Fun Is the Word of the Day!

Using Write Shop Primary Level B

WriteShop Primary is an exciting, parent-guided writing curriculum with daily, easy-to-implement activities.

A flexible, gentle program, full of variety and creativity for the young writer … Since early lessons have the option to be entirely oral on the part of the child, there is no pressure, only the opportunity to talk about things that are familiar to him as he watches Mom write down his words. –Shannon Cullip, AK, homeschool mother of four

WriteShop Primary uses hands-on activities to teach the concepts of the writing process at the very simplest level. It’s perfect for pre-writers as well as beginning and developing writers.

Watch Your Young Writers Blossom!

WriteShop Primary’s creative activities produce ideas and smiles! When you start teaching simple writing skills at a young age, children are less likely to fear and hate writing later on—and when fun replaces fear, their confidence will blossom.

Lessons are divided into Activity Sets to fully cover a topic without hurrying the child. Lots of examples make teaching easy for you. Each Activity Set includes time for you to model and teach writing in a relaxed, nonthreatening way.

Even at this young age, children can learn that writing is a process made up of several steps:

Planning. Familiar topics, simple graphic organizers, and gentle parent guidance help unlock your child’s creative ideas.

Writing. Children who can’t write independently yet are encouraged to dictate their stories to you. Writing assignments grow from 3- to 5-sentences in WriteShop Primary Book A to simple paragraphs and stories in Book B and Book C. Lessons build incrementally, and as children grow in skill and confidence, they are encouraged to become more independent writers, as they are able.

Editing. From the very beginning, children learn that editing is a natural part of writing. At the Primary level, most editing is done orally with guidance from you—in a gentle, encouraging way that focuses on the positive.

WriteShop Primary Features:

•No-pressure activities that eliminate stress
•Incremental lessons that build slowly
•Multisensory appeal for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners
•Picture book suggestions for each lesson
•Crafty publishing ideas children love
•Oral activities for kids who aren’t reading or writing yet
•Simple scripts to help parents model and teach new skills
•Smaller Steps and Flying Higher that adjust writing to child’s level of ability
•Spelling practice games in Book B and Book C
•Flexible schedules
•Parent tips to help struggling writers
•Effective for students who learn with difficulty

My son’s confidence in writing has certainly been strengthened thanks to WriteShop!
Heather, Thrift Schooling

Spelling improved. CONFIDENCE was a huge improvement. I had been dealing with the dreaded ‘I can’t’ and this program has helped them see ‘I CAN’! … A fantastic experience!
Cheryl, Ontario

The best part is that we hardly noticed that we were learning together while we were busy throwing paper slices of pepperoni or writing parts of a story on a make-believe ‘story bucket.’
Julia, California

 

WriteShop Primary Book B introduces the steps of the writing process through engaging activities, crafts, and picture books and creates an environment that promotes a joy of learning. The program accommodates pre-writers as well as beginning and developing writers. Children who are reluctant or not able to write on their own are encouraged to dictate their stories and ideas to you. As their skills develop, they will learn to help more and more with the actual writing. For more advanced students, extra challenges appear throughout each lesson to promote stronger writing habits.

The Book B Teacher’s Guide takes you step-by-step through the writing process so you can teach—and edit—with confidence.

By the end of Book B, children will have learned to plan, create, and publish simple stories with parent help. They will:

• Use graphic organizers to plan a story
• Include a beginning, a middle, and an end
• Identify the main character in a story
• Learn to add story details
• Organize a story to include a problem and its solution
• Write a friendly letter
• Write a personal narrative
• Retell nursery rhymes and fairy tales in their own words
• “Publish” stories through projects or crafts

Other skills introduced in Book B include:

• Concept of paragraph form and indentation
• Standard spelling and using spelling tools
• Identifying the parts of a friendly letter
• Identifying words that rhyme
• Using a different voice to tell a story
• Using a dictionary to help improve writing and spelling
• Choosing story endings

My daughter went from painfully writing 3-5 sentences to writing whole stories complete with beginning, middle, and ending. WriteShop Primary Book B even helped me not to be scared of writing.
Andrea, California

Too often, we just tell kids what we want them to write instead of showing them HOW to write. In each WriteShop lesson, you will find mini-lessons designed to help you SHOW your child the craft of writing.
Becky, This Reading Mama

WriteShop Primary Book B includes the following lessons:

Lesson 1: Writing a Letter
Lesson 2: Standard Spelling
Lesson 3: Acrostics
Lesson 4: Poems and Nursery Rhymes
Lesson 5: Fairy Tales and Predictable Stories
Lesson 6: In the News
Lesson 7: Writing with Humor (Voice)
Lesson 8: Problem and Solution
Lesson 9: Character and Setting
Lesson 10: Story Organizers

Working three days a week, you will typically finish one lesson in three weeks. Each lesson includes pre-writing games, story planning (brainstorming), story writing (with help as needed), very simple editing, and publishing the story in craft form.

