Parent or Teacher Instruction: low
• Learning Environment: one-on-one or independent study
• Grade Level: grades 5-12
• Religious Perspective: secular but Christian friendly

Publisher's Info

• Well-Trained Mind Press
• (877) 322-3445
• https://welltrainedmind.com/

Note: Publishers, authors, and service providers never pay to be reviewed. They do provide free review copies or online access to programs for review purposes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guidelines Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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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Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

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How to Rock Homeschool Creative Writing (when you don’t feel like THAT creative mom)

June 26, 2023 | 8 Comments This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy .

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Today, I have tips for homeschool creative writing. Also, you’ll love the tips on my post Which One is Really the Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum (a comparison).

Have you ever fumbled your way through teaching a homeschool subject?

Then realize later that you gave your children an amazing start?

It’s not a teaching method I tout because blunders don’t always turn out so productive.

However, teaching is partly influenced by what we were taught growing up.

And homeschool creative writing was a painful process for me.

In middle school, I wasn’t given a specific and detailed explanation of what is creative writing.

For example, I was told to write creatively.

But as a child I thrived with details, planning and wanted specificity.

My teacher was naturally creative and it was almost a lethal combination for me.

My middle school teacher thought I couldn’t relax and let thoughts flow or so it seemed.

And I thought my teacher didn’t know how to teach because she was unclear in her assignment and didn’t mind the details or so I thought.

Until I started homeschooling my own children, I didn’t really grasp what my teacher was excited about.

Hoping to bridge the difference between exceptional homeschool teachers who are naturally creative and those who can be when they clearly understand the assignment, look at three things I learned the hard way.

Table of Contents

Freedom from the Homeschool Curriculum Box

That is powerful if you think about it.

It is about emotions, thoughts, and self-expression. It’s about you and who doesn’t like talking (or writing) about their self.

In explaining creative writing to my boys, I used the example of a group photo taken by one of their friends.

When my boys’ friends show them the photo, can you guess what my boys look at first? Yep. They look for themselves first in the picture.

We can’t help it, it’s natural. We want to see how we look.

What is Homeschool Creative Writing

Creative writing is like finding yourself in that photo.

Naturally creative teachers know that putting thoughts on paper is the outside of what is brimming on the inside of an individual.

Once explained to a child, he can bring comical thoughts, deep emotions and even fears to the surface for writing topics.

Digging up those thoughts in a child’s mind may require effort on the part of a teacher.

Though I didn’t fully understand all the benefits of reading aloud when I started homeschooling, I reaped the benefits of doing it each day.

When I turned my boys loose, my sons could write pages and pages of stories based on their wild imagination that was stimulated by excellent literature.

After they would write pages and pages, I failed again. I switched to teacher mode. Correcting grammar and errors is what I thought writing was all about.

That wasn’t working because I almost created a resistant writer with my first son because I had stifled his creativity.

Thinking that my oldest son had to make a point to the endless stories he was penning was the second mistake I made.

Being a product of my schooling, I had been taught to be clear, concise and brief in my speech and writing.

Those qualities are important as I learned, but not to the extent that they diminish my son’s love for words and expressing emotions through artfully contrived words.

Being part of the solution is to let your child write without fear of being overly corrected, mechanical or trying to make their writing fit your boxed curriculum.

More Homeschool Creative Writing Tips

• Which One is Really the Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum (a comparison)
• 5 Creative Ways to Boost Handwriting in Older Kids
• Cursive Matters; Handwriting Style Doesn’t + Free Resources
• Teaching Handwriting When Homeschooling the Early Years Part 3

From my childhood and experience teaching my first child who was similar to my learning style, I knew that if told him that creative writing was like painting with no rules, he would add his flair to his writing. And he did.

Also, I learned to not bring my teacher mode to the table and start correcting his paper or in other words smother an ember before it becomes a flame.

And I always added in a good dose of reading aloud each day to help all my boys find their style for writing.

Adding creative writing to your curriculum can be challenging but having confident writers years later has been worth every effort.

But I learned a few more things too. 

I learned to use my teaching strengths as a spring board to creative writing ideas.  And I learned how to help my kids create and brainstorm for writing topics.

Writing and Composition Resources For All Ages

Whether you’re teaching handwriting, composition, or creative writing solid tips comes from having an abundance of composition and materials to choose from.

Aesop for Children: Story and D'Nealian Copybook Volume I (Aesop for Children Story and Copybook)

The Aesop for Children Story and D'Nealian Copywork Book, Volume I, includes seventy-three original unabridged fables illustrated by Milo Winter. Also included are copywork selections using the moral of each fable in D'Nealian style manuscript with adequate space for students to copy the included examples in their best handwriting. How to Teach Copywork:Copywork can seem simplistic. Give your child a sentence or two and have them copy it. It can also seem like busy work, but the benefits are great! Copywork is a simple introduction to handwriting, spelling, and composition. Have children copy only the best authors, with the best writing, and ideas to fill their growing minds. When to begin copywork:Once a child learns how to write their letters comfortably, they are ready to start simple copywork. Start with very short sentences and have them copy it, always in their best handwriting. 

Writing Strands: Beginning 1

Learn basic communication skills with this updated Writing Strands curriculum for a new generation!

This Beginning 1 course was created for students learning to write sentences and paragraphs on their own. The assignments gently guide students through their work each day, helping them master basic writing with unique exercises on dialogue, reporting, interviews, role playing, persuasion, story writing, and organizing and grouping ideas.

