Before You Buy a Writing Curriculum

It’s back to school time, and you might have already come face to face with a child’s skill level. Could their handwriting really be that bad? And what about the spelling?! These roadblocks might send you on late night searches for a curriculum that promises to solve all these problems. Here are a few things to think about before you click Buy Now.

What Are Your Goals?

Kids who can think? Handwriting or spelling skills? 5 paragraph essays or college entry and scholarship essays? Each of these aims are worthy, and there are resources that can help you meet these goals. Getting clear on what you hope to accomplish will help you make better choices. Then, I try to find the most simple, affordable ways to meet those goals.

Andrew Pudewa says that reading aloud and poetry memorization are key elements in building successful writers. I’d add listening to audiobooks and copywork to the list as well. At our house, we usually have 2 read alouds going. Right now we are just starting The Ballad of the White Horse by Chesterton and Steinbeck’s The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights. We read a poem every day as a part of our opening Morning Time. Having these key pieces already in place will only strengthen formal writing instruction.

Then I’d add creative ways to keep expanding the stories you read together. Things like dress-up clothes, lego, clay, and drawing materials. Spend time creatively responding to stories. Participate in the world of the story. And talk about what you are reading together. This can be a very natural conversation. Talk about your own favorite character or scene. Talk through the turns that a complicated story takes. What does this story remind you of? How does it connect to other books you’ve read?

I’d also look for natural ways to add in some writing–lists, thank you notes, writing to a penpal or faraway cousins. This isn’t something that needs to happen every day. Maybe once a month. A little goes a long way. If you have specific concerns like grammar, spelling, or handwriting, then, you can look for low key resources to target those areas. We’ve happily used Queen Language Lessons and Evan Moor workbooks.

So a simple approach to writing could include

• reading poems + stories together
• talking about those stories
• finding ways to expand the stories
• adding in natural ways of writing when they pop up
• working on specific skills, like spelling and handwriting, outside of writing instruction

This simple plan has taken us through the elementary years and set the stage for the writing to come!