What's the Best Order to Teach Writing Skills in Middle School? A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re a middle school ELA teacher wondering what order to teach writing skills, you’re not alone. Should you start with figurative language? Sentence variety? Hooks? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and even easier to rush through skills before students are ready.

As a middle school teacher and children’s book author, I’ve spent years refining how I teach writing and in what order. I created the Structured Writing Workshop™, a 4th–8th grade writing program that focuses on skill-building, confidence, and structure.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the six essential writing skills I teach and the exact order I teach them to get students writing with clarity, voice, and purpose.

💡 Why the Order of Writing Skills Matters

There are so many writing skills to teach that it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. Should we teach students how to “show, don’t tell” before we even address sentence structure? Or should they master vivid imagery before learning how to craft a strong hook?

The truth is: Not all writing skills carry equal weight early in the year. Some boost confidence right away. Others add complexity later. When you teach skills in the right order, students build fluency faster and writing feels less like a guessing game.

That’s why the Structured Writing Workshop™ is built around six high-priority skills taught in a purposeful sequence.

✨ The Six Writing Skills I Teach (In This Order)

1. Voice

This is the first skill we tackle, and for good reason. It immediately gives students ownership. We explore different perspectives, tones, and styles through quick writes and creative prompts. Voice builds confidence quickly, which is why it’s always step one in my writing program.

We experiment with fun activities where they take different points of view, and they LOVE it. 

Here's what a 4th grade teacher said about the first VOICE activity:

2. Hooks

Next up: how to grab attention. Whether writing essays, stories, or opinion pieces, students need strong openings. I teach them multiple types of hooks and model how professional writers do it. This skill shows up in every genre. 

We don’t teach hooks enough and yet, they’re everywhere.

📌 This skill is practical and instantly applicable across genres. That’s why I teach it early and revisit it often.

Let me show you a before-and-after.

Here is a middle school student at the beginning of the year. 

And now look at her hook in semester 2:

Intrigued?? Me, too!!!

3. Sentence Complexity

Once students feel confident, we zoom in on sentence-building: variety, introductory clauses, prepositional phrases, and compound vs. complex structure. This is when writing starts to feel polished. I revisit this skill often with warm-ups and live examples from student writing. 

This skill builds naturally on the previous two, and it’s one that I circle back to constantly. I even pull student sentences and use them as examples in front of the class: “What do you notice? What skill is being used here?”

✍️ Sentence structure is where writing starts to look polished and sound intentional.

4. Figurative Language

Now students are ready to take creative risks. We explore similes, metaphors, and personification, but always in context. I weave figurative language into mentor texts and daily instruction so it becomes part of their natural writing vocabulary. 

Every time you see an example of figurative language, even if it's from a TV series or advertisement, SHARE IT! Get them in the habit of noticing.

5. Vivid Imagery

Students then learn how to use sensory details, strong verbs, and specific nouns to bring their writing to life. This skill bridges narrative and informational writing and deepens their word choice conversations. 

We bring their writing to life with rich, sensory details. The main focus is on: 

• specific nouns
• strong verbs
• "leveled-up" adjectives

This skill shows up in everything and it's a great opportunity to talk about word choice and sentence rhythm in a deeper way.

Again, it’s something we spiral through during reading, writing, and even in other subjects.

6. Show, Don’t Tell

Finally, we focus on “show, don’t tell.”

Now, I know this one is a teacher favorite, and it is important! But I purposely save it for last. Why? Because it’s not as foundational as voice, hooks, or sentence structure.

🙅‍♀️ I’d rather have a student who can write a compelling intro and varied sentences than one who can cleverly show a character shrugging.

But! Rest assured, we touch on this skill throughout the year, and by the time we focus on it deeply, students already have the structure and confidence they need to use it well.

The key? Notice and share. Notice and share.

🔁 How I Spiral These Skills All Year

Even though I teach these six writing skills in a specific order, I revisit them constantly. My approach includes:

✔️Skill-based warm-ups

✔️Spiral reviews embedded in reading and content areas

✔️Mini-lessons tied to student writing samples

We turn it into a scavenger hunt:
🕵️‍♀️ “I spy one of our six skills—who can spot it?”

This keeps the skills alive and relevant—and helps students see that good writing exists everywhere, not just during writing block.

💬 Why This Sequence Works

When you start with voice, hooks, and sentence structure, students gain:
✅ Immediate wins
✅ A clear sense of identity as writers
✅ The tools to impress readers from the first line

By the time we hit the more advanced or nuanced skills, they’re ready for it.

It’s not about checking off skills. It’s about building a real foundation. That’s why The Structured Writing Workshop™ is structured, student-led, and rooted in real-world writing skills.

🎥 Want to See This Sequence in Action?

I walk through all six skills (and why I teach them in this order) in this video:
👉 How to Teach Writing in Middle School: Teach Skills in THIS Order

In the video, I explain:

• How I came up with the six skills
• Why certain skills come first
• How I keep all six skills alive through spiraling

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure where to begin with writing instruction this year, this framework will give you a clear roadmap that’s easy to follow and grounded in what actually works.

Can't wait and just want to jump into the FULL training?? I don't blame you. It's a gamechanger. :) Click HERE.

✅ Final Takeaways:

• Start with confidence-building skills (voice, hooks, sentence structure)
• Spiral everything else throughout the year
• Make writing feel real, fun, and rewarding

👇 Leave a comment and let me know—which skill do your students need the most right now?

Want to see how I structure my writing program? Grab my FREE eBook HERE.

Can't wait and just want to jump into the FULL training?? I don't blame you. It's a gamechanger. :) Click HERE.

"This is the BEST writing program training I have ever taken!" ~Julie B, middle school ELA teacher