Writing with Ease: Level 1 Workbook (The Complete Writer)

In Writing with Ease, Susan Wise Bauer lays out an alternative plan for teaching writing, one that combines the best elements of old-fashioned writing instruction with innovative new educational methods. The Complete Writer workbooks (each sold separately) complement this plan with lessons, student worksheets, and teacher instructions for every day of writing instruction. Each covers one year of study. Used along with Writing with Ease, The Complete Writer, Level One (first in a four-volume set) complete the elementary-grade writing curriculum.

Jump In, 2nd Edition: Middle School Composition

ump In, 2nd Edition retains the step-by-step features of the first edition and its conversational style, along with some humor to ease the fright of writing! Students master the art of writing paragraphs, different types of paragraphs, topic sentences, and main ideas (thesis statements). They also practice writing nine types of essays and one research report. Proofreading lessons are included, along with suggested writing schedules and specific student checklists for each essay assignment.Let student-directed Jump In, 2nd Edition teach composition for you. A suggested writing schedule and checklist come with every essay assignment.Teachers will enjoy the new grading grids for each essay in the Teacher’s Guide, making grading much easier.Middle school. Two semesters. 98 daily lessons.

The Power in Your Hands: Writing Nonfiction in High School, 2nd Edition

Finally, your teens will write without dread! Have they almost given up on writing? Do they reach for the tissue box when you say, "Write an essay"? Do you worry they won't be ready for high school or college writing? Do they say they think of things to write but can't write them down? With THE POWER IN YOUR HANDS: WRITING NONFICTION IN HIGH SCHOOL, 2ND EDITION, they'll learn essay writing in a relaxed, nonthreatening atmosphere with a little humor thrown in. This 2ND EDITION includes proofreading marks and exercises, a new chapter on common grammar mistakes, and numbered lessons to easily keep track of daily lessons. This course teaches your teens what they need to know for high school and will be prepare them for college writing: persuasion, compare-and-contrast essays, literary analysis, a research paper with MLA documentation, and much more. In addition, students will learn how to write description and narration essays. Beginning writers will feel safe, and advanced writers will enjoy Digging Deeper lessons.

Writing Rockstars

The Art of Poetry

If you have ever felt mystified by, or unable to enjoy the significance of poetry, this book will lead you step by step to understanding and love of this branch of literature, guided by a gifted poet and teacher. The Art of Poetry is an excellent middle school or high school curriculum; it will teach the practice of reading a poem slowly and carefully, introduce students to the elements of poetry (such as imagery and metaphor) and the many forms that can make a poem, from sonnet to open verse. In the belief that practice is the best way to learn, this book is rich with explications, exercises, and activities. A biography of each poet is also included, and we are providing audio files of many of the poems.

Cover Story Set

Curriculum is a creative one-year writing curriculum for middle school students

Later I realized that I don’t have to give up details, planning or specificity when writing. I will share specific details in an upcoming post about how I used my strengths to make creative writing flourish.

What about you? Are you afraid to step out of the box and teach creative writing?

You can do it!

Reader Interactions

June 14, 2015 at 9:33 pm

Hey Tina! From one writer to another: I loved this. I love creative writing and, just like you say, enjoy putting my own expression into writing. How to teach it to my children…I never thought about that. But with this helpful post, it’s given me ideas. I’m featuring this post this week at the Laugh & Learn. Thank you for linking up with us!

June 16, 2015 at 7:18 pm

Lindsey, love the things you share and yes, add your own personality and guess what? The writing will have personality because you help your child develop his style. Oh well, LOVE to write for sure. Thanks for hosting Laugh & Learn and THANK YOU for the feature!! BTW, I couldn’t get your link party or Selena’s either one to come up, maybe it’s just on my mind.

June 10, 2015 at 10:36 am

These are so great!!! Thank you! I’ll be pinning these as well! I just love your online space!

June 12, 2015 at 9:27 pm

Thank you Sarah! Thanks for scooting by and thank you for hosting for sure!!

Appreciate the share!

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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. 

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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.

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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

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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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Choosing a Great Homeschool Writing Curriculum

Writing can be intimidating, both teaching it and practicing it (as in, actually doing the writing). Lots of questions probably float through your mind as you try to decide on a homeschool writing curriculum.

• Where should I begin?
• How can I inspire my children to enjoy writing?
• What do my children need to know about writing?

As a creative writer, I believe one of the most important parts of teaching the subject to my kids involves inspiring creativity in their own hearts and minds.

The thing is, children are naturally creative, and they’re natural storytellers, too! Have you ever returned to your kids after a few hours away, and they all want to tell you stories? Each one is jumping up and down wanting to narrate to you the events of the past few hours.

So, we know they can create stories, of all kinds, but the challenge is figuring out how to teach them the semantics of writing –transforming a creative oral story into a written one that makes sense and doesn’t neglect the vital aspects of proper grammar, punctuation, and flow.

This is where a great homeschool writing curriculum can make all the difference!

Writing Begins with Reading

I was into the whole early learning thing and taught my oldest to read at a young age. She was reading picture books at two, and by five she finished Little House in the Big Woods in a single afternoon. I couldn’t find enough books to satisfy her literary appetite.

A year or two later, she was weaving tales for her little brothers on car rides and writing fictional stories of her own. But having to deal with the more technical aspects of writing wasn’t her idea of fun. I needed a writing curriculum that would keep her engaged, yet also give her a solid foundation in writing mechanics.

