Writing

Writing CurriculumWriting Resources

The other day, I (Caleb) overheard a conversation between college students. "I don't want to be a good writer," one of them said. "I just want to have good ideas." That, I thought, is a new problem. After further reflection, however, I realized it's the basic problem underlying every struggling student's dislike and fear of learning to write well.

When someone enjoys a subject or activity, they'll generally dedicate themselves to mastering the necessary skills. Math whizzes learn algebra and calculus because they want to; hockey stars get there through hard work motivated by desire; and great writers become great because writing well is something they love and aspire to do to the best of their ability.

Overcoming the resistance to learning writing, then, is one of the first tasks to be overcome by parents and teachers. Not on the students' part, but on your part. How will a child learn to love writing if you are already predisposed to dislike it, or at least to treat it as a mere duty, just another school subject that has to be done?

The short and easy answer is that they won't. If you treat writing like a disease or an uncomfortable necessity, so will they. Liking it yourself is the first step to getting them to like it.

Before you can enjoy writing, however, you have to understand what it's for and why it's important. This is a bit more complicated—it requires more than just a surface "writing is important cause it helps you do well in school" (which isn't really an answer, but gets used far too often). Then again, how can anyone expect to teach something effectively when they don't understand it themselves?

For Christians, the main purpose of writing is to communicate the truth of the Gospel. It's as simple as that; everything we say and everything we write ought to reflect a thorough understanding of Scripture and the truth of Christ's redemption. If we write poorly, our communication (and our credibility!) are severely impaired. The only antidote is to master the mechanical and stylistic elements of good writing.

Mechanics? you might say. Stylistic elements? Don't let the terminology deter you. Mechanics are simply the fundamentals of written communication: spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the like. Style is just the way we make the bare mechanics interesting, like using metaphors and analogies, telling stories, making cultural references, understanding how to arrange words to make them aesthetically appealing, etc.

Once the mystery is penetrated, writing becomes something far different than most people seem to perceive it to be. Writing isn't some mystical art that only a few are capable of; it's a skill that must be practiced and developed, but ultimately that anyone with a clear head and willingness to excel can master.

Which brings us to another important aspect of writing instruction and learning: clear thinking. The single greatest route to writing success isn't to know grammar inside and out (as important as grammar is) or to be a stylistic genius (as much as that improves your content). The path to good writing is clear thinking. That's what made the college student's statement about ideas so nonsensical; good writing is the result of good thinking. If your mind is organized, your thoughts on paper will also be organized, and therefore will hold great communicative power.

All this may be a lot to take in initially, but that's why you study, and practice, and learn what works and what doesn't. Without writing skills, students can never hope to excel at communication beyond a personal level (and, without the skills needed for writing, even that kind of communication is doubtful). And yes, to teach your kids to write you'll need to learn how yourself.

Our favorite writing curriculums at Exodus Books are oriented toward teaching parents and instructors how to teach writing skills. Many of them work off the narration model, under the premise that the best way to learn good writing skills is to imitate the best writers; this is true of many other skills, and we agree it's an excellent approach to this one.

Of course, the greatest writing of all time is found in God's Word. There are plenty of good books to copy from, but none so good as the Bible which is useful not only to train young (and older) writers, but to challenge and shape the heart. However you choose to teach your kids writing, bear in mind that their communication should benefit others to the glory of God, and not simply serve as a podium for their own self-aggrandisement. Beyond that, simply encourage them to do well, and have fun!

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.

