Writing With Ease
Writing With Skill (WWS) has earned a strong reputation among homeschooling families seeking a comprehensive, structured approach to middle school writing. Parent experiences reveal important insights about this rigorous curriculum designed to bridge elementary skills and high school composition.
What Parents Love
Many parents praise WWS for its systematic, thorough approach to teaching academic writing. The curriculum's step-by-step method breaks down complex writing tasks into manageable pieces that build confidence:
"We loved the Writing With Skill curriculum… it taught how to write so many different types of essays in a way that made sense to my logical son… while breaking it down into steps that feel achievable to my daughter… They worked (mostly) independently, felt empowered and accomplished, and learned a lot. I can't ask for much more!" Michelle Kay Anderson
The student workbook's direct instruction format, which allows middle schoolers to work independently, is frequently cited as a major advantage. This shift toward student responsibility is particularly valued by parents juggling multiple children or subjects:
"The student works hard, not mom – that's called active learning!" 4onemore
Parents appreciate that WWS teaches a transferable writing process rather than just assigning compositions. Students learn concrete skills they can apply across subjects—outlining, summarizing, analyzing texts, and organizing information:
"Writing With Skill teaches writing in a very systematic and organized way… giving them various skills and tools they can fall back on when confronted by just about any writing prompt." The Smarter Learning Guide
The variety of reading selections incorporated into WWS receives consistent praise. Parents report that these diverse excerpts—ranging from historical accounts to science texts—keep students engaged while simultaneously building both writing skills and general knowledge.
The comprehensive instructor guide, with its detailed rubrics and sample answers, helps even parents who don't consider themselves strong writers guide their children effectively:
"With Writing With Skill, students work largely on their own…great for busier parents who can't spend as much time intensively teaching." The Smarter Learning Guide
Parents also identify several challenges with WWS, beginning with its intensity. The curriculum is comprehensive but demanding, with lengthy books that can initially overwhelm both parents and students:
"The instructor text... is hefty... teaching the course requires a substantial time commitment just to prepare for each lesson." Cathy Duffy Reviews
WWS's academic focus means it lacks the games, multimedia elements, or creative activities that appeal to some students. Parents of children who thrive with multisensory approaches or who strongly prefer creative writing sometimes find the program too dry or rigid.
The feedback process presents another hurdle. Unlike programs with quizzes or clear-cut answer keys, WWS requires subjective evaluation of writing, which some parents find challenging:
"Writing With Skill does not consider scoring or grading to be extremely important... the guides don't really include any such resources, which can be an issue for some parents." The Smarter Learning Guide
The placement recommendation that all students begin with Level 1 regardless of prior writing experience can frustrate families with older or more advanced students, who may find the initial lessons too basic. While the program eventually becomes quite rigorous, some families report needing to accelerate through early chapters.
Finally, because WWS requires significant independent work, students who struggle with organization or reading comprehension may need more oversight than parents initially expect. The program works best when students are willing to carefully follow instructions rather than rushing through assignments.
Which Students Thrive With WWS
Based on parent feedback, WWS works particularly well for:
- Analytical, detail-oriented students who appreciate clear structure
- Middle schoolers ready for academic writing but needing step-by-step guidance
- Independent learners who can follow written instructions
- Students preparing for rigorous high school or college writing
- Families following classical education models
Students who may find WWS challenging include:
- Primarily creative writers who prefer imaginative expression over analytical writing
- Children who need a more multisensory or interactive approach
- Students who struggle with independent work or reading comprehension
- Those who prefer a more relaxed, unstructured writing process
Making WWS Work For Your Family
Experienced WWS users share several strategies for success. Some families alternate between WWS's academic writing and creative writing projects to maintain interest. Others adapt the pacing—taking two years to complete one level if needed, or accelerating through sections their students have already mastered.
To manage the feedback workload, some parents schedule specific "writing conference" times each week rather than trying to review work daily. Others report success with peer editing, where siblings or co-op students review each other's work before parent evaluation.
Despite initial challenges, many families who persevere with WWS see significant growth in their students' writing abilities:
"It was nice but we didn't like it as well at first... however, we saw huge growth in our son's writing after sticking with it." Homeschool Forum Participant
The Bottom Line
Writing With Skill delivers a thorough, systematic approach to middle school composition that emphasizes clear structure, careful analysis, and academic writing across subjects. While demanding of both students and parents, it effectively bridges the gap between elementary writing foundations and high school rhetoric.
The program best serves families who value academic rigor and systematic skill development over creative exploration. As one parent succinctly observed: "Very structured. If your kid isn't into that, it might be rough. But my structured kid excelled with it."
For families aligned with classical education principles who want their middle schoolers to develop strong analytical writing skills while becoming more independent learners, WWS provides a proven, comprehensive path forward.