Homeschooling gives parents the opportunity to tailor their child’s educational experience based on each child’s unique needs, interests, and learning styles. When it comes to teaching essay writing, there are many effective homeschool resources available to help students at all levels improve their skills in crafting coherent, well-reasoned compositions. This article will explore a variety of free and paid options for homeschool essay writing instruction.
Khan Academy offers a comprehensive set of free online lessons on writing essays. Their “Introduction to Essay Writing” course includes basic concepts like understanding an essay prompt, constructing an outline, and developing a clear thesis statement. Khan Academy essays lessons cover different styles like argumentative, narrative, descriptive, and more. Students can watch video tutorials, take interactive quizzes, and access sample student essays with instructor feedback. Khan Academy is a great starting point for elementary and middle school students new to essay crafting.
For high school students looking to polish their writing abilities, the online writing lab (OWL) at Purdue University contains an extensive collection of writing guides and exercises. Specifically, their “Purdue OWL: Essay Writing” resource provides in-depth tutorials on various parts of the writing process from brainstorming to finalizing. Some particularly useful OWL essays sections cover introduction and conclusion paragraphs, paragraph cohesion, varying sentences types, and avoiding plagiarism. Students can also access Purdue’s annotated sample essay collection. The OWL offers students a more sophisticated level of essay instruction compared to Khan Academy.
An additional free online tool, NoRedInk, challenges students with grammar and writing assessments tailored to their individual needs. Through interactive games and lessons, NoRedInk covers everything from sentence structure to style. What makes this resource unique is its focus on ongoing practice versus one-time instruction. Students can use NoRedInk to identify patterns in their errors and continuously improve their essay writing mechanics over time. Educators appreciate NoRedInk’s analytical reports and feedback capabilities too. This program effectively supports homeschool learners in grades 5 through 12.
Books are another essential essay writing resource for homeschools. For middle school, “Easy Grammar: Grade 8” by Wanda C. Phillips breaks down important concepts like thesis statements, introductory paragraphs, and conclusion in an approachable way. High schoolers can reference “Thoughtful Writer: The” by Joyce S. Dunkerly which provides graphic organizers, real-world examples, and practice opportunities. A timeless option for all ages is “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White – the go-to guide on grammar, diction, and style since 1918. Paperback books allow students to revisit lessons as needed which complements online learning.
Subscriptions to essay writing curriculum services fill instructional gaps and provide official guidance documents. EssayMasters.com, for example, delivers multi-week online courses guiding intermediate and advanced high school students through full-length practice essays. Their materials include customizable rubrics, brainstorming worksheets, and paper templates. Another structured program, EssayTyper, similarly utilizes video tutorials, written exercises, and sample papers to prepare homeschoolers in grades 9-12 for common college application and standardized test essays. Both services offer teacher support and grading of practice submissions as feedback opportunities.
Annual membership to education services bolsters essay instruction as well. Gale for example, provides comprehensive digital classroom libraries. Through Gale In Context: High School, homeschool students receive unlimited access to tools like the “Writing Guide” with step-by-step help for every stage. Turnitin.com is an invaluable resource for junior and senior year. By submitting their original drafts, students receive similarity reports and writing insights to strengthen original ideas. With Turnitin, educators avoid potential plagiarism issues too. These digital resources are well worth the yearly investment at the secondary level.
Individual tutoring remains the gold standard for advanced essay help, but online services can similarly connect students with expert guidance at reduced costs compared to private lessons. Many offer live video classrooms to discuss written works-in-progress or archived sessions on specific essay techniques. The essay tutors at Wyzant, for example, have teaching experience relevant to all grade levels across various writing styles and standardized tests. EssayEdge provides one-on-one sessions targeted to crafting compelling supplemental essays for college and scholarship applications. Homeschoolers can find quality essay instruction affordably through these virtual tutoring marketplaces.
Setting consistent routines, building a dedicated workspace, and involving parents continue supporting student success with essay writing as well. Breaking longer assignments into daily goals with check-ins helps shift the mindset from “assignment due date” to ongoing skill development. Students should aim to carve out dedicated writing hours several times each week in a quiet, well-lit area without distractions. Parents also play a huge role by reviewing initial drafts, discussing revision ideas, and celebrating accomplishments along the way. Maintaining these structures fosters independent, self-motivated essay writers.
Homeschooling families have incredible options for guiding students through their essay writing education. Combining free online resources with book references, curriculum materials, tutoring access, and daily routines empowers homeschoolers to steadily hone their composition abilities. With practice over multiple grades, students leave prepared to meet any writing assignment confidently whether in a homeschool portfolio, on a standardized test, or in a college application. Continuous feedback helps them develop an individual style that showcases their ideas in a clear, persuasive manner.
Andrew Stroud