Even if you don’t have an aspiring author in the house, your children will need to learn how to write research reports, informative and persuasive essays , effective memos, and letters and reports for business purposes.

All of these will need to contain sound writing mechanics such as the rules of punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, grammar, and spelling.

But it all starts with a love for reading and stories! If you have a reluctant reader , there’s absolutely nothing wrong with reading aloud to that little boy or girl. Some children (and adults, too) naturally prefer audio input.

While it’s important to encourage those types of learners to do some reading for themselves, you can rest assured that hearing a story read aloud still helps them develop important skills. It enables them to grasp concepts like narrative arc, story flow, and character development. Listening to stories aloud also gives them a chance to utilize their imagination as they hear a story unfold.

Okay, back to writing.

What Are the Four Types of Writing?

In homeschooling, and in finding the best writing curriculum, you want to expose your children to the four types of writing, often enough that they understand these main approaches. The more they grow familiar with these, the easier it will be for your children to hone their writing skills.

• Expository writing answers a question or provides information. It offers evidence and statistics and is often found in the genres of business writing, technical writing, and scientific writing.
• Persuasive writing convinces the reader to take action or adopt a specific point of view. The writer must offer evidence and justification that support whatever claims they are making.
• Descriptive writing uses words to paint a picture by utilizing sensory details that evoke imagery. Metaphors, similes, and allegories are literary techniques often used in descriptive writing.
• Narrative writing tells a story, which can be fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. A narrative needs characters, a setting, and usually a conflict of some sort or tension that must be resolved. Good narrative writing also employs aspects of descriptive writing such as imagery, metaphors, and whatever other techniques are needed to strengthen the story.

How to Teach the Mechanics of Writing

Beyond learning about the four different types of writing, a good homeschool writing curriculum will also teach writing mechanics.

The mechanics of writing will include:

• Learning the rules for capitalization
• Memorizing the rules for punctuation
• Understanding the various (and sometimes confusing) rules for spelling
• Appropriate sentence structure and syntax
• All things grammar-related

How to Teach the Writing Process

One last thing a great homeschool writing curriculum will cover is the writing process, which involves a series of steps to help writers organize their thoughts.

• Pre-writing – researching, brainstorming, and deciding what to write about.
• Organizing – putting ideas into logical order, and using a writing style that suits the target audience. This sometimes involves writing an outline (every child’s favorite task!).
• Rough Draft – putting thoughts and ideas into written format while not worrying too much about the finer points of grammar and punctuation.
• Revising – making improvements to content, structure, and style. This is where you as the teacher come in and offer suggestions (and hopefully a lot of encouragement, too).
• Editing – correcting errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Final Draft – putting the essay into final form (yes, this final draft is a necessary practice, even if they complain about having to write the same thing AGAIN!).

Questions When Choosing a Writing Curriculum

• Are you comfortable enough with the semantics of writing to teach your child about it? Would you prefer a program that takes the pressure off and enables you to focus on other aspects of homeschooling?
• What type of program will fit your child’s learning style ? Are they better suited to workbooks? Would they prefer a video-based curriculum?
• Is your focus on inspiring creativity in your children, or helping them learn the mechanics of grammar? If you are more versed in one or the other, get a program that focuses on what you’re not as familiar with.

Homeschool Writing Curriculum Options

Okay, now for the fun part! Here are 12 courses or writing curriculum options (and one writing app) available. Some are online, and some are workbooks. Some are video-based and some are text-based. Basically, there is something to fit every student, teacher, and homeschooling situation!

• Write At Home offers online writing courses for students in fourth to twelfth grade. They also offer offer live, webinar-based, literature courses, high school history classes, and complete English Language Arts classes for fourth and fifth graders.
• Institute for Excellence in Writing is a video-based program that aims to equip teachers and homeschooling parents with the methods and materials they need to train their students to grow into confident communicators and thinkers.
• Brave Writer provides user-friendly materials and online classes for students of all ages, including family bundles, if you are teaching language arts to several ages at once.
• Write Your Roots is a one-year workbook for grades 5-12, with short stories based on facts. It is designed to fulfill the requirements for a full year of English composition.
• Learn to Write the Novel Way is a language arts and writing curriculum for grades 5-12, which teaches your students to write an entire novel, learning vocabulary, grammar, and mechanics skills they can use in their future writing.
• Wordsmith Apprentice is an easy-to-use writing course that helps students develop their writing skills while they participate in various newspaper staff roles, including editor, reporter, and writer.
• Igniting Your Writing is a homeschool writing curriculum in one volume with 24 lessons, covering six areas of writing. Each lesson has three levels, so you can choose the level that fits your student: startup, intermediate, or advanced. A teacher’s guide is also included.
• Classical Writing is a writing curriculum that uses a method based on an ancient Greek writing tradition aimed to teach students the art of putting thoughts into words.  
• Writing Strands is a writing composition series that teaches grammar via a convenient daily schedule of 30 to 45 minutes per lesson, five days a week
• JacKris Publishing provide a variety of language arts curricula to parents and teacher who hope to strengthen their students’ mastery of spelling, vocabulary, English grammar, traditional writing, and creative writing techniques. They have workbooks on language arts, spelling, writing, grammar, and diagramming.  
• The WriteWell Writing App offers helpful information about writing essays of all kinds, including narrative, persuasive, and expository essays, as well as personal narrative and memoir-style writing, literary analyses, and more.
• Story Starters is part of  The Gentle Art of LearningTM  series, which encourages children to write in ways they have never written before.
• One Year Adventure Novel is a one-year writing curriculum that teaches students how to write an adventure novel over the course of one school year. It teaches foundational principles of storytelling and provides many thought-provoking questions to help students create better stories.

