✍️ Writing
At Blue Horizons Knowledge Academy, writing is taught through Writing With Ease by Susan Wise Bauer, a curriculum rooted in classical tradition and child development. In keeping with our tech-free environment, all instruction and student work are done with pencil and paper, promoting focus, penmanship, and careful thinking.
This method introduces students to the art of writing through three foundational practices: narration, copywork, and dictation. Students first listen to rich literary selections read aloud and practice expressing ideas clearly through oral narration. They then copy high-quality sentences to internalize grammar, spelling, and punctuation in context. As students grow, they are guided through dictation exercises that strengthen memory, attention, and precision.
Rather than rushing children into creative writing before they are developmentally ready, Writing With Ease builds the skills necessary for thoughtful, structured written expression—laying the groundwork for future academic success. Our approach honors the natural stages of learning and supports every child in becoming a confident, capable writer.
Main Components of Writing With Ease Level 1 (and early levels):
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Narration
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Oral retelling of stories or passages read aloud
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Develops comprehension, verbal expression, sequencing
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Copywork
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Writing out sentences from classic or well-crafted texts
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Builds handwriting fluency, spelling, punctuation, grammar awareness
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Dictation
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Writing down sentences as dictated
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Reinforces listening skills, spelling, grammar, punctuation, attention to detail
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Oral Language Skills (implicitly taught via narration and discussion)
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Language development through listening and speaking
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Spelling and Grammar Practice
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Reinforced through copywork and dictation exercises
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Builds awareness of language conventions gradually
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Penmanship
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Developed through copywork and writing practice, focusing on letter formation and neatness
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Reading Aloud (by teacher or parent)
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Provides the rich language input and models for narration and copying
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Commitment to Strong Writers
At Blue Horizons, we use narration and dictation as core components of our writing instruction because they build the essential skills students need to succeed. These methods help children grow into thoughtful, precise writers who can eventually compose original and creative works with confidence.