Writing Aids

The curriculum includes extensive teacher guidance through instructional sections, talking points, and detailed grading rubrics.

Reviews emphasize comprehensive teacher support including 'teaching instruction,' 'talking points,' 'grading strategies,' and rubrics, with one reviewer noting 'I had NO idea how to go about grading my daughter's work. The rubrics included in Writing Aids makes it completely worth the cost'

The curriculum provides instructional materials for teachers but appears to function more as a reference guide than a systematic instructional program.

Successful Homeschooling reviewer describes it as 'an encyclopedia of writing assignments' rather than direct instruction, while Exodus Books notes sections like analytical essays are 'less than four pages long'

The curriculum explicitly does not include phonics instruction, focusing solely on composition skills.

Cathy Duffy clearly states 'Writing Aids is not a tool for teaching grammar or spelling. You will need separate resources for those topics'

When used with Tapestry of Grace, writing assignments align with historical themes students are studying, but as a standalone product it lacks systematic knowledge building.

Cathy Duffy notes that Writing Aids 'includes topics for writing assignments that reflect unit themes children are studying' when used with TOG, but non-TOG users must 'supply their own topics'

The curriculum addresses grade-appropriate complexity through its multi-level design covering grades 1-12.

Reviews indicate different assignments for different levels, with examples like 'second graders working on display boards about explorers while seventh graders write compare/contrast papers and tenth graders practice essay test-taking'

The curriculum provides structured writing instruction across multiple genres with clear guidelines and assessment tools.

Reviews highlight coverage of 'analytical essays, biography writing, book reviews/reports, business writing, editorials' with detailed rubrics and grading strategies, though one reviewer notes 'This is NOT a how to write instructor's guide'

The curriculum includes self-assessment tools through rubrics but does not appear to emphasize retrieval practice or spaced review.

Reviews mention rubrics 'so that they can self check their writing before handing in a final draft' but no mention of retrieval practice or systematic review

The curriculum does not appear to include explicit vocabulary instruction as part of its writing focus.

Reviews mention graphic organizers and writing genres but make no reference to vocabulary building activities or instruction

The curriculum does not emphasize reading whole books, instead focusing on writing instruction across various genres.

Reviews describe it as a writing handbook covering genres like essays, reports, and literary analysis, with no mention of whole book reading components