writing

Homeschool writing curriculum doesn’t have to be expensive.  We offer many affordable writing guides for children in our eStore, most of them under $5.00, but you can also put together a custom writing journal without breaking your homeschool budget.  Using three different notebooks, you can provide children with simple writing opportunities they can use to build important independent writing skills.  Purchase an inexpensive set of lined notebooks with the appropriate spacing for your child.   Use the printable schedules and title pages below to build and customize your writing journals.  (Alternatively, you can use these to create one single writing binder by using our printables as dividers in each section.)

Print these four daily journal printables then read below for complete assembly and tips.

• Daily Spelling Journal Printables
• Daily Vocabulary Journal Printables
• Daily Writing Journal Printables
• Daily Helper Journal Printables

How to Set up a Daily Vocabulary Journal

Step 1:
Paste the title of the journal on the outside of the notebook. On the inside cover paste the instructions.  Additionally you can customize these with your own instructions by writing them in.

Step 2:
Make two pockets to hold your spelling words.  Glue the first pocket to the front and write NEW on it.  Glue the second pocket to the back and write OLD on it.  Then cut index cards in half and write the words you want your child to work on.  Do an online search of grade specific vocabulary words (or choose from the list you’ll be making with your Daily Helper Journal.) 

Step 3:
Place a paper clip at the top of the first page and your ready to go!  At the end of the week have your child place the word into the OLD pocket in the back.  Every so often you can use these index cards as flashcards, for review purposes or to create additional learning opportunities.  (i.e. play an alphabetical order game, or match cards by number of syllables….etc.)

How to set up you Daily Spelling Notebook:

Step 1:
Paste the title of the journal on the outside of the notebook. On the inside cover paste the instructions, filling in the blanks according to your child’s ability level. Alternatively you can write in your own custom weekly instructions as well.  You might also consider adding in some fun spelling websites or games on Friday for children to practice typing their words.

Step 2:
Make two pockets to hold your words.  Glue the first pocket to the front and write NEW on it.  Glue the second pocket to the back and write OLD on it.  Then cut index cards in half and write the words you want your child to work on.

Step 3:
Place a paper clip at the top of the first page for your child to store the current word list. At the end of the week have your child place the word into the OLD pocket in the back of the book to keep for later review.  You might consider providing children with additional hands on spelling ideas such as our alphabetical order train or letter tiles, making one day a week for games or review.

How to set up your Daily Writing Journal

Step 1:
Paste the title of the journal on the outside of the notebook.  On the inside cover paste the instructions, filling in the blanks accordingly.  For my young daughter I decided to have her write five sentences or for at least 10 minutes.  This seemed to encourage her to write a bit faster :) Older children can easily  write more so you can choose what is best for your child.  

Step 2:
Setting up a daily journal is very simple!  Print a list of Story Starters, ( a quick internet search will pull up a ton, you can find age/theme appropriate for your child) and cut them into strips. Store them in a pocket in the front of your notebook.  Provide a paper clip for your child to place the story strip at the top of their sheet of paper.

How to set up your Daily Helper Journal

Step 1:
Paste the title of the journal on the outside of the notebook.  On the inside cover paste the instructions.

Step 2:

Provide children with tabs, paperclips or bookmarks to organize this journal into different sections.  Label the sections with the suggested titles above or with your own as you see fit.  This journal can be used as a reference for newly learned words, grammar rules, and for keeping track of future words to add to spelling and vocabulary lists.

Step-by-Step Writing Guides are now available in our eStore

Come Check them out today!