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Choose a Level | WriteShop Primary

WriteShop Primary is a parent-led writing curriculum for 5-9-year-olds. These placement guidelines will help you choose the exact starting level when using WriteShop Primary.

WriteShop Primary Book A

Target Range: 5- to 7-year olds

Start with Book A if your 5- to 7-year-old is not yet able to:

  • WriteShop Primary targets grades K-3. This placement guide will help you choose the best starting level for your child.
    Identify beginning, middle, and end in a picture book
  • Orally complete predictable sentence starters
  • Identify and use periods at the end of a sentence
  • Begin a sentence with a capital letter
  • Choose an appropriate title
  • Think of simple ways to improve a story
  • Read and write color words
  • Recognize words that rhyme

If your child can do a number of these things already, consider choosing Book B instead.
>> Shop WriteShop Primary A

WriteShop Primary Book B

Target Range: 6- to 8-year-olds

Start with Book B if your 6- to 8-year-old is not yet able to:

  • Identify or use paragraph form and indentation
  • WriteShop Primary targets grades K-3. This placement guide will help you choose the best starting level for your child.
    Use graphic organizers to plan a story
  • Include a beginning, middle, and end in their story
  • Figure out how to add more details to a story
  • Organize a story to include a problem and its solution
  • Choose story endings
  • Write or dictate a friendly letter
  • Write or dictate about something that has happened to them
  • Retell nursery rhymes and fairy tales in their own words
  • Identify the parts of a friendly letter
  • Identify words that rhyme
  • Use standard spelling tools such as a dictionary

If your child can do a number of these things already, consider choosing Book C instead.
>> Shop WriteShop Primary B

WriteShop Primary Book C 

Target Range: 7- to 9-year-olds

Start with Book C if your 7- to 9-year-old is not yet able to:

  • Plan the main ingredients of a story before beginning to write
  • WriteShop Primary targets grades K-3. This placement guide will help you choose the best starting level for your child.
    Ask who, what, when, where, and why? in order to add story details
  • Organize story details
  • Write entries in a personal journal
  • Use descriptive words in their writing
  • Write a short nonfiction article
  • Summarize the contents of familiar books
  • Collect research facts about a specific topic
  • Write a simple, short report with introduction, body, and closing
  • Use standard spelling
  • Check their own work for correct spelling and punctuation

If your child can do a number of these things already, consider choosing WriteShop Junior Book D instead.
>> Shop WriteShop Primary C

Don’t Choose a Level That’s Too Young

Each WriteShop Primary level teaches specific skills within a range of ages, making it easier to choose the best place to begin the program. However, age and skill are not the only factors to consider when placing your student. Each student’s reasoning skills, emotional maturity, and ability to express ideas orally are also important considerations. So before you decide on a level, make sure to consider all the factors.

If you have a non-writer, reluctant writer, or a writer struggling with complex tasks, choose to slow down over starting at a too-easy level. Bear in mind that it’s more important to choose a level that fits your student’s thinking skills, not their grammar, spelling, or writing skills

Learn More

>> WriteShop Primary Overview
>> WriteShop Primary FAQs