This is a conversation on behalf of WriteShop. Opinions are 100% my own.
When we educate our children at home, we see a different side to them. We are in a position to help them in academic areas where they struggle, to challenge them in unique ways, and to tailor their curricula to be as much about enjoying the process as it is about what is learned. One of our favorite homeschool creative writing programs that can do all three is the family of products from WriteShop. Our eldest daughter has struggled due to dyslexia, WriteShop was great to help her get past the paralyzing pencil allergy and to actually enjoy the writing process. Now, it has just the hands-on, creative components that our third daughter needs. WriteShop is a perfect fit for our family!
We have been using WriteShop Junior E, the second level of the intermediate program. Our fifth grade daughter has no aversion to writing. Far from it, she has notebooks filled – with one continuing story. Her problem is seeing all the steps of the writing process (especially a conclusion). She would be quite happy to just put pencil to paper and keep going, not worrying about planning it out or editing it (or finishing). With the fun projects found in the lessons of WriteShop Junior, she is starting to see that these are necessary steps – and enjoy them. Were these lessons not so fun, incorporating games and other hands-on activities, she would not only dread the lesson time, but she wouldn’t learn from it.
We spend about three weeks to cover each lesson (there are other suggested schedules, and of course, tweaking a curricula is part of the fun in homeschooling), working three days a week. This pace will require about 30 weeks to complete Book E. Because this daughter is child #3 of six, this pace lets me spend the one-on-one time with her that the activities require, but not so much time each week that it interferes with her siblings needs.
Each lesson has 8 activity sets, the second taking a bit more time than the others. The Model & Teach portion of Activity set 2 is the one that can be intimidating for those of us that think we cannot teach writing. There are clear directions for the parent/teacher; just enough to guide you, but not so much that this time feels scripted or forced (my children hate that!). My daughter’s favorite parts are the games found in the Pre-writing and Skill Building activities and the opportunities to be creative when “publishing” her finished project.
Each lesson culminates in a Published Writing Project. These range from simply mounting the final draft of the story to pretty paper, using file folders for a unique presentation, making books of various shapes and sizes, performing the story – complete with sound effects like old radio shows, and many more options in the appendix. This daughter is our “class clown” and performer, she is loving all these opportunities to show off!
I’ve mentioned how this creative writing curriculum is such a great fit for our family. I’ve shared how my reluctant learner excelled with it; how my creative daughter is learning and completing projects. There are so many options and variables as you work through the activities and lessons, that you can use this with subsequent learners and do things completely differently.
There are a few components to Book E of WriteShop Junior.
- Teacher’s Guide (required) – lists of required materials (and what to prep ahead of time), model & teach guide, tips and helps for Smaller Steps or Flying Higher
- Student Activity Pack (required) – includes the Fold-N-Go Grammar Pack (Level 2) and reproducible activity pages, reading logs, journal pages
- Time-Saver Pack (optional) – game cards, spinners and other tools printed on colored card stock for the activities in the lessons. If you don’t pick up this pack, you will need to make the specific cards and other parts on your own. We’re crafty people, but I loved having these things ready to go.
- Fold-N-Go Grammar Pack (needed for additional students or other levels) – the pack included with the student activity pack does not photocopy well. We jumped in with Book E for this daughter, so she is utilizing the Fold-N-Go Level 1 as well.
Not sure which level your learner needs? WriteShop offers curricula for a variety of ages and abilities. On their newly redesigned website, you will find help for choosing the level and samples of each level.
Are you on Instagram? Show off your creativity with a photo writing prompt. Use nature, toys, kids, whatever. Or, make a collage like a comic book. Follow WriteShop on Instagram and then share your image with the hashtag #writeshopwriting. Be sure to tag @WriteShop in your photo. Their team will be choosing from your photo writing prompts to share in their social media!
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I’d probably choose level 1. I have a middle school/high schooler that could use it.
Level I for teens.