The only research-based writing curriculum with differentiation tools.
Don't spend any more time or money supplementing writing curriculum that doesn't meet your needs. We provide a core program and all of the tools you need to meet your students where they're at.
Enroll in Simplify Writing® For Upper Elementary
Is Writing a Struggle For Your Students?
Don't go another day...
Struggling to get students to write more than one sentence.
Trying to figure out how to teach grade-level skills to students who are missing the basics.
Not knowing how to support your ELL or SPED students.
Fixing the same grammatical mistakes that you've already covered.
LET US SHARE...
Our simple system for reaching all of your writers, while spending less time planning and stressing over your writing instruction.
Bite-Sized Instruction
Students learn best when the writing standards are broken down into short, clear lessons that they can then apply in their own writing. Each of our lessons takes about 10-15 minutes and keeps students engaged and active in the learning experience.
Fluid Grammar
Grammar instruction should naturally flow into student writing. We show teachers how to use our library of grammar tools to better develop the written language skills of their students.
Differentiation
We know firsthand that each classroom is made up of a diverse group of students. Our resources provide the flexibility teachers need to reach students with varying experiences, background knowledge, and ability levels.
Support
Teachers are more successful when they receive adequate training on a new curriculum. We walk teachers through using the Simplify Writing® materials in every step of their writing instruction, and we provide ongoing email support to address any questions or issues they have in their writing block.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
The Core Components
Daily Lesson Plans
Access to fully editable daily lesson plans for your grade level for the entire school year
Conference & Small Group Tools
Everything you need to individualize writing instruction and see massive growth
Grammar Lessons
Growing library of grammar lessons developed for use in whole group, small group, or conferencing
Printable & Digital Student Organizers
Every organizer and note-taking page your students need, ready to print or assign digitally
Each Lesson Includes:
- Standards, learning goals, and success criteria
- Simple, step-by-step teacher directions
- Mentor text and teacher models
- Blank graphic organizers for students
- Digital copies of all student organizers
- Exemplars and rubrics
Scope & Sequence
Follow our writing calendar or choose to do the units in any order.
Photos are samples taken from different grade levels within the program.
Unit 1: Personal Narrative
Unit 2: Explanatory
Unit 3: Opinion
(Text-Based)
Unit 4: Informational
Science Focus (Text-Based)
Unit 5: Explanatory Letter
Unit 6: Creative Narrative
Unit 7: Narrative Nonfiction
Uses Narrative Standards (Text-Based)
Unit 8: Opinion
Literature Analysis (Text-Based)
Unit 9: Informational
Social Studies Focus (Text-Based)
Unit 10: End of the Year Unit
Friendly Letters
Differentiation Materials
INCLUDED
Intervention Library
Easily differentiate in a whole group or small group setting with simple intervention resources. Our member favorites are the writing stamina and paragraph writing activities!
INCLUDED
Grammar Library
Pick and choose the skills your students really need. Our grammar library contains interactive, hands-on lessons for each topic and spiral grammar practice.
INCLUDED
ELL Modification Library
Learn how to meet the needs of your ELL students with simple organizers, checklists, and strategies that you can apply to any lesson.
Research-Based Strategies
The Simplify Writing® Program was built using research-based strategies and tested in real classrooms.
STRATEGY #1
Dedicated Writing Time
Although applying writing skills naturally happens in other subject areas, studies support having a dedicated writing time where students can receive adequate practice and instruction in writing.
(Graham, 2019). Graham, S. (2019). Changing How Writing Is Taught. Review of Research in Education, 43(1), 277–303.
STRATEGY #2
Strategy-Focused Direct Instruction
Strategy-focused instruction is one of the most effective approaches to improve writing skills. It aims to teach developing writers strategies that give them executive control over their writing processes. Programs under this kind of instruction tend to have multiple components that include direct instruction, modeling, and scaffolded practice. Study findings suggest that both components, direct teaching and modeling, are equally effective in improving writing skills in upper primary students.
(Lopez, 2017). Lopez, P. (2017). Effects of Direct Instruction and Strategy Modeling on Upper-Primary Students’ Writing Development. Frontiers Psychology.
Marzano, R. (2017). Conducting Direct Instruction Lessons. In The new art and science of teaching (pp. 29–34). Solution Tree.
Raquel Fidalgo, Mark Torrance, Gert Rijlaarsdam, Huub van den Bergh, M Lourdes Álvarez, Strategy-focused writing instruction: Just observing and reflecting on a model benefits 6th grade students. Contemporary Educational Psychology, Volume 41, 2015, Pages 37-50.
STRATEGY #3
Teacher Clarity
Teacher clarity goes beyond simply writing the standards on the board. We support both teachers and students by providing clear purpose, success criteria, and learning goals for every lesson. We must have appropriately challenging goals in order to maximize feedback (Hattie, 2010). The way that we sequence our lessons provides a logical pathway from where the students are at to where we want them to be.