Other Related Articles

• High School History Curriculum Options
• Tips For Teaching Your Child To Write Right
• 4 Steps to Sonnet Writing
• Can a Student Learn to Write by Imitating Good Writing?
• Six Engaging Writing Activities for Kids
• Four Ways to Be More Consistent with Writing Instruction

Author. Editor. Mom.

Bonita Jewel visited India when she was 16 and stayed for 12 years. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked as a freelance writer and editor for 13 years. Now settled in California with her husband and three children, Bonita enjoys homemade ginger chai and the rare days rain graces the San Joaquin Valley. Her writing explores faith, family, belonging and of course, the joys of writing, reading, and finding oneself part of a Greater Story. Find her at bonitajewel.com and bonitajewel.substack.com

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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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Creative Writing in Your Homeschool

Creative writing is a great tool to use in your homeschool. It offers an outlet for creativity and free expression, a place to explore ideas, and is an excellent way to practice communication skills. Check out this Homeschool Living for ideas for strategies for teaching creative writing, creative ways to encourage reluctant writers, and fun ways to use creative writing in your homeschool.

Though far from the only subject you’ll teach in your homeschool, writing is one of the most important skills to start teaching early and to continue to develop over time. Creative writing influences cognitive development by encouraging organizational skills, building confidence, developing problem solving skills, and increasing communication and persuasion skills. Check out these four benefits of creative writing to explore more reasons to teach creative writing in your homeschool.

This ultimate guide to creative writing from The Unlikely Homeschool shares a ton of great story starters and creative writing prompts, hands-on and multi-sensory activities to inspire creative writing projects, learning resources, and tips for encouraging reluctant writers.

From the time that your kids are old enough to start stringing sentences together, they have a story to tell. Pay attention to how they play, communicating with each other and with toys in independent play, and you’ll hear the stories they’re creating. This means that you can start teaching story structure even in preschool, and help make the reading and writing process more intuitive as they progress.

These  six strategies for teaching story structure are great ways to help students develop their communication and comprehension skills. Experiment with visuals and games geared toward younger students, and graphs and charts that will especially appeal to older or more analytical students.

Using a student’s natural creativity and enthusiasm can be a great jumping-off point for your creative writing lessons, but not every student has the inclination or confidence to embrace creative writing initially. 

Creative Writing Assignments

A fun way to round out your creative writing assignments is to incorporate binding the finished projects into the process. That doesn’t mean you have to send materials away to be bound–although that can be a fun way to experiment and learn about different methods if your budget allows. These five DIY book-binding methods are just as effective for your purposes, and are fun ways for students to showcase their work, practice fine motor skills, and unleash their creativity. This also provides a great opportunity for students to practice summarizing and advertising their “book” by designing book jackets, covers, and illustrations.

Especially if you have multiple or enthusiastic writers, you might find these finished projects pile up quite quickly. Take the opportunity to impart another life lesson. Encourage students to re-use, re-work, and re-create from their own or from each other’s material. Certainly keep the most prized accomplishments as they are, but you can help cut down on paper waste and boxes of old school projects by adopting a few additional practices. Have students practice typing skills while recording their finished stories electronically, and then use illustrations, sentences, and even colorful words and phrases from their work as story starters and inspiration for other projects. If students learn early on to view these assignments and projects as building blocks for learning new things, improving skills, and creating challenges, it will help them develop the life-long learning attitude that all homeschooling parents strive to instill in their children.

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Learning to write should be immersive —after all, stories are!

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Filed Under: Language Arts  · Reviews · Language Arts

One Year Adventure Novel Review (Homeschool Writing Curriculum)

We found a creative writing curriculum that has inspired our kids.

Last year Jaden and Jerah both took a writing class from another homeschool mom who used the Write Shop curriculum. At the time, Jerah already enjoyed writing, but Jaden changed from hating writing to starting to develop a real love for it as a direct result of the class. I was so excited to see both of them so eager to write!

So this school year I looked for a curriculum that would help them develop their writing skills — and I found one that has more than exceeded my expectations.

One Year Adventure Novel Overview

Students learn about the art (and dare I say science?) of storytelling. OYAN is not a curriculum about grammar , spelling or topic sentences. It's a fun but intense study about the structure and elements of story. At the end, not only will students be able to write their own novel, but they'll have a much better understanding — and appreciation — of other literature.

I have still found this to be so true! While my oldest daughter is definitely a writer, sometimes writing as many as 10,000 words a day for her WIP (work in progress), my son is not a writer. However, he still enjoyed the curriculum and he now has a much better understanding of story structure and is much better able to analyze others' writing, even if he's not writing stories himself.

Also, if your child has aspirations to do any screenwriting or playwriting, this is an EXCELLENT way to get a good foundation on the concept of story. In fact, the Summer Workshops are now offering specific tracks for students interested in screenwriting. 

How does OYAN work?

Students watch the lesson on the DVD (or online) , read the lesson in the textbook (The Compass), and then complete the assignment in the workbook (The Map), usually consisting of thought provoking questions which help the students flesh out their novel. Students outline and plan their novel during the first half of the curriculum, then spend the last half doing the actual writing. You can read FAQs about OYAN here .