In Book B, children will:

• Become more familiar with the writing process
• Organize the main parts of a story before beginning to write
• Include an introduction, body, and closing
• Identify the main character in stories
• Learn to add details to a story
• Organize a story to include a problem and its solution
• Write a letter
• Write a personal narrative
• Retell nursery rhymes and fairy tales in their own words
• Publish stories through projects or crafts

Other Key Writing Concepts:

• Paragraph form and indentation
• Practicing with punctuation
• Identifying the parts of a friendly letter
• Using words that rhyme
• Using a different voice to tell a story
• Choosing story endings
• Using a dictionary to help improve writing and spelling skills

WriteShop Primary Book B Activity and Project Examples:

• Garden of Rhyming Words notebook
• Friendly letter boogie
• Can of Words spelling activity
• Story Bucket organizer
• “Go Fishing” game
• Telling time
• Puppet show
• Holiday acrostic
• Rocket ship story project
• Nursery rhyme shape book
• Fairytale story basket
• Giant comic strip
• Animal homes story bag

WriteShop Primary activities use materials and supplies that most families already have on hand.

Jake (6 yrs) really liked this. He loves making up stories with me and his sister. Using the provided activity sheets, I encouraged him to create stories all on his own. He especially like the one-on-one attention he got as I asked questions to keep his creative juices flowing. During one lesson, he said, “This is kinda hard, but fun!” I love that it was challenging, yet enjoyable. That’s exactly what learning should be!
Erika, Raising Leafs

I love the friendly approach that makes writing fun.
Michele, Faith, Family, and Fridays

FREE Shipping on ALL Write Shop orders! We want to help homeschool families save a little money.

Free Shipping includes Media Mail shipping. If you would like priority shipping, you can add $5.50 to your payment and send us an email requesting priority shipping (2-3 business days) – info @ curriculumconnection.net

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Choose a Level | WriteShop Primary

WriteShop Primary is a parent-led writing curriculum for children in grades K-3. This guide will help you choose the best starting level for your child.

Caution: Don’t Choose a Level That’s Too Young

Each WriteShop Primary level teaches specific skills within a range of ages, making it easier to choose the very best place to begin the program. However, age and skill are not the only factors. Your child’s reasoning skills, emotional maturity, and ability to express ideas orally are also important considerations. So before you decide on a level, make sure to look at the big picture!

Start at the level that best fits your child’s thinking skills, not his writing skills. A child’s ability to physically write things down often lags behind his intellect and vocabulary. For example, placing risks losing their interest.

Books B and C are a better fit for most 7- and 8-year-olds—even if they haven’t had much writing experience. Here’s why:

WRITESHOP PRIMARY BOOK A

Target: Kindergarten & 1st grade (and immature 2nd graders)

• Book A includes very simple concepts and artwork that appeal to little learners.
• Reading and writing skills are NOT required; all work may be done orally.
• Older children with special needs or extreme reluctance to writing may also find success with the gentle pace—as long as they are not put off by thechildish worksheet illustrations.

If your child can do a number of these things already, consider choosing Book B instead.

See a Book A lesson sample

WriteShop Primary Book B

Target: 1st & 2nd grade (or reluctant 3rd)

• Book B is a great middle-of-the-road choice when a child hasn’t had much prior writing experience. Children can dictate ideas and stories to you if their physical writing skills are still emerging. As long as they have ideas in their head and can share them orally, that’s all the skill they need to begin Book B.
• 9- and 10-year-olds with special needs may also find success with Book B if they aren’t bothered by the simplicity of the worksheet illustrations.

Start with Book B if your 6- to 8-year-old is not yet able to:

Use graphic organizers to plan a story

• Include a beginning, middle, and end in his story
• Identify or use paragraph form and indentation
• Figure out how to add more details to a story
• Organize a story to include a problem and its solution
• Choose story endings
• Write or dictate a friendly letter
• Write or dictate about something that has happened to him
• Retell nursery rhymes and fairy tales in his own words
• Identify the parts of a friendly letter
• Identify words that rhyme
• Use standard spelling tools such as a dictionary

If your child can do a number of these things already, consider choosing Book C instead.

See a Book B lesson sample

WRITESHOP PRIMARY BOOK C

Target: 2nd & 3rd grade

• Book C is a good option for children who are functioning well at grade level.
• It is also a fine choice for advanced or highly verbal 3rd graders, though stronger writers might prefer WriteShop Junior Book D.
• Remember that concepts from earlier levels (such as using paragraph form and including beginning, middle, and end) will be retaught or reviewed in all future books.

Start with Book C if your 7- to 9-year-old is not yet able to:

Ask who, what, when, where, and why? in order to add story details

• Organize story details
• Plan the main ingredients of a story before beginning to write
• Write entries in a personal journal
• Use descriptive words in his writing
• Write a short nonfiction article
• Summarize the contents of familiar books
• Collect research facts about a specific topic
• Write a simple, short report with introduction, body, and closing
• Use standard spelling
• Check his own work for correct spelling and punctuation

See a Book C lesson sample

If your child can do a number of these things already, consider choosing WriteShop Junior Book D instead.