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834 Items found Print
"Cover Story" Writing Curriculum - Teacher Book & DVDs
by Daniel Schwabauer
from Clear Water Press
for 6th-8th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$50.00 (1 in stock)
"Cover Story" Writing Curriculum Package
by Daniel Schwabauer
from Clear Water Press
for 6th-8th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
100 Ways to Improve Your Writing
by Gary Provost
from Penguin Random House
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
1001 Commonly Misspelled Words
by Robert Magnan & Mary Lou Santovec
from McGraw-Hill
for 10th-Adult
in Spelling Resources (Location: REF-SPE)
A Beka Phonics and Language 2 - Set
from A Beka Books
for 2nd grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$60.00 (1 in stock)
Advanced Spelling & Vocabulary - Complete Course
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 9th-12th grade
in IEW Excellence in Spelling (Location: SPE-IEW)
$39.00 $28.00 (2 in stock)
Advanced U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons - Set
by Lori Verstegen
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 9th-12th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$55.00
Advanced U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons - Student Book
by Lori Verstegen
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 9th-12th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Advanced U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons - Teacher Edition
by Lori Verstegen
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 7th-10th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$29.00
Adventures in Writing - Student Book
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Adventures in Writing - Teacher & Student Combo
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$55.00
Adventures in Writing - Teacher Book
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
Analogies for All of Us
by Marc Hays
from Classical Conversations
for 7th-9th grade
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$24.99
Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons - Set
by Lori Verstegen
6th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-6th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$55.00
Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons - Student Book
by Lori Verstegen
6th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-6th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons - Student Book (old)
by Lori Verstegen
5th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-6th grade
$19.00 (1 in stock)
Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons - Teacher Book
by Lori Verstegen
6th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-6th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
Any Child Can Write
by Harvey Wiener
3rd edition from Oxford University
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Any Child Can Write
by Harvey Wiener
4th edition from Oxford University
in Writing Instruction (Location: WRI-INS)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Applications of Grammar Book 1 - Answer Key
Applications of Grammar Series
by Garry Moes
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 7th-8th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$7.50
Applications of Grammar Book 1 - Tests
Applications of Grammar Series
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 7th-8th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Applications of Grammar Book 2 - Answer Key
Applications of Grammar Series
by Garry Moes
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 8th-9th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$7.00
Applications of Grammar Book 2 - Set
Applications of Grammar Series
by Garry Moes
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 8th-9th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Applications of Grammar Book 3
Applications of Grammar Series
by Garry Moes
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 9th-10th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$12.00
Applications of Grammar Book 3 - Answer Key
Applications of Grammar Series
by Edward & Belit Shewan
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 9th-10th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$3.00 (2 in stock)
Applications of Grammar Book 3 - Set
Applications of Grammar Series
by Garry Moes
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 9th-10th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$14.00 (3 in stock)
Applications of Grammar Book 4
Applications of Grammar Series
by Edward Shewan & Garry Moes
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 10th-11th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$12.00
Applications of Grammar Book 4 - Set
Applications of Grammar Series
by Edward Shewan & Garry Moes
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
for 10th-11th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Applications of Grammar Book 4 - Tests
Applications of Grammar Series
from Christian Liberty Press
for 10th-11th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$5.00
Applications of Grammar Book 5
Applications of Grammar Series
by Annie Lee Sloan
from Christian Liberty Press
for 11th-12th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$9.00
Applications of Grammar Book 5 - Answer Key
Applications of Grammar Series
by Annie Lee Sloan
from Christian Liberty Press
for 11th-12th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$11.75
Applications of Grammar Book 6
Applications of Grammar Series
by Annie Lee Sloan
from Christian Liberty Press
for 12th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$12.00 $8.00 (1 in stock)
Applications of Grammar Book 6 - Set
Applications of Grammar Series
by Annie Lee Sloan
from Christian Liberty Press
for 12th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$14.00 (1 in stock)
Applications of Grammar Book 6 - Tests
Applications of Grammar Series
from Christian Liberty Press
for 12th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$2.50 (1 in stock)
Art of Fiction
by John Gardner
from Vintage Classics
for 9th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$14.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Art of the Short Story
from Pearson Education
for 10th-Adult
in Short Stories (Location: LIT-ANTH)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Beate Not the Poore Desk
by Walter Wangerin
1st edition from Rabbit Room Press
for 9th-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$14.99
Beginning Outlining
by Anne Sattler
from Remedia Publications
for 3rd-4th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Bible Heroes
by Andrew Pudewa and James Webster
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Bible Heroes - Teacher Manual
1st edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
Bible-Based Writing Lessons - Set
by Andrew Pudewa and James Webster
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$55.00
Bible-Based Writing Lessons - Student Book
by Andrew Pudewa and James Webster
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Blended Structure and Style in Composition
by James B. Webster
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 2nd-12th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
$35.00
Building Writing Skills Essential Tips & Techniques
Building Writing Skills
by Noreen Conte
from Critical Thinking Books
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$14.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Building Writing Skills Level 1
Building Writing Skills
by Noreen Conte
from Critical Thinking Books
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$14.99
Building Writing Skills Level 2
by Noreen Conte
from Critical Thinking Books
for 6th-7th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$14.99
Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint
Write Great Fiction
by Nancy Kress
from Writer's Digest
for 7th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
Classical Composition Book I - DVD
by Brett Vaden
from Memoria Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$30.00
