Writing With Ease Review: Charlotte Mason Curriculum

After using Writing With Ease with all three of my children over six years, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about this Charlotte Mason-inspired program. Indeed, it’s one of the most-discussed curricula in homeschool circles, and for good reason.

Susan Wise Bauer designed WWE to teach composition through a gentle, developmentally-appropriate approach. However, does it actually work? This comprehensive review covers exactly what’s included, how to use it, and whether it’s the right fit for your homeschool.

Quick Take: Writing With Ease Overview

Feature	Details
Grades	1-4 (Ages 6-10)
Method	Charlotte Mason (copywork, dictation, narration)
Time	10-20 minutes daily
Format	Workbooks or Complete Writer book
Price	$30-40 per level
Our Score	4.5/5

What Is Writing With Ease?

WWE is a four-level program that uses classic Charlotte Mason methods: copywork, dictation, and narration. Rather than asking young children to create original compositions (which can be frustrating), it builds skills gradually through time-tested techniques.

Susan Wise Bauer, author of The Well-Trained Mind, created this program based on classical and Charlotte Mason principles. According to the Reading Rockets program (a national literacy initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education), the skills WWE teaches, such as transcription and sentence formation, form the foundation of proficient writing.

Similarly, the Institute of Education Sciences supports explicit instruction that builds foundational skills before requiring independent composition.

The Three Core Activities

Copywork

Students copy sentences from well-written literature. As a result, they learn spelling patterns, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure without the cognitive load of composing original text. Moreover, copying excellent writing models ingrains good habits naturally.

Dictation

You read a sentence aloud, and your child writes it from memory. Essentially, this activity bridges the gap between copying and original composition. Additionally, students must hold the sentence in working memory while writing. That’s a crucial skill for independent work later.

Narration

After reading a passage together, your child retells it in their own words. In the early levels, you write down their narration. Later, they write it themselves. Furthermore, narration teaches sequencing, summarization, and oral composition. For more on this technique, see our narration guide.

What’s Included at Each Level

First Level (Grade 1, Ages 6-7)

• Copywork: 1-2 sentences from classic literature
• Narration: Simple retelling after read-aloud passages
• Focus: Basic sentence structure, capital letters, periods
• Time: 10-15 minutes daily

Second Level (Grade 2, Ages 7-8)

• Copywork: 2-3 sentences, more complex punctuation
• Introduction to dictation (single sentences)
• Longer narrations with more detail
• Focus: Commas, quotation marks, proper nouns
• Time: 15-20 minutes daily

Third Level (Grade 3, Ages 8-9)

• Copywork: Short paragraphs
• Dictation: 2-3 sentences
• Written narrations (child writes their own)
• Focus: Paragraph structure, varied sentence types
• Time: 15-20 minutes daily

Fourth Level (Grade 4, Ages 9-10)

• Copywork and dictation: Longer passages
• Two-level outlining introduced
• Longer written narrations
• Focus: Organizing information, summarizing
• Time: 20-30 minutes daily

How to Use Writing With Ease

Recommended Schedule

Here’s how we scheduled WWE in our homeschool:

• Monday: Read passage together, discuss, oral narration
• Tuesday: Copywork from the passage
• Wednesday: Read new passage, narration
• Thursday: Dictation exercise
• Friday: Catch-up day or optional enrichment

This four-day schedule works well for most families. Importantly, sessions stay short and never exceed 20 minutes for younger students. As a result, children stay engaged without becoming frustrated.

Materials You Need

• Writing With Ease workbook (your chosen level)
• Good pencil and quality paper (or penmanship notebook)
• The literature passages are included, so no separate books required

What We Love About Writing With Ease

Gentle, Developmentally Appropriate

WWE doesn’t ask six-year-olds to write original paragraphs. Instead, it builds the foundational skills they need first. In my experience, after using more aggressive writing programs with my first child (which led to tears and frustration), WWE’s gentleness was refreshing. Consequently, my younger two actually enjoyed their lessons.

Uses Excellent Literature

The passages come from classic children’s literature including Beatrix Potter, E.B. White, C.S. Lewis, and many others. As a result, students encounter rich vocabulary and well-crafted sentences. Consequently, they absorb good composition skills through exposure rather than explicit rules.

Easy for Parents to Teach

Each lesson takes 5-10 minutes to prepare. Moreover, instructions are clear and scripted. As such, you don’t need a teaching degree or background. Simply follow the weekly plan.

