Tip Tuesday- Writing

Let’s talk writing. Not the Pinterest-perfect (I do love Pinterest though), calligraphy-filled kind, but the nitty-gritty writing lessons we actually do around our kitchen tables, in between snack requests and “Mom, where’s my pencil?”

If you’re anything like me, you’ve stared at a writing curriculum and thought, How am I supposed to teach this? Essays, outlines, metaphors, topic sentences—it’s a lot. For us and for our kids.

But here’s where a little nugget of wisdom comes in—one I hold onto every year. As Andrew Pudewa would say, “Easy plus one.”

What does that mean, you wonder? It’s simple but brilliant. It means step-by-step. Layering one skill at a time. When that one skill gets easy, then you add one more. That’s it. Not ten. Not all the things. Just one.

Imagine trying to learn all of these foundational writing skills at once:

1. Sentence structure

2. Punctuation and capitalization

3. Paragraph formation

4. Topic sentences

5. Supporting details

6. Transitions

7. Strong verbs

8. Varying sentence openers

9. Summarizing

10. Outlining

Now let’s throw in a few literary devices just for fun:

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Alliteration

• Hyperbole

• Personification

• Onomatopoeia

• Foreshadowing

• Irony

  
  

Brain overload, right? It’s like asking a toddler to drive a car because you showed them how to turn the key. But when we teach these concepts sequentially, allowing each one to solidify before moving on to the next, it’s amazing what they can do.

This is why I love writing programs that repeat and revisit skills year after year. They’re not rushing. They’re not skipping steps. They’re building a strong foundation that lasts. Because let’s be honest, writing is not a “check the box and move on” kind of subject—it’s a process. Hopefully, a lifelong one.

Here’s a thought: How many years does your child have left to learn how to be a proficient writer? Now think smaller—How many months? Weeks? And finally… how many lessons?

Every lesson is a stepping stone. So if today’s step is just working on a strong topic sentence—let that be enough. That’s “easy plus one.”

So mama, breathe. Brew that second cup of coffee (or tea in my case). Keep going, one lesson at a time. You’ve got this. And so does your child.