Structured Literacy Innovations

Structured Steps to Writing

A complete writing program built on explicit, systematic, sequential instruction. From the very first sentence to a finished multi-genre essay.

4 15 min

Sequential Units

per lesson

4

Core Tools

Zero

Prep Needed

12 15 min

Twelve units. One complete writing journey.

Three tiers, each building directly on the last. Students start where they are and move forward when they are genuinely ready.

Tier 1 — Foundations

Building Sentences

Units 1–4

Tier 2 — Framework

Paragraph Writing

Units 5–9

Tier 3 — Composition

Multi-Genre Essays

Units 10–12

Four tools. Used well. From the first sentence to the final essay.

SPARK + SORT

Solve the blank page problem

Before a student writes a single word, they use SPARK to pour out every idea freely, then SORT to choose their strongest ideas and land on a clear focus.

Interactive app included in Step Forward

STEMS

Build every paragraph

Every sentence in a paragraph has a name and a job. Students learn STEMS once and use it across every unit, every genre, every level. The framework never changes. The writing grows.

CAMPS

Catch every error

A systematic editing process students internalise rather than guess at. Capitalisation, Agreement, Meaning, Punctuation, Spelling — in order, every time.

Checklists

Open and close with confidence

Introduction and conclusion checklists make the hardest paragraphs learnable, repeatable, and teachable. Students check every element before moving on.

What sets SSW apart

Research supported. Practitioner designed. Ready to use.

Fully scripted lessons

SAY/DO/ASK teacher scripts for every phase. Open the lesson and teach it. No planning required.

15-minute lessons

Designed to fit any tutoring session or intervention block. Two sessions a week delivers real, measurable progress.

Built-in assessments

Baseline and final assessments for every unit, with scoring guides, growth analysis, and parent communication letters.

Diagnostic placement

A standalone entry screener places every student at exactly the right starting point before instruction begins.

Multisensory options

Kinesthetic, visual, auditory, and tactile extension activities are built into every lesson.

Interactive digital tools

Companion HTML lesson presentations for every unit. Slide-based, student-facing, ready to open and project.

What is covered

Twelve units in three tiers, each building directly on the last. Every skill is taught explicitly before the next one is introduced.

Tier 1 — Foundations

Unit 1

Building Basic Sentences

Capitals, punctuation, nouns, and verbs. The foundations of a complete sentence.

Unit 2

Expanding Sentences

Adjectives and adverbs. Making sentences more precise and more interesting.

Unit 3

Sentence Variety and Types

Simple, compound, and complex sentences. Varying beginnings and structure.

Unit 4

Advanced Sentence Structure

Complex sentences, appositives, and SPARK+SORT for idea generation.

Tier 2 — Framework

Unit 5

What Is a Paragraph?

STEMS introduced. Every sentence has a name and a job.

Unit 6

Revising and Editing

CAMPS introduced. A systematic editing process students internalise.

Unit 7

Grammar Tools

Pronouns, contractions, possessives, prepositions, and word choice.

Unit 8

Punctuation in Paragraphs

Commas, quotation marks, semicolons, and colons in context.

Unit 9

Organising Ideas and Planning

Essay structure, the Essay Planning Guide, introductions, conclusions, and transitions.

Tier 3 — Composition

Unit 10

Opinion Writing

Structured persuasive writing from planning through to a finished essay.

Unit 11

Informative Writing

Research-based writing, source citation, and organisational patterns.

Unit 12

Narrative Writing

Story arc planning, show don't tell, and narrative paragraph building.

Want lesson-by-lesson detail? Download the full scope and sequence.

Download the full scope and sequence

Created by practitioners for practitioners. Whatever your setting, the sequence will make sense and the tools will fit your reality.

Designed around the way you actually work.

OG tutors and intervention specialists

Writing instruction built the same way your reading instruction is. Explicit, sequential, systematic. A natural fit alongside any explicit literacy framework.

Resource and classroom teachers

A complete 12-unit sequence, fully scripted, that fits into the time you actually have. No more wondering what to teach next.

Homeschool families

A clear, complete path from first sentence to finished essay. Explicit instruction. A clear sequence. No guessing about what comes next.

Start where your student is

No skill level labels. A diagnostic screener places every student at the right starting point. They move forward when they are genuinely ready.

Get the complete program

Every tier includes all 12 units, all graphic organisers, and all assessment packages.

Step In

Curriculum essentials

$247

Per licence — individual educator

✓All 12 unit lesson plans
✓All student activity sheets
✓Complete graphic organiser suite
✓All unit assessment packages
✓Diagnostic Bundle included
✓Scope and sequence tracker

Get Step In

Curriculum + interactive tools

$347

Per licence — individual educator

✓Everything in Step In
+96+ interactive HTML lesson presentations
+Slide-based, student-facing delivery tool
+Built-in practice activities on screen

Get Step Up

Step Forward

Curriculum + platform access

$427

Per licence — individual educator

✓Everything in Step In and Step Up
+SPARK+SORT interactive planning app
+Narrative planning app
+Platform access — tools updated over time

Get Step Forward

Not sure where to start?

Begin with the Diagnostic Bundle

Before committing to a full program tier, use the Diagnostic Bundle to find exactly where your student needs to begin. Includes a placement screener, digital scoring tool, interpretation guide, and a parent communication letter template.

$19

Standalone product

Get the Diagnostic Bundle