The Writer’s Toolkit – Level 1

A Hochman Method / The Writing Revolution–aligned writing curriculum for Grades 1–3

The Writer’s Toolkit, Level 1 is a joyful, developmentally grounded 32-week writing curriculum that faithfully implements the Hochman Method (The Writing Revolution). Every lesson uses explicit modeling, I Do / We Do / You Do scaffolding, sentence-level mastery, structured planning with SPOs, and the full TWR Writing Process to help children learn how to think on paper.

Designed specifically for home educators and small learning environments, this is one of the only early-elementary curricula that implements TWR with fidelity—bringing cognitive clarity, strong routines, and meaningful writing practice to young learners in a developmentally appropriate way.

What Makes This Curriculum Different

Instead of disconnected worksheets or unstructured creative prompts, The Writer’s Toolkit teaches writing through:

• Explicit instruction that shows the adult’s thinking step-by-step
• Predictable routines that reduce cognitive load and build confidence
• Sentence construction tasks (because/but/so; after/before/when/if)
• Structured Planning Organizers (SPOs)
• Revision routines that improve clarity and precision
• CPS editing (Capitalization, Punctuation, Spelling)
• The complete Writing Process: Plan → Draft → Revise → Edit → Illustrate

This is true Hochman instruction—carefully sequenced, cognitively supported, and designed for meaningful transfer.

Book Nook Lessons: Studying Real Authors

Each week includes a Book Nook lesson that models:

• How authors use rhythm, sound, and repetition
• How illustrations build meaning
• How text features guide understanding
• How word choice shapes tone

These mentor-text studies deepen reading comprehension while reinforcing writing craft.

What Students Will Learn

Across 32 weeks, students develop:

• Complete, meaningful sentences
• Stronger, more precise vocabulary
• Clear time-order and logical relationships
• Organized paragraphs
• Three complete stories (opinion, personal narrative, sequential nonfiction)
• Independent editing skills using CPS
• The ability to revise with purpose
• Identity and confidence as writers

Companion Toolkits

The Writer’s Toolkit – Level 1 is designed to stand on its own as a complete writing curriculum. For families who want a fully integrated approach to early literacy, it also aligns seamlessly with two companion programs in The Learner’s Toolkit series:

• The Handwriter’s Toolkit supports fine-motor development, letter formation, and writing stamina, ensuring students can physically keep pace with their growing ideas.

• The Speller’s Toolkit provides explicit, developmentally appropriate spelling instruction that reinforces phonics, patterns, and orthographic knowledge used during writing.

These toolkits are designed to work alongside The Writer’s Toolkit, but they are not required. Each program can be used independently or combined to create a cohesive, skills-based early writing ecosystem.

What’s Included

• 32 fully scripted weekly lessons
• I Do / We Do / You Do modeling
• Book Nook picture book study
• SPO planning sheets
• Paragraph pages
• Revision and editing tools
• Word Walls
• Writing Process posters
• Printable consumables for student use
• Portfolio and story project guidance

Skills Developed

• Sentence construction
• Use of conjunctions (because, but, so; after, before, when, if)
• Paragraph structure
• Story sequencing and organization
• Revision for clarity and word choice
• Editing (Capitalization, Punctuation, Spelling)
• Metacognition and strategy use
• Early writing independence

Pedagogy & Approach

• Hochman Method / The Writing Revolution
• Explicit Instruction
• Skills-Based
• Multimodal
• Developmentally Appropriate Practice
• Cognitive Load–Aware Teaching
• Evidence-Based Writing

This Course Is a Great Fit If You:

• Want clear guidance for teaching writing, especially if writing instruction feels intimidating
• Appreciate structured routines and explicit modeling that show how to teach each skill
• Value mastery and clarity over speed or volume of output
• Prefer reduced planning and decision fatigue during daily lessons
• Want confidence that essential sentence, paragraph, and early composition skills are not being missed

This Course May Not Be the Best Fit If You:

• Prefer completely open-ended writing time with minimal structure or direct instruction
• Want a primarily self-directed, reading-based program where students infer writing skills on their own
• Strongly dislike scripted instructional language or step-by-step teaching routines
• That said, many experienced educators choose scripted writing curricula for their clarity and rigor, adapting the language naturally to their own voice while preserving the instructional sequence.