Writing With Skill

Writing With Skill, from the Well-Trained Mind Press, is a systematic writing curriculum aimed at roughly middle school and up that focuses on building strong academic writing habits. Through carefully scaffolded assignments, students practice outlining, summarizing, narration, research, and eventually multi-paragraph compositions, with explicit models and step-by-step guidance. Developed by author and educator Susan Wise Bauer, the program assumes parents may not feel confident teaching writing and therefore includes detailed instructor support alongside student texts. Families appreciate the clear progression and the way skills are revisited and deepened over time. The books represent a moderate multi-year investment but can be reused with younger siblings. Because the tone is formal and academically oriented, some creative writers may need separate outlets for more imaginative work.