Hattie, J. (2010). Visible learning: A synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement. Routledge.
Freibrun, M. (2021). Getting started with teacher clarity: Ready-to-use research based strategies to develop learning intentions, Foster student autonomy, and engage students. Ulysses Press.
STRATEGY #4
Teacher Modeling & Exemplar Usage
We provide age-appropriate model texts for every unit. These texts reflect the elements of the writing genre that we want students to replicate in their own writing. In one study, the organization scale revealed significant overall differences between the Models Group and No-Models group. Students in the Models group received higher scores than students without models [Models = 4.1, Control = 3.7, F(l, 80) = 6.4, p < .01]. This result may reflect better organization of sentences within sections as well as inclusion of information in the appropriate section (Charney, D).
Charney, D., & Carlson, R. (1995). Learning to write in a genre: What student writers take from model texts. Research in the Teaching of English, 29, 88-125. .
STRATEGY #5
Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers provide a necessary visual element for our English Language Learners and visual learners. Several studies (e.g. Kansızoğlu, 2017) show that students using a concept-mapping learning strategy do better and retain what they have learned longer than students who limit themselves to text-only strategies. We use consistent graphic organizers throughout our units to further increase retention.
Kansızoğlu, H. (2017). The Effect of Graphic Organizers on Language Teaching and Learning Areas: A Meta-Analysis Study. TED EĞİTİM VE BİLİM. 42. 10.15390/EB.2017.6777.
Corrigan, K. (2017). The Use Of Graphic Organizers When Writing With Dual Identified EL And LD Students. Hamline University.
STRATEGY #6
Consistent & Timely Feedback
Feedback is the cornerstone of revision during the writing process. In addition to strategies to incorporate peer and teacher feedback, we include many self-assessment opportunities. We base our feedback materials around the core principle that a “where to next” or “how to improve this work” comment is necessary for student improvement (Hattie, 2019).
Hattie, J. A., & Clarke, S. (2019). Visible learning: Feedback. Routledge.
THE DATA SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
Here's How We're Measuring Up
98.2% of teachers have seen student growth while using the Simplify Writing® program.*
94.3% of teachers report that their students find the Simplify Writing® materials very engaging.*
95.9% of Simplify Writing® teachers feel confident in planning effective writing lessons.*
*Survey data provided was self-reported by a portion of Simplify Writing® adopters in our annual survey.
Success With Simplify Writing® Course
Learn everything about implementing our curriculum with this course. From mini-lessons to intervention, we have you covered!
SELF-PACED
15 CREDIT HOURS
GRADUATE CREDIT AVAILABLE*
*Upon completion of the course, participants can apply for 1 graduate unit through our partner university at $99/unit.
HEAR ABOUT OUR PROGRAM
From Teachers
"...everything we need to be successful."
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"I love this program so much because it is so comprehensive and provides both me and my students with everything we need to be successful. It helps me become a better writing teacher through the trainings that are provided, the lesson plans, and the organized standards. The past two years I have seen more student growth than I thought possible. Students who enter the year dreading writing, leave with so much confidence, skill, and a new appreciation for writing. It is amazing to see the growth, and to see how writing is a skill that everyone can master, not just the kids who enter the year already loving to write." ~ Morgan Hazel
"...a comprehensive program that truly simplifies writing!"
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"As the name states, it's a comprehensive program that truly simplifies writing! It chunks the daunting task of genre of writing and has activities that break down the stages of writing in a manageable way for students.
As a middle school special education teacher that has students with varying ability levels when it comes to writing, I love how the program breaks down everything into manageable pieces for my students. My students do not groan when it's time for writing instruction. We are currently finishing up our Explanatory writing pieces and I have been so impressed with the ideas my students have come up with. I can already tell they're proud of their published pieces and it goes without saying that I am so proud of them too." - Megan Brown
OUR GUARANTEE
Your Success Is Our Success.
I'm April Smith, the creator of Simplify Writing®.
After years of struggling to meet the needs of my writers with no training and very few usable resources, I knew teachers needed a better option.
I used what I learned over 8 years of research, grit, and determination to create the Simplify Writing® Program in 2019. With the feedback from our members, I've refined this program year after year.
When you commit to using Simplify Writing®, I personally guarantee that you will feel confident in your writing instruction. I'm here to chat 1-on-1 whenever you need it.
If for some reason the curriculum isn't a good fit, we offer a 14-day refund policy, no strings attached. Just drop us an email to let us know.
I'm ready to give it a go!
SIMPLIFY WRITING® WAS CREATED
By Teachers, For Teachers
Myranda
ELL INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST
Laura
LESSON DEVELOPMENT
Rebecca
DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT
Sheri
TEACHER SUPPORT & HAPPINESS
YES, WE ACCEPT
District Purchase Orders
We make the purchase order process simple so that your teachers can get the curriculum they need faster.
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