The Write Foundation - TOS Review

Finally, I can share this writing program Maestro and I have been trialling from The Write Foundation since early October. Maestro has always enjoyed creative writing, but now we have something new to help build layers of new skills with those already acquired from previous learning.

The Write Foundation offer three levels of programs:

• Level 1 - Sentence Structure, which is aimed at ages 11 - 13,
• Level 2 - Paragraph Structure, aimed at ages 12 - 15, and
• Level 3 - Essay Writing, aimed at ages 14 - 17.

I had an option as to which program we could explore, and chose Level 2 (Lessons 1-15). It was a good choice, drawing Maestro into methods of recognising paragraph structure, methods of paraphrasing, developing more descriptive writing through grammar usage, and a once-a-week focus on poetry.

Teacher's Instruction Manual on the left.

Lesson Pages in a binder with tabs for the student.

Mindbenders .. a new favourite in our household!

The product is set out in three parts:

• The Teacher's Instruction Manual includes Introductory Notes and Lesson Plans.  
• Student Worksheets of approx. 200 pages, are separate, and best given to the student as required. 
• Finally, a download of additional resources includes all Teacher Presentation pages, assignments, evaluation and recording pages.

An optional product that The Write Foundation has incorporated into their program is the use of Mind Benders from Critical Thinking. I decided to purchase the first book from CBD, and both children have enjoyed doing these puzzles.

It is worth noting that this product is not a 'child works alone' product. It is designed for the parent/teacher to read ahead, print off required materials from the cd, then present the work to the child/ren, as one would in a class or small tutorial group.

Upon receipt of this course, take the time over a cuppa or two, to peruse all the items. It may take a week for you to familiarise yourself with the method and see how all the parts fit together to make one lesson. Take notes and highlight key points from the Teacher's Instruction Manual introductory pages. After I spent time doing this, I imagined I was already teaching the first lesson before presenting it to my son. This helped the successful flow of our experience. I needed to see how this package would work together rather than start and rummage through the pages in confusion during the actual lesson. And, yes, it did indeed work! ☺

The most intensive teaching is at the beginning of each lesson, or once a week (if work is done 5 days a week). If you are a parent that has time and is happy to do this, then this product could work for you. It is NOT a self-explanatory workbook system. This worked for us as I do usually take time to review lessons with the children 1:1 before they go off and work alone. However, with this product, the time was a bit longer on day 1 of the lesson (around half an hour) to introduce new concepts and work through the first examples. After that, a couple of minutes review only was needed for the remainder of the week, then Maestro could go ahead with the assignment. Of course, homeschoolers could tweak the lessons to even out the teaching aspect across the week better, if you have time to organise yourself to do so.

Coloured highlighters were replaced with pencil underlining here, 

but this was a fun exercise that Maestro grasped very quickly.

I admit that we've not really been very formal about presentation of Maestro's writing work. It's usually all handwritten on lined pages. Well, I took the opportunity to start setting some requirements for his final drafts as per the checklists in this product. For Maestro, checklists work really well. He was proud when he'd been able to go away and work on an assignment, then present a freshly printed, double spaced, piece of work with his name and date stated on the bottom. He likes a systematic approach and that's what this program offers. I can certainly see that this system of learning has it's merits, setting very good foundations in writing, just as the product title reflects.

Through the site's main page, you can peruse the various levels via the buttons on the left sidebar. Each level will give you sample pages to view and a syllabus outline.

Levels may be purchased complete, or in 15 lesson lots. A complete level is $69.95*US (plus shipping). A block of 15 lessons is $39.95*US (plus shipping). (*NB prices reduced, therefore amended on this post, Nov 16th).
** REMEMBER: you can use one level over a two year period if desired.
ANOTHER UPDATE Jan 10th 2011: these books are now available as downloads for overseas customers, therefore no shipping costs!!   Just go via the order page on PayPal, enter shipping destination and if you're not U.S., shipping costs are omitted.  The item will then be forwarded as an ebook.


An extra service offered by The Write Foundation is an online tutor to help with grading and holding the students accountable.  For more information on this payable service, see this page.

NB - I received this product from TOS for the purpose of review. There is no other compensation and the opinions are my own. Thank you to TOS and The Write Foundation for the use of this product. If you'd like to read further reviews on this product, please click HERE.