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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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Active Filters: 4th grade (Ages 9-10)
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 - 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)
$17.50 (1 in stock)
Beginning Outlining
by Anne Sattler
from Remedia Publications
for 3rd-4th grade
in Grammar Reference (Location: REF-GRA)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
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
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
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 IV - Teacher Guide
by James A. Selby
from Memoria Press
for 4th-6th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
$29.95
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 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 Good and the Beautiful Language Arts (Location: LAN-GAB)
Creative Writing Notebook #2
by Jenny Phillips, Maggie Felsch
from The Good and the Beautiful
for 4th-12th grade
in Good and the Beautiful Language Arts (Location: LAN-GAB)
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 4
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$18.00 (1 in stock)
Daily Paragraph Editing Grade 4
by Sarita C. Silverman
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th grade
in Evan-Moor Grammar (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$14.00 (2 in stock)
Discoveries in Writing - Student Book
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Discoveries in Writing - Teacher's Manual
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$29.00
Discoveries in Writing - Teacher/Student Combo
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$55.00
DK Help Your Kids with Language Arts
from DK Publishing
for 3rd-8th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.00 (2 in stock)
Don't Forget to Write
First Edition from Jossey-Bass
for 3rd-7th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Easy Writing
by Wanda Phillips
from Easy Grammar Systems
Writing Curriculum for 3rd-12th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$30.95 $18.00 (1 in stock)
Eight Parts of Speech: English Worksheets Grades 3-5 - Teacher's Manual
by Martha Zook
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 3rd-5th Grade
in Rod & Staff English (Location: GRA-R&S)
English 4 - Assessments
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (Location: GRA-BJU)
$19.66 $13.00 (1 in stock)
English 4 - Assessments Answer Key
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (Location: GRA-BJU)
$14.17 $9.50 (1 in stock)
English 4 - BJU Subject Kit
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Subject Kits (Location: WH-BJUK)
$114.15
English 4 - CLP Teacher's Manual (old)
from Christian Liberty Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (old versions) (Location: OBJU-GRA)
$8.55
English 4 - Student Worktext
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (Location: GRA-BJU)
$36.11
English 4 - Teacher Edition
3rd edition from Bob Jones University Press
for 4th grade
in BJU Writing & Grammar (Location: GRA-BJU)
$89.17
English Grammar & Intro to Composition Set
by Ashley Gratto, Cheryl Lowe
from Memoria Press
for 3rd-5th grade
in Memoria Press Classical Composition (Location: WRI-MPCC)
English Lessons Through Literature Level 3
by Kathy Jo DeVore
from Barefoot Ragamuffin Press
for 4th-5th grade
in Writing Instruction (Location: WRI-INS)
$19.00 (1 in stock)
Essentials in Writing Level 4 - Combo Pack
2nd edition from Essentials in Writing
for 4th grade
in Essentials in Writing (Location: WRI-EIW)
Essentials in Writing Level 4 - Workbook
2nd edition from Essentials in Writing
for 4th grade
in Essentials in Writing (Location: WRI-EIW)
Excellence in Spelling - Zoo Cards
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 4th-8th grade
in IEW Excellence in Spelling (Location: SPE-IEW)
$5.00
Expository Writing
by Robert Summers
from Teacher Created Resources
for 3rd-5th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales - Set
by Maria Gerber
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$55.00
Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales - Student Book
by Maria Gerber
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Fables, Myths, and Fairy Tales - Teacher Book
by Maria Gerber
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$14.00 (2 in stock)
Fix It! Grammar Book 1 - Student Book
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$19.00
Fix It! Grammar Book 1 - Teacher's Manual
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$19.00 $13.00 (1 in stock)
Fix It! Grammar Book 1 - Teacher/Student Combo
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$29.00
Fix It! Grammar Book 2 - Student Book
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$19.00
Fix It! Grammar Book 2 - Teacher's Manual
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$19.00 $13.00 (1 in stock)
Fix It! Grammar Book 2 - Teacher/Student Combo
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-5th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$29.00
Fix It! Grammar Cards
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd - 12th Grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$15.00
God's Gift of Language 4 - Quiz & Test Key
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$13.00 (1 in stock)
God's Gift of Language 4 - Teacher Edition
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
God's Gift of Language 4 - Test Book
from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
God's Gift of Language 4 - Worktext
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 4th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
Here to Help Learning Essays Flight 2
from Here to Help Learning
for 4th-6th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$67.50
Here to Help Learning Essays Flight 3 - Student Book
from Here to Help Learning
for 4th-6th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$17.99
How to Teach Nonfiction Writing Grades 3-6
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 3rd-6th grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$14.99
How to Write a Story Grades 4-6
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th-6th grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$10.00 (2 in stock)
IEW Mini Posters
for 3rd-12th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
$13.00 (1 in stock)
IEW Student Resource Package
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 4th-9th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
$25.00
Imaginaries: Little Scraps of Larger Stories
by Emily Winfield Martin
from Random House
for 3rd-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Imitation in Writing: Aesop's Fables