The OYAN Forum

We worked through 36 lessons in the curriculum before checking out the OYAN forum, and I'm a bit upset that it took me so long to register my kids. The forum is incredible!

Only students who have purchased the OYAN curriculum can register on the forum, which makes it quite an exclusive community. I say exclusive, but that doesn't mean that it's a small community. There are well over 1,000 registered members and 25-35 of them are usually online at any one time. It's a very active forum to say the least.

NOTE: I had my youngest just check the current 2018 stats, and there are 2,700 registered member—and 63 were online at 9pm. Definitely an active group still! 

On the forum the OYANers talk 'shop' (aka writing), critique each other's works, write cooperative stories, and chat about any number of other writing-related topics.

The supportive atmosphere among the members is quite evident, and I've been very pleased with how well the forum is moderated. I am very comfortable with my kids participating. They'll be having fun, but they'll be learning and improving their writing at the same time. Definitely a win-win situation.

When OYANers attend a summer workshop, which I talk about below, their name tags include their real names in addition to their forum usernames since many of the student know each other only by their forum handles. Many students have gotten to know each other really well on the forum, so they are incredibly excited to finally meet in person at the workshop.

Free Live Webinars with the Instructor

Mr. Schwabauer —or Mr. S as OYANers call him— also offers free Webinars for OYAN students during which he talks about specific aspect of writing. Webinars are interactive, so students are able to ask questions in real time. We've not done a Webinar yet, but we're planning to attend next week's Webinar on the subject of  "Dread."

Over the years, my girls attended quite a few webinars with Mr. S. It's an amazing opportunity to speak directly to their 'teacher' and to learn even more from him. And it's yet one more thing that makes this curriculum so unique and amazing.

Summer Writing Workshop

While investigating the forum this last week, I also discovered that OYAN will be holding a writing workshop this upcoming summer . In true OYAN style, it's billed as "4 full days of epic epicness" — and I have no doubt it will be exactly that. Fun, information, and educational. The workshop is definitely something the kids are excited about attending.

Four full days of epic epicness is not an overstatement. The Summer Workshops are amazing!  My oldest daughter attended her first workshop in 2011 and has been to five workshops since. She's hoping to make it to her first WINTER workshop this year along with my husband (who will attend with her since he's a writer himself!). My youngest daughter has attended two workshops as a student, but attended several more as a sibling before that.

Summer Workshops are held on the beautiful campus of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe. And I'm not kidding when I say the workshops are a cross between a writing conference, church camp, and Comic-Con! Cosplay is everywhere, from Star Wars to Dr. Who to Anime and everything in between. Some students even make their own chainmail and dress in medieval costume. And elf ears are everywhere! It's an absolutely amazing AND educational experience. And in case you're wondering, I do include the workshops on my kids' high school transcripts since it's an intensive learning experience, both from the speaker sessions and the extremely helpful writing critique groups.

I'm utterly amazed at how much of an influence this curriculum has had on our lives. My kids have made some of their closest friends through OYAN and the Summer Workshops. And it has played a pivotal role in turning my oldest daughter, Jerah, into a passionate and prolific writer. She's written well over 4 million words across all her writing projects since starting OYAN in 2010, and she's not slowing down! She's a die-hard OYANer, and will be for life. 

As I already said, the Summer Workshops are amazing! We consider them our family vacation, and we look forward to them every time we attend. There's probably not a week that goes by where OYAN isn't mentioned in conversation somewhere in our home…even though we haven't done the curriculum itself in quite a while.

Since we've attended several workshops, we've gotten to know both the creator of the curriculum, Mr. S., and his awesome wife, Carrol (Mrs. S!), and I've told them many times that I'm amazed at how much OYAN has influenced our lives. OYAN is way more than just a curriculum; it's a community. And there's not a single other curriculum that I'm as excited about telling others about.

If your family has not tried One Year Adventure Novel yet, you're missing out!

Watch Sample Lessons

When we first looked into using OYAN, I ordered a free demo DVD that contained sample lessons and a thorough explanation about how the curriculum works. If you're interested in learning more about One Year Adventure Novel , I'd strongly suggest you order a free demo DVD . If you want to look at some samples lessons from the written part of the OYAN curriculum, you can see online them here .

Other Worlds Curriculum

We'll be finishing up the One Year Adventure Novel curriculum this year, but thankfully that won't be the end. Next year we'll be using Mr. Schwabauer's Other Worlds curriculum which is about writing science fiction and fantasy (and is the follow-up module to OYAN). NOTE: My oldest daughter completed the Other Worlds curriculum after she completed OYAN, and she really enjoyed that as well! I definitely recommend Other Worlds, too!

Here's a great review of the Other Worlds curriculum along with tips for helping your child learn to write fantasy and science fiction. 

Student Video Contest

Every year, several OYAN students submit a video to the OYAN Student Video Contest on the topic of What I love about OYAN, What OYAN taught me, How OYAN is unique, or How OYAN has impacted my writing. My kids have never submitted a video themselves, but this particular submission is one of my favorites! It won 1st place in 2016, and features Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Jane Austen. Enjoy!

We're obviously in love with OYAN. What about you? Have you heard about One Year Adventure Novel before?

For more curriculum reviews, visit the Homeschool Curriculum Review Roundup at The Happy Housewife.

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November 11, 2010 at 5:30 pm

Thank you for sharing this info! I just requested the demo DVD. I think this is something my 13 year old would be interested in.

