WriteShop Primary, Books A, B, and C and WriteShop Junior, Books D, E, and F

The curriculum provides extensive teacher support through detailed guides and step-by-step instructions.

Includes 'thorough, step-by-step lesson plans' and 'Teacher's Guide course book' with materials designed to help 'even the novice parent/teacher to teach'

The curriculum emphasizes direct, parent-guided instruction with structured lesson plans and clear teaching steps.

'Thorough, step-by-step lesson plans make it easy for even the novice parent/teacher to teach' and lessons are described as 'parent-intensive' requiring 'parent presentation'

This is a strength of the curriculum, with systematic instruction in the complete writing process across multiple genres.

Curriculum teaches 'the steps of the writing process from prewriting through brainstorming, writing a first draft, editing and revising, and creating a final draft' with 'self-editing checklists' and covers 'both creative and expository writing'

The curriculum organizes lessons around themes but does not appear to systematically build domain knowledge across subjects.

Lessons revolve around themes 'such as animals or friends' and include writing about 'community helpers,' but there's no indication of systematic knowledge-building across history, science, or arts

The curriculum progresses systematically in writing complexity but text complexity for reading materials is not emphasized.

Writing assignments progress from basic sentences to 'five-paragraph writing' in later books, but the focus is on writing development rather than reading complex texts

The curriculum includes some review elements but does not emphasize systematic retrieval practice.

Activity Packs provide 'worksheets for reinforcement' and students create grammar reference materials, but no systematic spaced review or retrieval practice is described

The curriculum addresses vocabulary development within the context of writing instruction but lacks systematic vocabulary building.

Students develop skills in 'vocabulary' as part of writing instruction, and lessons include 'choosing strong verbs and adjectives,' but no systematic vocabulary program is described

The curriculum incorporates picture books and storybooks into lessons but focuses primarily on student-generated writing rather than reading complete texts.

Review mentions that lessons 'incorporate storybooks' and use 'responses to picture books' as prewriting activities, but the emphasis is on writing instruction rather than sustained reading of whole books

The curriculum does not include phonics instruction as it focuses exclusively on writing development.

No mention of phonics instruction in the review; the program states that 'the ability to read and write is not required prior to students using WriteShop Primary'