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
3rd edition from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 3rd-6th grade
in Imitation in Writing (Location: WRI-LSIW)
Imitation in Writing: Fairy Tales
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
3rd edition from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 3th-8th grade
in Imitation in Writing (Location: WRI-LSIW)
$20.00
Imitation in Writing: Greek Heroes
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
2nd edition from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 4th-9th grade
in Imitation in Writing (Location: WRI-LSIW)
$15.00
Imitation in Writing: Greek Heroes
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
3rd edition from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 4th-9th grade
in Imitation in Writing (Location: WRI-LSIW)
$20.00
Imitation in Writing: Greek Heroes (spiral cover)
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 4th-9th grade
in Imitation in Writing (Location: WRI-LSIW)
$10.00
Imitation in Writing: Greek Myths
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
2nd edition from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 4th-9th grade
in Imitation in Writing (Location: WRI-LSIW)
$15.00
Imitation in Writing: Greek Myths
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
3rd edition from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 4th-9th grade
in Imitation in Writing (Location: WRI-LSIW)
$20.00
Journey Through Grammar Land Parts 1 & 2
by Frode Jensen, Vernie O. Jones
from Wordsmiths
for 3rd-6th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
Just Write Book 3
by Alexandra S. Bigelow, Elsie S. Wilmerding
from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$16.19
Just Write Book 3 - Teacher's Guide
by Alexandra S. Bigelow
from Educators Publishing Service
for 4th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$6.69
Keyboarding Skills
from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-6th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$32.39
Language 4-6 Home School Charts
from A Beka Books
for 4th-6th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization - Set
by Andrew Pudewa
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 2nd-10th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
$65.00
Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization - Student Pages
by Andrew Pudewa
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 2nd-10th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
$19.00 $13.00 (1 in stock)
Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization - Teacher Manual
by Andrew Pudewa
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 2nd-10th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
$29.00
Mad as a Wet Hen!
from Clarion Books
for 1st-4th grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
My Book of Stories
by Deborah Patterson
from British Library
for 3rd-6th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
My First Story Writing Book
by Louie Stowell
from Usborne
for 1st-4th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
Nonfiction Writing Grade 4
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 4th grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
On Teaching Writing
by Jennifer Crider
from Christian Light Education
for 3rd-8th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$3.00 (1 in stock)
Oral Language Exercises
from A Beka Books
for 1st-6th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$8.50 (10 in stock)
Outmatched - Ancient History
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 2nd-6th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
Outmatched - Medieval History
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 4th-8th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
Paragraph Book - Book 2
by Dianne Tucker-LaPlount
Workbook from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-5th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$26.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Paragraph Book - Book 3
by Dianne Tucker-LaPlount
Workbook from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-5th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$26.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Paragraph Book - Book 4
by Dianne Tucker-LaPlount
Workbook from Educators Publishing Service
for 3rd-5th grade
in EPS Writing (Location: WRI-EPS)
$26.99 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Paragraph Writing Grade 2-4
2nd edition from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 2nd-4th grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Persuasive Writing
by Rebecca Rozmiarek
from Teacher Created Resources
for 4th-6th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Phonetic Zoo - Premier Package
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 1st-6th grade
in IEW Excellence in Spelling (Location: SPE-IEW)
Phonetic Zoo Personal Spelling Cards
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 4th-8th grade
in IEW Excellence in Spelling (Location: SPE-IEW)
$5.00 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Phonetic Zoo Spelling - Budget Package
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 4th-12th grade
in IEW Excellence in Spelling (Location: SPE-IEW)
$29.00
Phonetic Zoo Spelling - Lesson Cards
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 4th-12th grade
in IEW Excellence in Spelling (Location: SPE-IEW)
$15.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Phonetic Zoo Spelling Level A - CDs only
by Andrew Pudewa
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 4th-5th grade
in IEW Excellence in Spelling (Location: SPE-IEW)
$79.00 $50.00 (2 in stock)
Phonetic Zoo Spelling Level A - Starter Set
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 4th-5th grades
in IEW Excellence in Spelling (Location: SPE-IEW)
$99.36
Poetry Primer
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
from Logos School
Poetry Curriculum for 4th-8th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
$20.00
Poetry Primer - Teacher Edition
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
from Logos School
Poetry Curriculum for 4th-8th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
$10.00 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Portable Walls
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 3rd-12th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
$9.00
Punching the Clock
by Marvin Terban, illustrated by Tom Huffman
from Clarion Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Punctuation and Capitalization I - Teacher's Manual
by Martha Zook
from Rod & Staff Publishers, Inc.
for 3rd-5th Grade
in Rod & Staff English (Location: GRA-R&S)
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