July 4, 2011 at 9:30 am

I have never heard of this! I'm ordering the demo right now. My kids are always writing stories of all types, and one daughter has a 64-chapter draft done. This sounds like a perfect curriculum to hone their craft. Thanks!!!

July 4, 2011 at 9:34 am

You'll LOVE it. It's NOT your typical writing curriculum, as I said in my post. And the Schwabauers are wonderful people, and care so much about the students. I'd love to hear how you and your kids like it if you choose to use it. My daughter is doing the second module for it, Other Worlds, this coming year. She is SO excited.

July 6, 2011 at 8:48 am

Joy, I forgot to get your card, but I found your blog through this review. I echo everything you shared in your writeup. My 3 oldest boys went through the curriculum last year and all completed a story. I was especially surprised that my 12 year old, Seth, wrote a story. I allowed him to watch the videos and do the assignments with his brothers although I did not purchase a workbook for him thinking he wasn't ready for it.

Seth not only completed the story, but his spelling, vocabulary and sentence structure all improved (without tears, I might add)! I did not expect the curriculum to be so much fun, as well as inspiring. Ad a result, my children are all writing because they WANT to. They also have developed some very advanced writing techniques from Mr. S. I also agree the the Schwabauers care deeply for the students in their program.

Our house is all abuzz about next year's OYAN summer writing workshop. I will be bringing at least one more son next year. One year Adventure novel was one of the best investments I have made in homeschool curriculum in my 13 years of homeschooling!

July 6, 2011 at 9:29 am

@Maris , It was so great to meet you at the workshop! My kids both had a great time, too, even my reluctant-writer son. We're planning to attend the workshop next year as well. I'm not entirely sure what Jerah's reaction would be if we DIDN'T go next year…and I don't want to find out! 🙂 This curriculum has been SUCH a blessing!

April 9, 2012 at 5:42 pm

This is my first year using the One Year Adventure Novel program and I love it! 😀 It has helped me so much! I have always liked writing short stories, poems, and screen plays, but all my attempts at writing a novel failed. They all failed until I started the OYAN program. Now I'm halfway through my first book. ^_^ And I have about a million ideas for more books! The DVD's are great and the Map book really exercises my imagination and helps me figure out how I'm going to do a specific chapter, or rescue my hero from a pack of blood thirsty wolves. (Or perhaps just hand him a dagger and let him fend for himself gladiator style. O.O) Also the Summer Workshops are supposed to be a lot of fun! I'm going for the first time this year. I'm sure it will live up to its reputation! 😀 I definitely recommend the curriculum to any young beginning writers! 😀 The OYAN community is awesome. If I'm having a bad day and I can't seem to write anything, I can find an abundance of support from my fellow writers on the forum. I've made a few really good friends there that I hope to see this summer. 🙂

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Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum for Your Struggling Writer!

This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy for details.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top 3 Reasons We Chose WriteShop Junior

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Brainstorming
• Self-editing

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

3. Because the best homeschool curriculum makes teaching writing easier

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

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

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

*Bonus* reason WriteShop is great for struggling writers…

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

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

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

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

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

A Little More About WriteShop

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Top 10 Homeschooling High School Writing Curriculum Choices For 2021

Writing is very personal. When we share our efforts,  we are hoping to evoke an emotion, stir a reaction, and touch your life in some way. Ignore the glaring misspellings and dangling participles for now.  Simply enjoy what your child has to offer.

We have asked some Teach Them Diligently families what their favorite High School Writing curriculums are. Those are listed below with a link to our complete Homeschool Family Favorite Guide.

The Top 3…

Institute for Excellence in Writing – From their website: At the Institute for Excellence in Writing, we train teachers to model an oral and written pathway of communication which develops the language skills of all students through imitation to innovation. Because every teacher can use the method in his or her classroom, every parent can be confident that every student can learn to listen, speak, read, write, and think effectively and eloquently.

Memoria Press Classical Composition – From their website: Memoria Press’ composition program, Classical Composition, is based on the original classical method of teaching writing called the “progymnasmata.” It was the program that produced John Milton and William Shakespeare. This method involved learning fourteen skills, organized from the simplest and most basic to the most complex and sophisticated. In addition, our English Grammar Recitation program will solidify the grammar your child has learned in Latin through memorizing and reciting the essential grammatical and usage rules in English.

BJU Press Grammar and Writing – From their website: Few skills are more essential today than effective communication. Help your children sharpen the tools of language use–writing and grammar skills. Your children’s analytical abilities will grow as they expand their vocabulary and learn to use words in context. They will learn how to read literature in the light of biblical truth and how to deal biblically with objectionable elements. BJU Press Literature teaches an appreciation for literary techniques in Scripture, presents a variety of genres from a range of cultures, and develops critical thinking skills.

Top High School Writing Curriculums 4-5

4. One year Adventure Novel – From their website: Through 78 video lessons, the  One Year Adventure Novel  guides high school writers (9th – 12th grade) step by step in creating an original, fully-structured adventure novel—in one school year (two semesters

5. Writing with Ease From Well-Trained Mind – From their website: Susan Wise Bauer’s writing instruction book, newly revised and updated, is part I of The Complete Writer series, a curriculum helping you to take charge of your child’s writing skills now

Top High School Writing Curriculums 6-10

6. Gather Round Homeschool  

7. Lost Tools of Writing

8. Writing Skills for Today

9. Sharron Watson Resources

10. Writers in Residence

Sign up to download your free curriculum guide today!

