Elementary Writing Foundations Handbook
Elementary Writing Foundations Handbook
Build confident writers, one paragraph at a time.
Overview
This handbook is the foundation for all instruction we provide. Written for parents and teachers, this practical guide walks you through a simple, four-step process that transforms the way you teach writing. Inside, you’ll master how to guide your student through each step of the writing process: brainstorming to gather quality ideas, outlining to organize ideas, writing a rough draft to create complete sentences, and rewriting to create more interesting and thoughtful sentences. Rather than focusing on writing “more,” this handbook helps students learn to write better, through one well-crafted paragraph at a time.
The handbook works best when paired with the Elementary Student Lesson Guide, which provides the student practice pages that complement each concept. Together, they ensure that learning to write becomes natural, repeatable, and enjoyable.
What’s Included
Full digital PDF handbook (for parents and teachers)
Step-by-step instruction through writing process
Corresponding online video lessons for visual support
Practical teaching tips and pacing recommendations
Examples for clear guidance
Blank templates and worksheet space
Evaluation and checklist tools for assessing progress
Recommended For
Homeschool students in grades 3–6 (ideal for ages 8–13)
Parents and teachers who want to teach writing with confidence
Students who need to strengthen grammar, organization, and style before moving into multi-paragraph composition
Families looking for an easy-to-teach writing method
Key Benefits
Simple, proven framework – the 4-step process makes writing easy to teach and easy to learn
Teaches style that stands out – students learn to use strong nouns, active verbs, transitions, and varied sentence beginnings for vivid writing
Improves critical thinking – students learn to organize thoughts before writing
Builds confidence – gain mastery one paragraph at a time
Homeschool-friendly – flexible pacing that adapts to your family’s schedule
Parent-focused guidance – includes straightforward explanations and teaching insights
Note: All TWJ products are digital downloads. Upon purchase, you’ll receive a PDF copy of this guide.
FAQs
What grade levels is this handbook written for?
The target age group is 3rd-6th graders, although both younger and older students may benefit from the writing steps and strategies contained in this handbook. As the companion to this handbook, our Elementary level Student Lesson Guide is designed for students to work through.
Is this a workbook or a teacher’s manual?
This is not a workbook or manual but rather, a guide for parents and teachers to glean critical thinking and essential study skills. This is a practical instructional guide for parents and teachers, providing them with insight and direction as they teach quality writing skills to their children and students.
Can I order a hard copy of the handbook?
Not at this time. For now, as with all of our products, this is a digital download only.
If I have questions or desire additional instruction after reading the handbook, what are my options?
We are a highly relational organization. We will always do our best to meet the needs of our students and their parents. With that in mind, we can suggest a few options to receive personalized instruction as you learn the skills in the handbook:
Join our Adult Training Program.
Request mentoring from a trained instructor.
If you have a simple question, simply send a message to our home office.
Why are all families with students in your online classes required to purchase a handbook?
We partner with parents (and other adults) to bring quality writing instruction to students. As we partner with other adults, it is imperative that all parties understand the foundational concepts that will be taught. In this way, students receive the best support possible.