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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: 7th grade (Ages 12-13)
"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)
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
Analogies for All of Us
by Marc Hays
from Classical Conversations
for 7th-9th grade
in Logic Resources (Location: LOG-RES)
$29.30
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)
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 Level 2
by Noreen Conte
from Critical Thinking Books
for 6th-7th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$14.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
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 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 (2 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
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 $34.00 (1 in stock)
Composition I - Teacher Edition
from Veritas Press
for 7th-10th grade
in Write with World (Location: WRI-WWW)
$59.00 $41.00 (1 in stock)
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)
$18.95
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 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 6
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 6th-8th grade
in Evan-Moor Writing (Location: ZCLE-EM)
$20.99
Daily Paragraph Editing Grade 6
by Sarita C. Silverman
from Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
for 6th-8th grade
in Evan-Moor Grammar (Location: ZCLE-EM)
Description & Setting
Write Great Fiction
by Ron Rozelle
from Writer's Digest
for 7th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
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)
Easy Writing
by Wanda Phillips
from Easy Grammar Systems
Writing Curriculum for 3rd-12th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$35.95 $18.00 (2 in stock)
Elegant Essay Writing Lessons - Set
by Lesha Myers
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in IEW Advanced Materials (Location: WRI-IEWADV)
$49.00
Elegant Essay Writing Lessons - Student Book
by Lesha Myers
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in IEW Advanced Materials (Location: WRI-IEWADV)
$29.00
Elegant Essay Writing Lessons - Teacher Manual
by Lesha Myers
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in IEW Advanced Materials (Location: WRI-IEWADV)
Elements of Style (Illustrated)
by E.B. White, William Strunk Jr.
from Penguin Books
for 7th-Adult
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$18.00
Elements of Style Workbook
by Michele T. Poff, editor
from Tip Top Education
for 7th-12th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Essentials in Writing Level 7 - Combo Pack
from Essentials in Writing
for 7th grade
in Essentials in Writing (Location: WRI-EIW)
Essentials in Writing Level 7 - Workbook
from Essentials in Writing
for 7th 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 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Exciting World of Creative Writing
by Ruth McDaniel
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Writing Curriculum for 7th-8th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$12.85
Exciting World of Creative Writing - Tests
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Writing Curriculum for 7th-8th grade
in Single-Volume Writing Curriculums (Location: WRI-1VOL)
$3.00
Fix It! Grammar Book 3 - Student Book
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$19.00
Fix It! Grammar Book 3 - Teacher's Manual
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$19.00 $7.00 (1 in stock)
Fix It! Grammar Book 3 - Teacher/Student Combo
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$29.00
Fix It! Grammar Book 4 - Student Book
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$19.00
Fix It! Grammar Book 4 - Teacher's Manual
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Fix It! Grammar (Location: GRA-IEW)
$19.00
Fix It! Grammar Book 4 - Teacher/Student Combo
by Pamela White
4th edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th 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
Following Narnia 1 - Set
by Laura Bettis
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$55.00
Following Narnia 1 - Student Workbook
by Laura Bettis
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Following Narnia 1 - Teacher's Manual
by Laura Bettis
3rd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
Following Narnia 2 - Set
by Laura Bettis
1st edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$55.00
Following Narnia 2 - Student Workbook
1st edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Following Narnia 2 - Teacher's Manual
1st edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
Grammar & Diagramming Sentences
Straight Forward English
by Gianni DeVincentis-Hayes, Ph.D.