Lizzie Gray Fritz

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Eight Free Creative Writing Lessons

February 17, 2012 by Ami 17 Comments

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

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

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

Creative Writing Lessons for a Homeschool Co-op Class

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

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

Creative Writing Lesson Plans

Creative writing lesson one.

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

Grab lesson one here .

Creative Writing Lesson Two

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

Grab lesson two here.

Creative Writing Lesson Three

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

Grab lesson three here.

Creative Writing Lesson Four

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

Grab lesson four here.

Creative Writing Lesson Five

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

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

Grab lesson five here.

Creative Writing Lesson Six

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

Grab lesson six here.

Creative Writing Lesson Seven

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

Grab lesson seven here.

Creative Writing Lesson Eight

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

Grab lesson eight here .

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

Creative Writing Lessons FAQ

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

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

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

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

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

January 7, 2016 at 1:57 pm

Hi Theresa,

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

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Best Homeschool Writing Curriculum for Middle School

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

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

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

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

Best Basic Program

Writing With Skill s eries, Susan Wise Bauer

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

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

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

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

Best Comprehensive Program

Institute for Excellence in Writing Level B program , Andrew Pudewa

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

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

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

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

Best Classical Approach

Classical Composition series , Memoria Press

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

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

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

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

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

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My son went from not putting anything on paper to being able to utilize the skills and structure that he got from IEW to writing papers sometimes longer than what's required. All I have to do is check the grammatical errors!

All-time Favorite Curriculum!

I noticed improvement in my kids' writing almost immediately. No more whining from my kids means it's a win for me and them!

Provides Strategies That Work

Writing is not an easy subject to teach well, but IEW provides simple and easy-to-use strategies that support the teacher in her instruction. Before students realize it, they are writing!

Proven Methods That Work

Don't spend a lot of money on curriculums that will come and go. IEW has proven methods.

Fun and Easy to Use

I used IEW materials with all of my kids. Each of them was a different type of student. I found that the material was useful and effective for each of their different learning styles and temperaments. I found it fun and easy to use and very interactive. We have many great memories of leaning over rough drafts and laughing about stories!

Challenging but Not Overwhelming

Not a question but a big thank you! This is our first year homeschooling our 6th grade son. This writing class has been terrific! Mr. Pudewa does a great job of teaching and keeping my son engaged. So far, the workload has been just right. It’s challenging but not overwhelming! Many, many thanks!

Piece of Cake

I started using IEW in 2018 in my homeschool with my now twenty-year-old son. He wrote circles around all the others in his first-year college writing courses. He is in the top 10% of his college class and received an invitation (nominated by his writing instructor) to join Phi Theta Kappa honor society. My son has told me that he was so glad I had him take all those IEW courses throughout his middle and high school years because it has made college writing a piece of cake. We are continuing the IEW journey with our now seventh-grade daughter and eighth-grade son. Thank you!

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Making homeschool decisions easy

in Fine Arts · Hands On

The Creative Homeschool

The words “creative homeschool” can conjure up images of arts, crafts, music, writing, and drama. It can also, however, refer to creatively fostering learning, to thinking outside the box and developing new approaches to the actual process of learning. Both of these aspects are vital parts of happy homeschools, so sit back, relax, and read about all kinds of homeschool creativity. We hope your family will be blessed by the time you spend exploring some of our favorite options.

The Creative Homeschool from the Curriculum Choice Authors

The Curriculum Choice authors have active blogs where they regularly offer ideas and experiences about their homeschool adventures. Below are our thoughts about creative homeschooling—and, let me tell you, some of these ladies are very creative! You will be sure to find some inspiring or helpful ideas for your family.

Annie Kate from Tea Time with Annie Kate

No one has ever said that we are ‘so creative’ and, at least in the Pinterest style, we are not. But as I look at over two decades of homeschooling I see many examples of creativity that is less visual.

Our children have been creative in how they approach their courses, and I have been in how we record them . Among my favorite examples have been the arguments, written or debated, about whether or not they really needed to learn grammar, debate, etc. A well-written, well-argued paper about why grammar is not a necessary topic (at the time) goes a far way to proving that it isn’t.

Everyday activities can also involve creative learning. Anything from baking a pie , altering clothes, and gardening to building with lego or k’nex, building a website, doing an experiment, or starting a business can involve creative learning, if only we are open to recognizing it. On the other hand we need to be careful about scripted ‘creativity’ that comes with some curricula; as Mary Pride points out in Schoolproof , this can smother learning in some cases.

A great source of creative math problems for teens is tucked away in the website of the University of Waterloo’s website, the CEMC’s past math competition papers .

One can approach physical education in so many creative ways. Here is one: “ Floating Down the River Again .”

NaNoWriMo is an exciting way to study novels by writing one in a month. It has options for little ones and for teens, and our children have actually had their novels printed. This happens in November, so it has already started, but you can always join a bit late. Here is a link to several articles about our NaNoWriMo experience .

Many of us need to record the learning our children do. I have written about one way to document creative learning for university admittance and the amazing results of such an application .

If you want to teach your children about creativity, Ambleside Online has free guides to help children of all ages learn about composers, artwork, nature drawing, singing, and handicrafts. These have been among the favorite part of homeschooling for me.

Homeschooling High School with College in Mind

Betsy Sproger @ BJ’s Homeschool (blogger and author of the book above.)

