Essentials in Writing is a homeschool writing curriculum designed by Matthew Stephens. It features video lessons that teach writing techniques and help students improve their skills from grades 1-12.
Most homeschool families report completing core academic subjects in 3-4 hours per day for elementary students, compared to the 6-7 hours typical of traditional schools, due to the one-on-one instruction and absence of classroom management overhead (NHERI, 2024). According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What is Essentials in Writing?
Essentials in Writing is a writing program for homeschoolers created by Matthew Stephens, a former middle school English teacher and homeschool dad. It uses video lessons where Stephens teaches writing skills right on a whiteboard. This hands-on approach shows students how a good writer goes from a blank page to a finished piece. EIW is for grades 1-12 and is in Cathy Duffy's Top 102 Picks for homeschool resources.
How it works
Each level of EIW has 43-83 video lessons spread over 34 weeks. Students watch a video where Stephens explains a concept and then do workbook pages that go along with it. The program teaches kids to organize their thoughts first. They plan their writing structure before drafting, so they aren't juggling ideas while writing. Levels 1-6 focus on building sentences into paragraphs and introduce grammar. Levels 7-12 mainly focus on composition, using grammar as a tool instead of teaching it separately.
Pricing overview
Essentials in Writing is budget-friendly. For grades 1-6, it costs $89-129, depending on whether you choose digital or printed books and if you want the assessment booklet. Grades 7-10 are $89-109, and grades 11-12 are $67-87. When you compare it to the Institute for Excellence in Writing, which costs $169-189+, the value is clear. There's also an optional scoring service for grades 6-12 for $118 if you want professional feedback on your child's writing.
Who it works best for
Essentials in Writing is great for families who prefer video teaching. It works well for reluctant writers and students with learning differences. The step-by-step method with short daily tasks helps avoid overwhelm. The modeled writing technique is perfect for visual learners. Parents who aren't confident in teaching writing will appreciate that the videos do most of the teaching while they support their kids.
The bottom line
Essentials in Writing makes teaching writing at home much easier. You don't need to be a writing expert to help your child improve. The program is especially helpful for students who struggle with organizing their thoughts or feel stuck when facing a blank page. Just keep in mind that you'll need separate programs for spelling, handwriting, and literature since EIW centers on grammar and composition.
