JacKris

Winning with Writing

Recommended Ages

1st-8th Grades

Winning with Writing is a sequential writing curriculum for elementary and middle school students that breaks composition tasks into daily lessons. Each level teaches sentence structure, paragraph organization, and eventually multi-paragraph essays through consistent, incremental practice. Parents like the straightforward, workbook-based format that requires minimal prep and gives kids clear expectations for each day. It’s a solid option for families who want a traditional, skills-focused writing program that builds habits over time without elaborate projects.

Students in roughly grades 2–8 who do well with clear directions and workbook practice, and families wanting a no-frills, secular way to cover basic composition skills while using separate resources for literature and grammar.

Pros

Budget-friendly, secular writing program made up of straightforward workbooks that incrementally build from sentences to paragraphs and essays; many homeschoolers like its predictable, open-and-go structure and the way it pairs with Growing with Grammar. 

Cons

Some reviewers find it dry, noting limited support for brainstorming, revising, or writing for real audiences; the 36-week schedule can feel rigid, and the emphasis is on practice rather than rich mentor texts or creative projects.

Many ESAs and charter programs will fund this as part of a language arts plan when purchased from approved curriculum vendors. As always, check your program’s rules on consumable workbooks and eligible suppliers.

$10.08

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Winning with Writing
$10.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
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Writing
Writing
ELA
ELA

Winning with Writing Mission

The mission of Winning with Writing is to give students a clear, incremental path to strong writing skills through short, daily lessons. The series breaks composition into manageable steps—sentence types, paragraph structure, organization, and eventually multi-paragraph assignments—so that children can build confidence without feeling overwhelmed. Designed for independent work with minimal teacher prep, it pairs especially well with homeschool and small-group settings that need a straightforward, no-frills writing curriculum.

Winning with Writing Story

Winning with Writing was developed by author Tamela Davis and published by JacKris Publishing as the writing counterpart to her Growing With Grammar and Soaring With Spelling series. After creating grammar and spelling programs that many homeschoolers loved for their clarity and routine, Davis turned her attention to composition, designing a leveled series that would cover grades 1–8 across thirty-six weeks each year. The result is a set of spiral-bound worktexts and answer keys that guide students from simple sentences to multi-paragraph reports through consistent daily practice. Over time it has become a go-to option for families who want a traditional, skills-based writing program without heavy parent lecturing.

About Modular Learning

FAQ: Additional Details about Winning with Writing

In daily use, your child opens their workbook to a short, clearly labeled lesson. One day they might practice combining short choppy sentences into a smoother one; another day, they brainstorm supporting details for a paragraph about a favorite animal. You read a simple example together, then they write in the provided lines while you circulate nearby, occasionally peeking at their work or answering a question.

Winning with Writing is a step‑by‑step composition curriculum that focuses on sentences, paragraphs, and eventually multi‑paragraph pieces. Each level is divided into daily lessons that review grammar basics, model writing structures, and provide guided practice. It pairs well with its sister program, Growing with Grammar, but can also stand alone as a writing spine.

Parents or caregivers typically read directions aloud at first, check written work, and offer feedback on content and mechanics. As habits solidify, students can complete much of the workbook independently, though they still benefit from periodic conferencing about organization and clarity.

Students should be writing comfortably at sentence level and able to copy from a model. Exact placement is based on a quick look inside the levels; some kids work slightly above or below grade level. No prior use of this series is required.

Winning with Writing provides step‑by‑step instruction in writing skills and frequent, short assignments, which can support autistic and ADHD learners who need explicit structure. Dysgraphic learners often benefit when parents scribe, use typing, or cut back on volume while maintaining the sequence of skills.

Can work for some 2e writers who need explicit structure, but the workload can feel heavy. Many families shrink assignments, scribe for dysgraphic learners, or pair it with a more creative program so writing doesn’t become purely corrective.

Because this is a consumable workbook series, returns may be limited once pages are written in. New copies bought through curriculum stores or online retailers are often returnable within a specified period; digital PDFs are generally non‑refundable. Review the specific seller’s policy before purchase.

Highly reluctant writers who need more modeling, collaboration, and oral rehearsal may find it too workbook-heavy; very creative kids wanting open-ended projects and detailed feedback may feel uninspired if this is their only writing resource.

Brave Writer or The Writing Revolution for process-focused, discussion-heavy writing, IEW for more teacher-led structure, or Writing & Rhetoric and Michael Clay Thompson for a more literary, classical approach.

The program has been stable for years, with only minor layout changes; families often use older and newer printings interchangeably. There are no complex digital updates to track.

Use it as a spine rather than a straightjacket—skip or condense assignments that repeat skills your child has mastered and mix in occasional real-world writing (emails, letters, mini-essays) using the same structures.

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Meet Tamela

Tamela Davis is the author of several popular homeschool language-arts programs, including Growing With Grammar, Soaring With Spelling and Vocabulary, and Winning with Writing, all published by JacKris Publishing. Her books share a common design philosophy: clear explanations, incremental lessons, and plenty of practice built into student-friendly worktexts. While she keeps a relatively low public profile, her materials have quietly become staples in many homeschool homes and small schools that appreciate their predictable structure. A fun fact: because the series is written to be secular and straightforward, it has been adopted by families with a wide range of educational philosophies.