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Quick Start Guide

Welcome! 🎉 This is your parent-friendly roadmap. If you just want a glance, start with the Even Quicker Start below. If you’d like a little more structure, scroll down to the Quick Start Guide. Both give you the essentials you need to begin smoothly.

Even Quicker Start

  • 📽 Watch the videos first — they teach every step.
  • 📅 Choose a schedule: Normal (2–3 years) or Accelerated (1 year).
  • 📘 Do the workbook right after each video.
  • 📝 Use the Teacher’s Manual only for answers and editing help.
Bonus. Find Edit Fearlessly on your My Account page for quick parent tips.

Quick Start (Step-by-Step)

  1. Start with the videos. Close the Teacher’s Manual for now. Watch the first video with your student, then complete the workbook assignment. Check answers in the TM if needed.
  2. Pick your schedule. Choose Normal (2–3 years) or Accelerated (1 year). Either way, the videos guide you step by step.
  3. Follow the daily rhythm.
    • Day One: Skill Builder video + worksheet
    • Day Three: Brainstorming video + worksheet
    • Day Four: Sloppy Copy video + draft
    • Day Six: Editing & First Revision
    • Other days: Finish work or edit together
  4. Trust the process. The videos teach it all. The Teacher’s Manual supports you with answers and editing tips when needed.

✨ Don’t Miss This

On your My Account page, you’ll find the bonus parent course: Edit Fearlessly (Mom and Dad).
It’s concise, practical, and packed with tips to make editing less stressful and far more effective.
Many parents skip it — don’t! It’s one of the most helpful parts of the whole program.

Course Overview

These are the three most important tips that help families succeed with this course.

1. Follow the videos, not the lesson plans

The videos are your guide. They teach all the exercises, so you do not need the Lesson Plans at first.

How to begin

  1. Close your Teacher’s Manual for now.
  2. Watch the first video with your student.
  3. Have your student complete the Student Workbook assignment.
  4. Stay nearby to answer questions or play with ideas aloud.
  5. Check answers in the Teacher’s Manual.
  6. Repeat with the next video.

Why start with Skill Builders

On page 7 of the Teacher’s Manual, each lesson begins with a Skill Builder. The Lesson Plans do not list them because they are self explanatory. Our videos include them so you follow WriteShop’s plan exactly.

2. Choose your schedule

  • Normal Schedule. Two or three year track. See page 18 of the Teacher’s Manual.
  • Accelerated Schedule. One year track for teens who are close to graduation. See page 19 of the Teacher’s Manual.

Normal Schedule. Daily routine

  • Day One. Skill Builder video eight to twelve minutes. Worksheet twenty to thirty minutes
  • Day Two. Finish the Skill Builder worksheet. Twenty minutes
  • Day Three. Brainstorming video seven to twelve minutes. Worksheet thirty to forty minutes
  • Day Four. Sloppy Copy video seven to twelve minutes. Draft thirty to sixty minutes
  • Day Five. Day off or finish Sloppy Copy
  • Day Six. Writing Skills Checklist video fourteen minutes for Lessons One and Two. Edit Sloppy Copy. First Revision video six to eight minutes. Write First Revision forty to sixty minutes
  • Day Seven. Parent editing day
  • Day Eight. Final Draft video six to eight minutes for Lessons One to Three. Write Final Draft thirty minutes
  • Day Nine. Parent editing day
  • Day Ten. Second Final Draft if needed. Twenty minutes

Accelerated students follow the same pattern at a faster pace.

3. How the videos fit with the Teacher’s Manual

This video course was created after the Teacher’s Manual was printed, so the Manual does not mention the movies. It all aligns.

  • Students watch the video, then do the work.
  • Only exception. Day Two on the Normal Schedule, they finish the Skill Builder worksheet from Day One.
  • Students learn to connect the Student Workbook with the assignments as they go.

Differences you will notice

  • We spread the Skill Builder worksheet over two days on the Normal Schedule. Accelerated students do it in one day.
  • Instead of a separate practice paragraph, we show a sample in the Brainstorming video. Add a practice paragraph if your student needs more, and see page 16 of the Teacher’s Manual for steps.

Do not miss this extra

On your My Account page, watch the bonus parent course Edit Fearlessly (Mom and Dad). It is short and filled with tips that make editing calm, clear, and effective.

You will find a rhythm that works for your home. The videos guide each step. The Teacher’s Manual supports you with answers and editing help.

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