Suggested Age Levels for Homeschool Writing

Mom’s work load, presenting lesson information and grading, is light when students are working on the right level.

The Write Foundation writing lessons develop formal writing skills using creative writing with a wide selection of fun, interesting topics, while teaching organization using the writing process and writing structure. Because they will have the necessary writing skills, your students will become competent, confident writers, who will not shrink from more difficult advanced level writing.

Proper placement in The Write Foundation homeschool writing curriculum depends on the students’ writing readiness: maturity, writing experience, and interest in writing. Every student learns more when they are working on their instruction level which means they experience success and minimum frustration. Mom’s work load, presenting lesson information and grading, is light when students are working on the right level.

Read the following guidelines and try the free sample lessons before you purchase the curriculum to help determine which level is right for your students.

Entry Level I: Prepare to Write Ages 8-11 

Entry Level II: Creating Sentences Ages 9 – 12   

Level 1: Sentence to Paragraph Writing Ages 12 - 14   

Level 2: Paragraph Writing Ages 14 - 16   

Level 3: Essay Writing Ages 16 - 18

Each curriculum level includes a reading list tailored specifically to the reading and writing level of the student. These reading lists are available free of charge on each level's page or by choosing one below:

Prepare to Write and Creating Sentences Reading List

Sentence to Paragraph Reading List

Paragraph Writing Reading List

Essay Writing Reading List

General Guidelines

  • If students do not need any teacher instruction taught from a lesson to successfully complete the student independent work assignment, then consider a more advanced level.
  • If after you teach a lesson, the independent work assignment is within your students capabilities, they are not overwhelmed or frustrated and do not need much extra help, that level is probably right for them.
  • If the lesson is intense and students need you to hold their hands and take them step-by-step for most of their independent work assignment, consider an easier level or plan on taking that level very slowly. Each level can easily be adapted to a 2-year format.
  • If your student hates writing, if you fight him to get him to follow directions, start him at the level where he is in the upper end of the suggested ages.
  • If your student loves to write and is craving guidance to learn how to write better, then start him at the level where he is in the younger end of the suggested ages.
  • Most boys are not ready in their physical development to seriously start learning paragraph composition until they are around 12 years old.

Try the free sample lessons before you purchase the curriculum to help determine which level is right for your students.

Contact rebecca@thewritefoundation.org for a free consultation if you have questions.

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