This post is in collaboration with Common Sense Press featuring a middle school writing curriculum.
If the words “creative writing” cause your courageous homeschooling heart to tremble, you aren’t alone. If you add the words “middle school” to the picture, you may decide to surrender the idea completely! Although creative writing can be challenging, it should not be avoided. Good writing skills are vital in business, in education, and in general life. Teaching your child to express himself effectively through the imagination and creativity of writing is is a worthwhile endeavor. Thankfully, there are curriculum resources available to homeschooling parents to make this goal possible while maintaining good humor and sanity in the process! Common Sense Press developed Wordsmith as a middle school writing curriculum that alleviates the frustrations associated with writing. Students improve their writing, and educators are equipped to direct and evaluate the writing projects.
What age group is Wordsmith intended for?
Wordsmith is a stand-alone creative writing curriculum published by Common Sense Press available in three different levels: Wordsmith Apprentice for grades 4–6; Wordsmith for grades 6–9; and Wordsmith Craftsmen for grades 9–12. The course only requires two books: the all-inclusive Student Workbook and the Teacher’s Guide, making it an affordable option. (Notebooks or extra paper are also necessary.) Because this curriculum is designed to fit a range of grades, homeschooling parents can determine when to most effectively incorporate creative writing into their family’s scope and sequence. Families can intersperse their regular grammar curriculum with each level of Wordsmith to consistently strengthen their student’s writing skills. Each of these books can be previewed and purchased on their website.
Is this a grammar curriculum?
Wordsmith creative writing is not intended to be a complete grammar curriculum. Instead, it builds on the grammar that students have already learned and teaches them to use it effectively. The first portion of the book reviews the key parts of speech, not just by identifying them in sentences but by improving them through precise, colorful word choice. One of the strengths of this course is that it actively encourages the student to write and edit sentences, not just to mark parts of prepared sentences. Daily assignments typically provide sample sentences to rewrite, avoiding the struggle of starting with original sentences while allowing students to see the improvement their changes make in a sentence.
Students start the year by improving their sentence structure. By the second quarter of the year, they are improving full paragraphs and progressing toward larger assignments. The bite-sized, sequential progression is natural and steady; by the end of the year, students will have written a variety of narratives, dialogues, interviews, and a short story. Parents and students alike will look back at the work written at the beginning of the year and be excited to see the improvement in their final products by the end of the course!
Is Wordsmith middle school writing curriculum designed for independent work?
Wordsmith’s creative writing course does require teacher participation, though the level of participation can vary depending on the student’s maturity and motivation levels. Teaching writing can be daunting to some parents, especially if they feel that they lack experience in this skill. Thankfully, one of the distinctives of this middle school creative writing course is that it provides excellent daily lesson comments for the teacher. The first several pages of the Teacher’s Guide is dedicated to explaining the purpose and approach of this particular curriculum. It also provides helpful guidelines and a clear mental framework for parents to incorporate as they evaluate their child’s work. The teacher’s version of the daily assignment often includes commentary on what to look for in the written work or key discussion tips for helping the students to evaluate their work constructively.
What is the course schedule?
Wordsmith is a four-day a week, full school year, 36-week course. This schedule allows for homeschooling families to adjust it to their family’s personal needs. By adding a fifth day of work each week, the coursework can be completed earlier, thus abbreviating the school year. Alternatively, the fifth day can remain open for completing unfinished assignments or for providing built-in flexibility to accommodate daily homeschool life.
What are some of the distinctives of Wordsmith?
Wordsmith adopts a relaxed, conversational style in the textbooks with the intent to engage the student’s imagination. The author includes creative story prompts with each writing assignment to help circumvent the dreaded “writer’s block” and ensure success. Some topics easily incorporate all five senses so that both the writer and the reader are fully engaged. Sometimes the author provides preparatory questions that stimulate the writers to more carefully analyze the person or situation that they are writing about. Project guidelines often provide reminders and specific tips to help the writer avoid common writing pitfalls.
Wordsmith’s middle school writing curriculum will definitely challenge a student to exceed his current comfort level and to improve his ability to write and evaluate his own work. It can be challenging to find original ideas and to express oneself creatively, but through examples, guiding questions, and step-by-step processes, Wordsmith advances a student past the stage of “I don’t know what to write!” Students can graduate from this course able to competently, creatively express their thoughts and experiences in writing. In the meantime, parents will emerge with a greater confidence in their own ability to prompt, discuss, and evaluate their middle school student’s writing projects. That’s a worthwhile endeavor!
Quick Facts About Wordsmith
| Feature | Details |
| Publisher | Common Sense Press |
| Schedule | 4 days per week, 36-week course |
| Format | Student Workbook + Teacher’s Guide |
| Grammar Coverage | Reinforces grammar already learned rather than serving as a full grammar curriculum |
| Teaching Style | Conversational, creative, and step-by-step |
| Assignments Include | Sentence improvement, paragraph writing, dialogue, interviews, narratives, and short stories |
| Teacher Involvement | Flexible; includes detailed teacher guidance and evaluation tips |
| Best For | Homeschool families wanting a gentle but effective approach to creative writing |
HomeschoolingFinds.com Author
Jennifer Potter is the wife of an assistant pastor and the mother of six homeschooled children. They make their home near the Texas Hill Country. Both she and her husband were homeschooled K-12, so they share a deep commitment to passing that educational legacy on to their children. In the few spare moments she finds, Jennifer finds refreshment in reading, gardening, and sewing.