Writing with Ease was created by Susan Wise Bauer, author of The Well-Trained Mind and the Story of the World series, as a classical approach to teaching elementary writing through copywork, narration, and dictation rather than open-ended creative prompts. The single Instructor Text covers all four levels (grades 1-4) in 144 scripted lessons, with diagnostic tests to help parents find the right starting point, and separate consumable Student Workbooks sold individually for those who want a done-for-you option.
The program deliberately separates the two halves of writing — forming ideas and putting them correctly on paper — teaching them as distinct skills rather than assuming a child can do both at once. Lessons run four days a week for 36 weeks, with revised editions adding an optional creative writing exercise on the fifth day. It’s the first in a three-part series, continuing into Writing with Skill (grades 5-8) and Writing with Style (grades 9-12) for families wanting to stay with the same approach through high school.
Best for classical or Charlotte Mason-leaning families wanting a scripted, low-prep writing foundation built on copywork and dictation, and for older struggling writers who need to start with earlier-level material without feeling babied.
The teaching is done for you, lesson by lesson.
Clarifies exactly where a struggling writer needs help.
Writing with Skill and Writing with Style extend the same approach.
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