Classical Composition Book I - Set
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
Classical Composition Book I - Student Guide
from Memoria Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$21.95 $14.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Composition Book I - Teacher Guide
by James A Selby
from Memoria Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95 $19.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Composition Book II - DVD
by Brett Vaden
from Memoria Press
for 5th-7th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$55.00 $35.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Composition Book II - Set
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 5th-7th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
Classical Composition Book II - Student Book
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 5th-7th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$21.95 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Composition Book II - Teacher Guide
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 5th-7th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95 $18.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Composition Book III - Student Book
by James A. Selby
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 6th-8th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$21.95
Classical Composition Book III - Teacher Guide
by James A. Selby
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 6th-8th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95
Classical Composition Book IV - Student Guide
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 7th-9th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$21.95
Classical Composition Book IV - Teacher Guide
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95
Classical Composition Book IX - Student Guide
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 12th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$21.95
Classical Composition Book IX - Teacher Guide
from Memoria Press
for 12th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95
Classical Composition Book V - Student Guide
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 8th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$21.95 $14.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Composition Book V - Teacher Guide
by James A. Selby
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 8th-10th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95
Classical Composition Book VI - Student Guide
by James A. Selby
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-11th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$21.95 $14.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Composition Book VI - Student Guide (old)
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 9th-11th grade
$13.00
Classical Composition Book VI - Teacher Guide
by James A. Selby
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-11th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95
Classical Composition Book VII - Student Guide
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 10th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$21.95
Classical Composition Book VII - Teacher Guide
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 10th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95
Classical Composition Book VIII - Student Guide
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 11th-12th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$21.95
Classical Composition Book VIII - Teacher Guide
from Memoria Press
for 9th-11th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95
Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student
by Edward P. J. Corbett, Robert J. Connors
4th edition from Oxford University
for 9th-Adult
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
Classical Rhetoric through Structure and Style
by Adam Muller
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 9th-12th grade
in IEW Advanced Materials (Location: WRI-IEWADV)
$35.00
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - Basic Set
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$99.91
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - DVD Set
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$55.00
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - Quizzes and Tests
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$6.20
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - Student Workbook
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$29.95 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle - Teacher Key
by Martin Cothran
2nd edition from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
$11.85
Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle w/ Answer Key (old)
by Martin Cothran
from Memoria Press
for 9th-12th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
CLE English Handbook
by Karen Birt
from Christian Light Education
for 7th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
Composition I
from Veritas Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Write with World (Location: WRI-WWW)
$49.00
Composition I - Teacher Edition
from Veritas Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Write with World (Location: WRI-WWW)
$59.00
Composition II
from Veritas Press
in Write with World (Location: WRI-WWW)
$49.00
Composition II - Teacher Edition
from Veritas Press
in Write with World (Location: WRI-WWW)
$59.00
Comprehensive Composition
by Kathryn Stout
from Design-A-Study
Writing Curriculum for Kindergarten-12th grade
in Design-A-Study (Location: HSR-DAS)
$14.00
CopyWorkBook: Comedies of William Shakespeare
by Amy M. Edwards, Christina J. Mugglin
from Blue Sky Daisies
for 3rd-7th grade
in The Mother Tongue Grammar (Location: GRA-MOTHER)
CopyWorkBook: George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior
by Amy M. Edwards, Christina J. Mugglin
from Blue Sky Daisies
for 3rd-7th grade
in The Mother Tongue Grammar (Location: GRA-MOTHER)
Creative Writer Level 1
by Boris Fishman
from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Creative Writer (Location: WRI-CREATE)
$16.95
Creative Writer Level 2
by Boris Fishman
from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Creative Writer (Location: WRI-CREATE)
$18.95
Creative Writer Level 3
by Boris Fishman
1st edition from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Creative Writer (Location: WRI-CREATE)
$16.95
Creative Writer Level 4
by Boris Fishman
1st edition from Well-Trained Mind Press
for 5th-8th grade
in Creative Writer (Location: WRI-CREATE)
$16.95
Creative Writing
from A Beka Books
for 6th grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
Creative Writing (old)
from A Beka Books
for 6th grade
in A Beka Penmanship/Creative Writing (Location: HAN-ABK)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Creative Writing Ideas
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 2nd-4th grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Creative Writing Notebook #1
by Jenny Phillips
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 4th-12th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
Creative Writing Notebook #2
by Jenny Phillips, Maggie Felsch
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 4th-12th grade
in GATB Language Arts & Reading (Location: CUR-GABELA)
Cursive Knowledge
by Jill Pike
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 2nd-12th grade
in Handwriting Resources (Location: HAN-REF)
$19.00
Daily 6-Trait Writing Grade 1
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 1st grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$12.60 (2 in stock)
Daily 6-Trait Writing Grade 2
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 2nd grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$12.60 (1 in stock)
Daily 6-Trait Writing Grade 4
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$12.60 (1 in stock)
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from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 5th grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$12.60 (2 in stock)
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