from Garlic Press
for 6th-8th grade
in Miscellaneous Grammar Curriculum (Location: GRA-MISC)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
Grammar and Composition I - Supplementary Exercises Key
6th edition from A Beka Books
for 7th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
Grammar and Composition I - Teacher Key
6th edition from A Beka Books
for 7th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
Grammar and Composition I - Test/Quiz Book
6th edition from A Beka Books
for 7th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
Grammar and Composition I - Test/Quiz Book (Old)
5th edition from A Beka Books
for 7th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Grammar and Composition I - Test/Quiz Key
6th edition from A Beka Books
for 7th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$11.00 (2 in stock)
Grammar and Composition I - Worktext
6th edition from A Beka Books
for 7th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
Grammar of Poetry
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
from Canon Press
Writing Curriculum for 5th-12th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
$23.99
Grammar of Poetry (old)
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 5th-12th grade
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Grammar of Poetry - DVD
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
from Roman Roads Media
Writing Curriculum for 5th-12th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
Grammar of Poetry - DVD Bundle
by Matt Whitling
from Canon Press
for 6th-9th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
Grammar of Poetry - Teacher Edition
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
2nd edition from Canon Press
Writing Curriculum for 5th-12th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
$25.99
Handbook of Grammar & Composition
by James A. Chapman
5th edition from A Beka Books
for 7th-12th grade
in A Beka Grammar & Writing (Location: GRA-ABK)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
How to Write a Great Research Paper
by Leland Graham & Darriel Ledbetter
from Incentive Publications, Inc.
for 6th-9th grade
in Writing Reference (Location: REF-WRI)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
How to Write a Story
by Lee Roddy
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-12th grade
in IEW Advanced Materials (Location: WRI-IEWADV)
$29.00
IEW Student Resource Package
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 4th-9th grade
in IEW Resources (Location: WRI-IEWRES)
$25.00
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)
$21.99
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 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 $14.00 (1 in stock)
Imitation in Writing: Medieval Legends
Imitation in Writing Series
by Matt Whitling
3rd edition from Logos School
Writing Curriculum for 5th-8th grade
in Imitation in Writing (Location: WRI-LSIW)
$21.99
Investigations in Writing - Student Book
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$35.00
Investigations in Writing - Teacher Book
from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
Investigations in Writing - Teacher/Student Combo
1st edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 6th-8th grade
in IEW Theme-Based Writing Lessons (Location: WRI-IEWTBW)
$55.00
Jensen's Format Writing
by Frode Jensen
3rd edition from Wordsmiths
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Jensen's Format Writing
by Frode Jensen
2nd edition from Master Books
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$21.59
Jensen's Format Writing - DVD Supplement
by Frode Jensen
3rd edition from Wordsmiths
Writing Curriculum for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$20.00
Jensen's Grammar
by Frode Jensen
from Master Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$28.79
Jensen's Grammar - DVD Supplement
by Frode Jensen
from Master Books
for 7th-12th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$26.40 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Jensen's Grammar - Text & Answer Key
by Frode Jensen
from Wordsmiths
for 7th-12th grade
$15.00 (1 in stock)
Jensen's Punctuation
by Frode Jensen
2nd edition from Master Books
for 6th-9th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$21.59
Jensen's Vocabulary
by Frode Jensen
from Master Books
for 7th-10th grade
in Jensen's English (Location: GRA-JENSEN)
$28.79 $20.00 (1 in stock)
Jump In - Parent/Teacher Manual
by Sharon Watson
from Apologia Educational Ministries
Writing Curriculum for 5th-8th grade
$7.00 $3.50 (2 in stock)
Jump In - Parent/Teacher Manual
by Sharon Watson
2nd edition from Writing with Sharon Watson
Writing Curriculum for 5th-8th grade
in Writing with Sharon Watson (Location: WRI-SWW)
$10.00
Jump In - Student Workbook
by Sharon Watson
2nd edition from Writing with Sharon Watson
Writing Curriculum for 5th-8th grade
in Writing with Sharon Watson (Location: WRI-SWW)
$40.00
Jump In - Student Workbook (with parent manual)
by Sharon Watson
from Apologia Educational Ministries
Writing Curriculum for 5th-8th grade
$19.00 (1 in stock)
Learn to Write the Novel Way
by Carole Thaxton
from KONOS
Writing Curriculum for 5th-12th grade
in Konos Writing (Location: WRI-SING)
Learn to Write the Novel Way - Teacher Guide
by Carole Thaxton
from KONOS
Writing Curriculum for 5th-12th grade
in Konos Writing (Location: WRI-SING)
$4.00 (3 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
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