Write Shop Primary A has worked out perfectly because it is a gentle yet detailed approach to introducing writing … I love how the questions get more advanced and increase in number very gradually throughout the course … This will be our permanent writing curriculum for Anna, and also for her younger brother Caleb who is six.
Amy, Homeschool Encouragement

WriteShop is an excellent program that provides a lot of scaffolding and structure for young writers … This program may be a good fit for you, especially if you are hesitant to teach writing to your children.
Annie, The Moffatt Girls

Write Shop Primary FAQ

What makes WriteShop Primary unique?

WriteShop Primary is able to teach even the youngest child how to plan and write (or dictate) a simple story. Because the hands-on games and activities appeal to the way young children learn best, they’re able to grasp and apply simple writing concepts while having lots of fun along the way!

Should we always start with BOOK A?

It’s important not to bore an older child by making her do kindergarten-level work to learn a concept that later books will revisit in a more age-appropriate way. This Placement Guide will help, but if you’re debating between two levels, base your decision on your student’s ability to think and reason, rather than her ability to write independently.

What if I’m teaching more than one child?

You may be able to teach them together using either Book B or Book C, depending on their ages. Activities called “Smaller Steps” and “Flying Higher” allow you to quickly and easily tailor each lesson to children who are working at different levels. If your young ones are too far apart in age or ability to work at the same level, WriteShop Primary makes it possible to teach two or more children using different books. For example, you might have:

• a kindergartner in Book A and a second grader in Book B
• a first grader in Book B and a third grader in Book C

Each Teacher’s Guide includes a scheduling plan for teaching two different levels in a way that neither you nor your children will feel overwhelmed.

What if my child isn’t reading or writing yet?

The beauty of WriteShop Primary is its adaptability to meet children where they are. Reading and writing skills aren’t necessary, even for Books B and C. Every level gives you the option of acting as your child’s “scribe,” writing down the words for him as you talk about ideas orally. As his skills develop, you can share the pencil, letting him write the words he knows.

Will WriteShop Primary work for my reluctant 4th or 5th grader?

Though WriteShop Primary Books A and B are rarely age-appropriate for 4th and 5th graders, the gentle approach of Book C can appeal both to reluctant older writers and children who learn with difficulty. Book C teaches many common elements of writing, such as planning a story, writing with description, writing a book summary, and creating short reports. Students of any age can apply the techniques and watch their writing improve!

On the other hand, because Book C is intended for younger children, older students may be put off by the more childish artwork. So unless they struggle with a learning difficulty, we encourage using WriteShop Junior Book D for 4th or 5th graders.

My child loves to write stories on her own. Does she need a writing program?

Not necessarily. However, if she has loads of ideas but has trouble staying on track, she may need the guidance and structure a writing program can bring.

Children who love to write often lack the organizational skills that keep their writing focused. WriteShop Primary introduces different kinds of graphic organizers to help them plan out their stories and articles. They also learn to use story ingredients; plan a beginning, middle, and end; and think of problems and solutions. Your child’s skills will steadily improve as she has fun learning new techniques for better writing.

How long does it take to complete one level of WriteShop Primary?

Each book has 10 lessons. The Intro includes three scheduling plans, with the most popular option allowing three weeks per lesson. Following this plan—and working every other day—most families finish one book in a school year. Expect to spend 15-30 minutes per day on writing activities.

Can I teach without a Teacher’s Guide?

Both the Teacher’s Guide and Activity Set Worksheet Pack are necessary components of WriteShop Primary. The Teacher’s Guide contains everything you need to teach the lessons, including daily lesson plans and detailed instructions for each activity (pre-writing games, brainstorming, writing lessons, publishing ideas, editing tips, recommended picture books, and much more). The reproducible Activity Set Worksheet Pack rounds out the program with activity pages that support the skills taught in each of the 10 lessons.

Does WriteShop Primary teach grammar and spelling?

The program does not teach grammar, though simple punctuation is introduced and practiced. WriteShop Primary uses a more natural approach to teaching spelling, so you won’t find prescribed lists of words. Instead, through a variety of games and activities, children work on learning to spell the words they most frequently misspell in their writing. Only Books B and C incorporate spelling instruction.

Is WriteShop Primary compatible with classical or Charlotte Maon models?

Charlotte Mason enthusiasts will enjoy the relaxed approach, picture books, journaling, narration, and activities that allow the child to explore the world around him. And while WriteShop Primary doesn’t fit the Classical model in the traditional sense, parents will appreciate the orderly guided lessons, direct teaching involvement, the way writing is always modeled first, and the lack of pressure on the young child to do his own writing.

[Author Nancy Sanders] is really good at encouraging me, the tutor, to separate out penmanship from composition. The Teacher’s Guide is like having her sitting with me gently coaching and encouraging me what to say, what to prepare or what to do next. She is tremendously encouraging and her explanations are empowering for me as I understand what I am doing and the purpose behind each step.
Chareen, Every Bed of Roses

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