I can’t think of any better way to inspire creativity than to go out and explore God’s creation.  We made time for nature study through the years, starting in preschool and continuing that through high school.  We especially loved bird watching together.  Our bird watching started at our own feeder than expanded to joining the Holiday Bird Counts activity when my daughter was a little older.

Birdwatching – Our Favorite Nature Study includes easy to do activities from preK through elementary.

Homeschool High School Nature Study and How to Make it an Elective shows how we added in photography and other activities in high school.

My daughter was quite interested in fiction writing as a middle schooler.  So we started doing NaNovWriMo then and continued through 10th grade.  So much fun was had!  November became our special month where we suspended our usual studies and focused on writing instead.  And my daughter loved that and became a strong writer, which later helped her in college.

3 Ways to Build Strong Writers tells you all you need to know to join NaNovWriMo, plus it offers other fun creative writing resources, too.

100 High School Electives includes lots of ideas for homeschool high school creative electives, like art, chalk pastels, drama and more.  Did you know that high school electives and activities can help your teen get into college?  Our daughter’s electives helped her get into the college of her choice.

We loved doing chalk art in our homeschool.  Have you seen how Tricia’s great art video courses can be made into a high school credit?  Fine arts is a requirement for most colleges and Tricia provides a fun and expert way to do that.

Frugal High School Art and How to Make it into a High School Credit shows how it can be done at the low cost of $20.00 a month!  For a full year long fine arts credit  And of course the holidays give us lots of reasons to do creative activities.   What do you like to do with your kids while they are awaiting Christmas?

Tricia from ChalkPastel.com and Hodgepodge.me

When there is a certain framework to your homeschool day, then those every day sorts of things are easily accomplished. The 3Rs, morning chores, a few more things after lunch. Leaving room – not only during those times of learning – but also building in creative down time. Free time. Exploration time.

How an Art Box Inspires Artists – I often hear fellow mamas say that they would love to offer their children more chances for art every day . That statement is usually followed by: but I… Let me offer you a simple solution. An art box .

As teachers, we know that art helps with understanding and recall of facts. I Drew It Then I Knew It Art Lessons   help all ages to learn. I Drew It Then I knew it works with history, famous artists and their work, composers, space and the constellations, American landmarks, inventors, nature study, seasonal studies, holidays…the list goes on and on! Find out more and join the You ARE an Artist Clubhouse at ChalkPastel.com . Get your free Get Started in Chalk Pastels Video Art Lessons here .

Here are some ideas for an Easy Mommy and Me Art Time – The children developed such joy from our poetry teatime and one day it spilled over into our homeschool art time.

My mother, Nana, has a some encouragement for you and your creative homeschool in her Words to Bless podcast. You can listen here .

Nature Journaling and Chalk Pastels – (includes a video!) What joy to go on a nature walk and journal all that you see! Chalk pastel nature journaling is a way to capture those adventures. You can take a little zip top bag with a few chalk pastel sticks along with your nature journal. Or you can do a quick sketch while out in the field and come back and paint a chalk pastel painting! Chalk pastel nature journaling is a wonderful way to match a love of nature and grow a love of art.

Art + music + hymns – As you study a favorite hymn, paint with either chalk pastels or acrylics what you might imagine this hymn means. Nana’s hymns video art lessons are a perfect complement to a hymn memorization study!

Heather from BlogSheWrote.org

Creativity has always been a non-negotiable in our homeschool because it provided a lot of hands on fun when my kids were younger and because my daughter is a creative soul.

How do you transition from the fun with creativity into the high school years when time is short and academics are extra important?

If you have a creative teen, time for creative pursuits is the foundation of everything they do!

Scheduling Time for Creative Pursuits – Make sure creative time is not the icing on the cake but the foundation of your creative teen’s high school.

How to Apply for Art & Design School – from designing your teen’s art and design program in high school to preparing a portfolio for design school

How to Save on Art Instruction – one of our favorite art resources for all ages

The Surprising Secret to Mentoring Out-of-the-Box Teens – The story of our creative teen from 8 years old to her journey beyond our homeschool into design school. Creativity is worth the time and the alternative approach to learning!

Scheduling Time for NaNoWrimo – what if you dropped everything and wrote for a month, even in high school, what would happen? Find out how we did it and what happened!

The Creative Homeschool from the Curriculum Choice Archives

At The Curriculum Choice we have shared many resources for homeschool creativity. Be sure to browse the tabs above to find reviews for art, music, technology, and more.  You might also enjoy these that we’ve selected from our archives.

• Art with a Purpose
• Art in the Homeschool
• You are an Artist Clubhouse
• An Introduction to the Classics
• Explore the Orchestra
• Online Piano Lessons
• Keeping a Nature Journal
• Nature Study with John Muir Laws
• Math-terpieces: Learning Math Skills and Art History Together
• Sew Teach Me Sewing

Creative approaches to homeschooling, also involving a great deal of actual creativity

• Ambleside Online
• Ambleside Online: The Perfect Fit for our Family
• The Extracurricular Homeschool

Annie Kate and her husband are the parents of five busy blessings, ages 15-25. Though inspired by classical and Charlotte Mason education, they have discovered that the best learning involves real life: music, cooking, dairy farming, nature walks, bee keeping, reading, judo, blogging, website development, writing, gardening, photography, learning retail, working with horses, and more. Annie Kate's goal is to inspire and equip her children to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and to love their neighbors as themselves.

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