Elementary Writing Programs: Lessons and Programs that Teach Writing

Writing Programs and Resources

It's likely that the writing lessons your child receives at school are based on the Common Core State Standards. Becoming familiar with the standards can be quite helpful when it comes to choosing writing programs and implementing lessons at home.

Keep in mind that most professional writing programs aren't free. An all-inclusive program might focus on idea development, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice and writing conventions. For free lesson plans, prompts and materials, check out websites like Writing Fix.com. Alternatively, check out the writing lessons and exercises below.

Autobiographical Exercise

First, cut out a blank shape of a human head and provide your child with drawing and coloring materials. Have him or her draw a self-portrait on the paper to accompany an autobiographical passage your child will write about him or herself. If your child is in the earlier years of elementary school, you can help by providing him or her with a template paragraph to fill in with sentences like, 'When I'm outside, I like to…' The higher your child's writing level is, the less help you'll probably need to provide.

Interpreting Quotations

Pick a famous quote and ask your child to write about what it means to him or her. There are many famous quotes that you can use that are appropriate for an elementary level reader and writer. For example, Benjamin Franklin is famous for saying, 'Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise'.

Ask your child to write down what he or she thinks this means and why it's such a famous quote. Does your child agree? Why, or why not? Your child could also write about what health, wealth and wisdom mean in this context.

Writing Related Vocabulary

For vocabulary practice, you can play a word association game. Give your child a word and have him or her write all of the related words that come to mind in a set period of time. For example, set a stopwatch to two minutes and give your child the word 'monkey'. In those two minutes, your child would write words like 'wild', 'climb', 'tail' or anything else that springs to mind, whether verbs, nouns or adjectives. After your child is finished, go over the words with him or her and identify the parts of speech.