Essentials in Writing
Essentials in Writing · Matthew Stephens · Grades 1-12
Families wanting video-taught writing instruction that frees the parent from being the writing teacher; ADHD and dyslexic learners who benefit from explicit video modeling; parents who are not confident teaching writing themselves; charter families needing secular,...
$67-118/grade
Overview
Essentials in Writing is a video-based writing program created by classroom teacher Matthew Stephens, covering grades 1-12. Each lesson is a short instructional video followed by a writing exercise; the student works through the program largely independently after parent setup. Strong appeal for families who want explicit writing instruction without the parent's direct involvement at every lesson, and for students who do better learning from a teacher's voice than from a workbook. Less philosophical than Brave Writer, less rigid than IEW.
Strengths
- •Video-based instruction means parent does not need to teach writing. Student watches teacher model the process
- •covers writing and grammar together grades 1-12
- •very affordable for a complete writing program
- •explicitly designed for ADHD and dyslexic learners with structured approach
- •Excellent customer service. Parents can call and talk to actual teachers
- •little to no parent prep time
- •secular and charter-compliant
- •scoring service available for grades 7-12
Limitations
- •Video-only instruction may feel passive for kinesthetic learners
- •Less creative freedom than programs like Brave Writer. Very structured and formulaic
- •writing assignments can feel standardized-test-oriented rather than genuine expression
- •DVDs feel dated compared to streaming platforms
- •Not a complete language arts solution. No literature component
- •may not develop a student's unique writing voice the way mentor-text approaches do
Best fit for
Families wanting video-taught writing instruction that frees the parent from being the writing teacher; ADHD and dyslexic learners who benefit from explicit video modeling; parents who are not confident teaching writing themselves; charter families needing secular, standards-aligned writing curriculum
The honest read
Recommended in SoCal groups as the IEW alternative for families who found IEW too complex or instructor-dependent. Parents consistently praise EIW for being independent: the child watches the video and does the work without parent involvement. Specifically called out as effective for ADHD and dyslexic learners. Community positions it as 'the writing curriculum for parents who hate teaching writing.'
Get Essentials in Writing
Families wanting video-taught writing instruction that frees the parent from being the writing teacher; ADHD and dyslexic learners who benefit from explicit video modeling; parents who are not confident teaching writing themselves; charter families needing secular,...
SHOPRelated in Language Arts
Essentials in Writing
$67-118/grade