1
Writing With Ease
Best for: Elementary writing
Short daily lessons of narration, copywork and dictation from good books. Builds the habits composition needs.
Good to know: Four levels; most families start in 1st or 2nd grade.
Buying guide · Language arts
Best Homeschool Writing, Grammar and Handwriting Curriculum
Language arts covers four skills: handwriting, spelling, grammar and composition. Young kids need short daily practice in each. Older kids need more writing and feedback. These are the programs families stick with.
Updated November 2026. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. It helps keep our tools free.
Quick picks
| Pick | Best for |
|---|---|
| Writing With Ease | Elementary writing |
| First Language Lessons | Gentle elementary grammar |
| Fix It! Grammar | Grammar in context, grades 3 to 12 |
| Handwriting Without Tears | Learning to print and cursive |
| All About Spelling | Struggling or beginning spellers |
| Composition notebooks | Every writer |
How to choose
Copywork first. In the early grades, copying and dictating good sentences builds writing skill faster than blank-page assignments.
Gentle or rigorous grammar. Elementary grammar can be light and oral; middle school is the time for diagramming and full rules.
Feedback. Writing improves with feedback. Pick a program that tells you what to look for.
Our picks
2
First Language Lessons
Best for: Gentle elementary grammar
Scripted, mostly oral lessons with memory work and short poems.
Good to know: Levels 1 to 4; very little prep.
3
Fix It! Grammar
Best for: Grammar in context, grades 3 to 12
Students edit one sentence a day from a continuing story, learning grammar rules as they fix it.
Good to know: From the Institute for Excellence in Writing; six levels.
4
Handwriting Without Tears
Best for: Learning to print and cursive
Simple letter formation, workbooks for each grade and hands-on materials for preschool.
Good to know: Also sold as Learning Without Tears.
5
All About Spelling
Best for: Struggling or beginning spellers
Multisensory, scripted spelling with letter tiles, from the makers of All About Reading.
Good to know: Work through the levels in order regardless of grade.
6
Composition notebooks
Best for: Every writer
One notebook per child for copywork and drafts doubles as a portfolio sample.
Good to know: Primary-ruled for young kids.
Questions families ask
How much writing should a homeschooler do?
A few sentences a day in the early grades, a paragraph a day in upper elementary, and multi-paragraph essays weekly in high school.
When should kids learn cursive?
Many families start in 2nd or 3rd grade, once print handwriting is comfortable.
Free tools that go with this
No signup. Everything stays in your browser.