Essentials in Writing Level 1 Second Edition
EIW Level 1 features a slow, systematic approach to introducing writing skills. This homeschool writing program is for elementary students and is a steppingstone to help your student develop the necessary tools to write clearly and confidently. We use a step-by-step approach with small, daily assignments so that the student doesn’t feel overwhelmed.
Lesson-by-lesson video instruction for students Student Workbook and Teacher Handbook will be shipped whether Streaming or DVD is selectedStudents completing Level 1 Writing will learn and practice grammar and writing skills. This list is non-exhaustive but rather serves as a quick insight into the subjects that students will learn – writing sentences, identifying parts of speech, applying parts of speech, writing lists, paragraphs, personal letters, personal narratives, imaginative narratives.
Unit One: Grammar
Identify and apply activities for writing sentences:
- Letter, word, and sentence formation
- Spacing, capitalization, and punctuation of sentences
– period, question mark, and exclamation mark - Introduction to complete sentences
– subjects and predicates - Types of sentences
– declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, imperative
Identify and apply activities for parts of speech
- Common nouns
- Proper nouns
- Singular and plural nouns
- Adjectives
- Action verbs
Tools for Effective Communication: Apply Parts of Speech
- Adjectives in action
Unit Two: Composition
Introduction to Writing:
- Lists
- Paragraphs
- Personal Letters
- Personal Narratives
- Imaginative Narratives
Additional Composition Skills:
- Parts of a paragraph
- Staying on topic
- Parts of a personal letter
- Writing the date
- Chronological order
- Parts of a personal and an imaginative narrative
Sample Lesson Video – Level 1
Level 1 – Sample PDFs
Frequently Asked Questions About Level 1 Writing Curriculum
How old are Level 1 students?
The general age for students completing Level 1 is 6 or 7 years old. The age can vary depending on if a child has started school early, on time, or is repeating a grade. The age of the student does not delegate if a child can complete this writing course. Instead, we recommend that students have a basic understanding of phonetic spelling and letter formation before beginning.
What students are ideal for Level 1?
Level 1 learners are determined by knowledge and writing skill rather than their age. Students should have a basic understanding of phonetic spelling and letter formation before beginning this writing curriculum.
What is taught in 1st grade homeschool writing?
Students will learn the basics of language arts including grammar and writing. In Unit One, students engage in identifying and applying activities for writing sentences and parts of speech. Unit Two focuses on the introduction to composition. Students will learn several tools to become effective writers focusing on quality sentences, paragraphs, letters, and narratives.
What is included in the Workbook and Assessment/Resource Booklet?
Level 1 is the introduction to writing courses offered by Essentials in Writing and features a textbook/workbook as well as a video component.
1st Grade Writing Workbook
• Lesson content that accompanies the video lesson
• Lesson activities that accompany the video lesson
• Writing graphic organizers that accompany the video lesson
• Separate parent/teacher handbook
◦ How to use the program
◦ Sample lesson planning
◦ Writing icon descriptions
◦ Sample answers for each lesson
1st Grade Writing Assessment (A) / Resource Book (R)
• (A) Multiple choice, underline, and fill-in-the-blank assessments
• (A) Composition assessments for each composition completed in the workbook
• (R) Extra graphic organizers
• (R) Extra writing checklists
• (R) Level 1 spelling dictionary (word lists)
*Assessment/Resource Book will provide students with the opportunity to show what information they are retaining. Although some parents/teachers use the assessments as actual evaluations, others use them as extra practice. The additional word lists are valuable in improving student vocabulary.
Unit One: Grammar
Identify and Apply Activities for Writing Sentences
• Letter, word, and sentence formation
• Spacing, capitalization, and punctuation of sentences – period, question mark, and exclamation mark
• Introduction to complete sentences – subjects and predicates
• Types of sentences – declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, and imperative
Identify and Apply Activities for Parts of Speech
• Common nouns
• Proper nouns
• Singular and plural nouns
• Adjectives
• Action verbs
Tools for Effective Communication: Apply Parts of Speech
• Adjectives in action
Unit Two: Composition
Introduction to Writing
• Lists
• Paragraphs
• Personal letters
• Personal narratives
• Imaginative narratives
Additional Composition Skills
• Parts of a paragraph
• Staying on topic
• Parts of a personal letter
• Writing the date
• Chronological order
• Parts of a personal and an imaginative narrative
What if I have multiple students?
Additional 1st grade writing workbooks can be purchased to provide a workbook for another child/student. The workbook does not have additional information and is just another core workbook for another student so that each student has their own workbook to use.
How are tests and assignments graded?
An answer key is presented in the back of the included parent/teacher handbook. For compositions, sample answers for each step of the writing process and a final sample composition are presented to parents/teachers for comparison purposes. Checklists are included to be sure that the student met the composition requirements. Parents/teachers use the checklists and sample compositions to “grade” their student’s work.
What is included in Unit One and Two?
Unit One covers basic grammar instruction with activities where students learn to identify and apply basic parts of speech, to identify and apply the basics of writing sentences, and to use adjectives and sentences effectively in written communication.
Unit Two introduces several multi-sentence compositions as well as how to communicate effectively in written language and in a variety of styles and formats.
How much time will students need to complete this course?
The time needed to complete the 1st grade writing curriculum is a typical academic year (34 weeks). If students follow the 34-week plan included, they will complete individual lessons and activities during the week; however, because the lessons are broken up into small, daily mini-lessons, students can double up on some lessons and activities and complete the entire course sooner. Each day, students will spend 10-15 minutes on writing.
Does the workbook include a daily/weekly curriculum planner?
Each level of Essentials in Writing includes a 34-week suggested, yet optional, lesson planner.
Is online help available for additional workbook questions?
Essentials in Writing offers 100% free curriculum support through texting, Facebook Messenger, online chat, email, and phone calls.
(Additional Workbook compatible only with second edition Essentials in Writing video instruction)
Additional Student Level 1 Second Edition Workbook
This is only a Student Workbook for an ADDITIONAL student using the same level of video instruction. Please note that this Workbook in not functional without the related video instruction.
(Assessment/Resource Booklet is compatible only with second edition Essentials in Writing curriculum)
Assessment/Resource Booklet
- Assessments
10 grammar assessments, 4 composition assessments, and 2 comprehensive unit tests - Resources
A personal spelling dictionary with common hard-to-spell words and space to add more words, and multiple graphic organizers.
Essentials in Writing comes with your choice of ONLINE streaming or DVD video instruction
- ONLINE STREAMING
12 month access to ONLINE lesson-by-lesson video instruction (If you choose this option, DVDs will not be shipped) - DVD
DVDs are shipped alongside the Textbook/Workbook (If you choose this option, you will not have online video access) - Instruction manual/student workbook will be shipped whether Streaming or DVD is selected.
Not sure which level is right for your student? Use the level wizard.
Not sure which level is right for your student? Use the level wizard.