What Writing Looks Like by Grade Level (and Why It Matters)

At Hearth & Story, our grade levels align closely with Common Core writing standards. That’s not because we’re trying to mimic the public school experience, but because those standards reflect the skills students need to be prepared for high school, college, and beyond. Some families make a conscious decision to set aside academic standards for various reasons. (Click here for a blog post about curriculum considerations in these types of special circumstances.) For those wishing to align their homeschool writing work to standards, here are a few things to know:

If you switch to Hearth & Story from another curriculum and you find that your child is a grade level or two behind in writing, you’re not alone. Many families come to Hearth & Story after using programs that don't include standards-based writing instruction or those that focus more on dictation, copy work, or other teaching methods during the elementary years.

The first thing to do in this situation is get a sense of the standards. Here’s a look at what standards-based writing curricula would (roughly) expect a student to be able to do by the end of each year:

By the End of Kindergarten:

• Can dictate or copy simple sentences (e.g., “I like my dog.”)

• Begins using capital letters and periods

• Uses phonetic spelling or invented spelling to sound out words

  
  

By the End of 1st Grade:

• Writes complete sentences with capitalization and ending punctuation

• Begins writing very short narratives or opinion pieces (3–4 connected sentences)

• Spells common sight words (e.g., Dolch words) and decodable words

• Can stay on topic for a few sentences with adult support

  
  

By the End of 2nd Grade:

• Writes multiple sentences on one topic

• Uses basic sentence structure consistently

• Uses temporal words (first, then, next) to show order

• Can revise for clarity with guidance

  
  

By the End of 3rd Grade:

• Writes organized paragraphs with topic sentences and relevant details

• Consistently uses appropriate linking words, capitalization, and punctuation

• Uses dialogue and description in stories

• Writes short opinion or informational reports with an introduction, support, and conclusion

  
  

By the End of 4th Grade:

• Writes structured multi-paragraph compositions

• Gets a gentle, well-supported introduction to the 5-paragraph essay

• Uses transitions to guide the reader

• Begins independent revising and editing for clarity and structure

  
  

By the End of 5th Grade:

• Completes four types of 5-paragraph essays (narrative, persuasive, descriptive, expository)

• Writes a basic research paper with one source and basic citation

• Strengthens paragraph structure, transitions, and voice

• Begins to edit and revise with more independence

  
  

By the End of 6th Grade:

• Writes 5-paragraph essays independently, using appropriate structure and tone

• Completes a formal research paper using MLA citations (with model) and multiple sources

• Strengthens sentence variety, grammar, and vocabulary

• Revises with a focus on content, structure, and clarity

  
  

By the End of 7^th or 8^th grade:

• Writes a full-length academic research paper with citations

• Integrates multiple sources with synthesis and analysis

• Develops argumentation, voice, and precision in academic writing

• Builds independence and readiness for high school-level work

What If Your Child Isn’t There Yet?

If you’re looking at this list and realizing your child may not be hitting some of the grade-level benchmarks yet, that’s OK. It’s incredibly common to discover around 5th, 6th, or even 7th grade that a student is still working on developing the writing skills expected at their grade level. That realization can be overwhelming, but it can also be an opportunity!

The good news is that writing skills can flourish with the right support. Kids are resilient learners, and with structured, age-appropriate instruction, they can often make big leaps in a fairly short amount of time. Our courses are designed to help students hit their writing goals using step-by-step guidance, flexible pacing, and friendly encouragement.

Also, since Hearth & Story course components are swappable, you can always adjust the level to fit your child’s needs. Many families use the complete grade-level bundle but purchase a writing component from one or two grade levels down. For example, a family might use Hearth & Story Complete 6^th Grade with Hearth & Story 5^th Grade Writing. That flexibility is part of what makes Hearth & Story work for so many families. Another thing to note is that our final level, Complete Level 7-8, is a one-year program that targets both seventh and eighth grade standards, giving your student a flexible buffer year they can use however they need.

If your elementary or middle school age child is a bit behind on writing standards, don’t worry! There’s still plenty of time to build both skills and confidence.