Wordsmith

enhance writing skills

Wordsmith Curriculum

Grade 4 - 12

For fourth-grade skills and up, the Wordsmith curriculum is the perfect companion to Learning Language Arts Through Literature. Young people will find easy, step-by-step instructions in this language arts curriculum that will improve writing skills.

The series provides a brief review of grammar, followed by instruction on building stronger sentences. It includes exercises in writing descriptive, narrative, persuasive, and expository essays, creating dialogue, story writing, notetaking, and more. Plus, students build the essential skills of every good writer: practice in proofreading and revising.

For more information about Wordsmith and to contact the author directly, visit the new Wordsmith website.

Wordsmith Series

The Wordsmith series offers a comprehensive and structured approach to teaching writing, catering to students from elementary through high school. This curriculum is designed to develop writing skills progressively, ensuring that students build a strong foundation and advance confidently through more complex writing tasks. 

The series includes three books, each tailored to different grade levels: Wordsmith Apprentice, Wordsmith and Wordsmith Craftsman.

Reviews

What Are Others Saying?

Cathy Duffy

Wordsmith assumes the student knows basic grammar. It moves on from there to work with grammar through written applications. For example, one assignment has them come up with vivid action verbs to replace weak verbs accompanied by adverbs. The goal is to sharpen writing skills by carefully choosing words for the best effect.

Betsy

In writing, the basics are NOT five-paragraph essays–or even a whole paragraph. The basics are good word choice and strong sentence structure. Writers also must have something to say. Wordsmith delivers that in spades.

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Wordsmith Apprentice

The Wordsmith Apprentice 3rd Edition – 4th through 6th Grade is a self-directed program that encourages young students to develop a love for writing through engaging, imagination-stretching exercises. This edition is specifically designed for grades 4 through 6, offering a step-by-step guide to improving written language skills.

The curriculum covers essential topics like sentence structure, creative storytelling, and basic grammar. This makes  it an ideal choice for homeschooling families or educators looking for a comprehensive writing curriculum.

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wordsmith

The Wordsmith 3rd Edition -6th through 9th Grade Skills is designed for 6th-9th grade, focusing on young people who want to expand their writing skills. It includes new techniques for a growing writer and step-by-step instructions to help students thrive.

This book focuses first on a review of grammar and teaches students to write stronger sentences. In addition, it covers narrative, story, and descriptive writing as well as the creation of dialogue and point of view. Wordsmith also has a strong focus on revising, editing, and proofreading. 

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Wordsmith Craftsman

​The Wordsmith Craftsman 3rd Edition – 9th through 12th Grade Skills is designed for high school students, offering a more advanced writing curriculum that prepares them for academic and professional communication. 

This edition builds on the foundational skills developed in earlier levels, introducing more complex writing tasks like essay writing, research papers, and advanced proofreading and editing techniques. The curriculum is perfect for students who are preparing for college or careers that require strong writing skills.

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Why Choose our homeschool writing curriculum?

The Wordsmith curriculum is an ideal choice for homeschooling families who want a structured, comprehensive writing program that is easy to follow. It covers various writing styles and integrates essential grammar lessons, making it perfect for building a strong writing foundation.

Moreover, the best writing curriculum is one that adapts to the needs of every learner, and Wordsmith excels in providing that tailored support.

FAQ

​The Wordsmith books are not a continuous program. For the years not covered between the levels, you will have to look for other programs that will give your student different types of writing opportunities. A couple of the major ones are IEW and Writing Strands.  The only caution for these is that they will require more time each day. One of the things I appreciate about Wordsmith is that daily lessons only take about 15 minutes, and the student can work independently. You can find a lot of exercises and writing activities for free online. I think that offering varying approaches is a plus. Different things will appeal to each student.
 
If a student uses Wordsmith Apprentice in the 4th grade, I recommend trying Paragraph Writing for Kids the next year. This is an easy-to-use writing course that leads the student step-by-step through the writing process of the five basic types of paragraphs. Since it does not take a full year to work through, students have time to repeat each type of paragraph multiple times. This type of practice builds a strong writing foundation.