WriteShop

Demme Learning Grades K-12 5th Edition Updated July 2026

Who it fits

Scaffolded and revision-heavy, for a parent who doesn't mind teaching it, and aimed squarely at a reluctant or struggling writer. Parents wanting a hands-off or video-taught course should look at Essentials in Writing instead.

How it scores

Rigor
?

How demanding the material is versus grade level. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1gentle, below grade
  2. 2relaxed
  3. 3on grade
  4. 4demanding
  5. 5advanced
Read the rigor guide
Parent involvement
?

How much the parent is present and teaching. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1hands-off
  2. 2light
  3. 3shared
  4. 4leading
  5. 5parent-taught
Read the parent involvement guide
Prep load
?

How much the parent prepares before a lesson. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1open-and-go
  2. 2minimal
  3. 3moderate
  4. 4involved
  5. 5heavy
Read the prep load guide
Screen time
?

How much daily work is on a device. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1fully offline
  2. 2mostly offline
  3. 3blended
  4. 4mostly digital
  5. 5fully digital
Read the screen time guide
Independence
?

How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1adult-led
  2. 2guided
  3. 3semi-independent
  4. 4mostly independent
  5. 5fully independent
Read the independence guide
Time commitment
?

How long a daily lesson takes the child. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:

  1. 1under 15 min
  2. 215 to 25 min
  3. 325 to 40 min
  4. 440 to 60 min
  5. 560+ min
Read the time commitment guide

At a glance

Faith content None
Approach Mastery
Format Workbook A parent-led print program. The teacher's guide scripts the lessons and the student works through a consumable workbook, with a strong editing-and-revising loop on each assignment. The old video course was retired, so it is print and parent-taught now.
Used as Spine
Philosophy Eclectic Structured writingCopywork and dictation
Best for Reluctant learnersStruggling learnersDyslexia

What parents consistently praise

  • Incremental steps make writing feel doable
  • Detailed editing checklists teach real revision
  • Gentle enough for anxious or struggling writers
  • Hands-on activities spark ideas before drafting
  • Scripted guide tells the parent exactly what to say

What parents report as challenges

  • Teacher-intensive, so it needs daily parent time
  • Lots of prep gathering activity materials
  • Slower pace frustrates strong writers
  • The retired video course leaves it fully parent-led

How it shifts by grade

WriteShop Primary is K-3, Junior is grades 3-6, and WriteShop I and II cover middle and high school. Placement is by writing ability more than grade.

Additional notes

Now published by Demme Learning, the same house as Math-U-See and Spelling You See. It does not teach grammar in depth, so pair it with a grammar resource.

Cost

Price~$45-130/level
ConsumablePartial
Per child / year~$110-130 first child, ~$62 after (student workbook only)
Check price Demme Learning

Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes how a curriculum is described or scored.

Compare head to head

Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources (forums, Facebook groups, Reddit, and long-form reviews) together with the publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time.

Used WriteShop yourself, or think something here is wrong? Send us a correction.