Short Daily Lessons

Lessons take 10-20 minutes depending on the level. For busy homeschools, this brevity is perfect. Indeed, short and consistent practice produces better results than occasional long sessions. The National Center for Education Statistics research supports this spaced practice approach for skill development.

Builds Toward Independent Writing

The progression makes sense. First, copywork teaches mechanics without composition stress. Next, dictation adds working memory demands. Then, narration develops organization and voice. Finally, by Level 4, students compose multi-paragraph summaries with confidence.

What Could Be Better

No Grammar Instruction

WWE doesn’t teach grammar explicitly. While students pick up grammar through exposure, some kids need direct instruction. Therefore, we supplemented with First Language Lessons for grammar basics. Additionally, many families use our recommended language arts programs alongside WWE.

Some Kids Find It Slow

Advanced or impatient learners might get bored with copywork. Of course, the pace is intentionally gradual. If your child already composes fluently, WWE might not challenge them enough. In that case, consider starting at a higher level or choosing a different program.

Requires Parent Presence

Unlike some curricula, WWE needs a parent for every lesson. This is especially true for narration and dictation. In other words, this isn’t a “hand it to your child and walk away” program. Plan on being present for those 15-20 minutes.

Handwriting Dependent

Students must compose by hand. Consequently, if penmanship is a struggle, copywork becomes tedious. Consider working on penmanship separately first, or look at our programs for reluctant writers if resistance is an issue. According to Cathy Duffy Reviews, addressing penmanship difficulties first leads to better outcomes.

Who Should Use Writing With Ease

Great For:

• Charlotte Mason or classical homeschools
• Children who resist writing or feel overwhelmed
• Families wanting a gentle, literature-based approach
• Parents who can spend 15-20 minutes daily on writing
• Kids ages 6-10 building foundational skills

Maybe Not For:

• Advanced writers who need more challenge
• Families wanting independent work
• Students who struggle significantly with penmanship
• Those wanting explicit grammar instruction

Writing With Ease vs. Other Programs

Program	Approach	Parent Time	Grades
Writing With Ease	Charlotte Mason	High	1-4
IEW	Structure-based	Medium	3-12
Brave Writer	Natural/lifestyle	Medium	K-12
WriteShop	Incremental	High	3-12

For more comparisons, see our IEW review and Brave Writer review.

What Comes After Writing With Ease?

After completing Level 4, most students transition to Writing With Skill (WWE’s continuation for grades 5-8) or another program like Institute for Excellence in Writing. Notably, the skills from WWE provide a solid foundation for any writing curriculum. The Home School Legal Defense Association recommends continuing skill development through middle school.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade should I start Writing With Ease?

Start Level 1 in first grade (age 6-7). However, if starting later, use the placement guidelines in the Complete Writer handbook. For example, some families begin Level 2 with third-graders who’ve never done formal instruction.

Can I use Writing With Ease alongside another language arts program?

Absolutely. In fact, many families use WWE for composition and a separate program for grammar, spelling, and reading. It integrates well with most homeschool approaches.

How long does each level take to complete?

Each level is designed for one school year (36 weeks). At four lessons per week, most families complete a level in 8-9 months.

Do I need the workbook or is the Complete Writer book enough?

The Complete Writer book contains all four levels in one volume. That’s great for seeing the scope and sequence. On the other hand, the individual workbooks are easier for daily use with one child. For multiple children, buy the Complete Writer plus blank notebooks.

Is Writing With Ease secular or religious?

WWE is secular. The literature selections include both secular and some religious texts (like excerpts from Pilgrim’s Progress), but the program itself has no religious instruction.

Our Final Verdict

In conclusion, WWE earns high marks for doing what it promises: teaching composition gently through time-tested methods. After six years of using it with three children, I confidently recommend it for elementary-age students who need to build foundational skills without stress.

Admittedly, the Charlotte Mason approach won’t appeal to everyone. If you want fast results or independent work, look elsewhere. Nevertheless, if you value a gradual, literature-rich foundation, WWE delivers beautifully.

Bottom line: Buy WWE if you want a gentle, parent-led program using excellent literature. Skip it if you need independent lessons or explicit grammar instruction.

Ready to try it? Start with Level 1 for first-graders, or use the placement test for older beginners. For more language arts recommendations, explore our best homeschool language arts curriculum guide and our how to start homeschooling guide.