The Best Order to Teach Writing Skills in Middle School (And Why It Matters)

When it comes to teaching writing in middle school, the what is important—but the when is just as crucial.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Should I teach figurative language before sentence structure?” or “Why do my students still struggle with writing hooks halfway through the year?”—you’re not alone.

After years of trial, error, and real-world writing experience as a children’s book author and middle school writing teacher, I’ve developed a structured approach to teaching writing. More specifically, I’ve figured out the exact order in which to teach six essential writing skills—and today I’m breaking it all down. ✏️

These skills are the foundation of my student-led, real-world-based writing workshop, (that's a lot of hyphens!) and the sequence I use isn’t random. 

It’s purposeful, practical, and incredibly effective at getting students confident, motivated, and writing with voice.

Let’s dive in.

💡 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 are created equal—especially early in the year.

Some give your students an immediate confidence boost. Others build foundational fluency. And some are “bonus” skills that work better after the basics are solid.

So I sat down and asked myself:
👉 Which writing skills give you the most bang for your buck—quickly?
👉 What will help students feel like real writers from the start?
👉 Which skills naturally build on each other?

And that’s how I created my six-skill structure.

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

1. Voice

This is the first skill we tackle, and for good reason.

Voice is what makes writing feel alive—and it’s the single most important thing for building student confidence and stamina early in the year.

I spend time helping students find and develop their unique voice. 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

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

From essays to narratives to ads, a good hook is what draws a reader in. Whether students are writing an opinion piece or a spooky short story, they need to learn how to grab attention right away.

📌 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 voice and hooks are in motion, it’s time to dig into how students build their sentences.

We talk about sentence variety, prepositional phrases, introductory clauses, compound vs. complex structure—all the things that make their writing more mature.

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

At this point in the year, students are starting to feel more confident and adventurous with their writing. That’s when we bring in figurative language—similes, metaphors, personification, and more.

But here's the trick: I don’t teach this in isolation.

Instead, I weave it into reading warm-ups, point it out in mentor texts, and ask students to identify it in everyday lessons. That way, it never feels like “one more thing.” It becomes a natural part of how we talk about writing.

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

We move from figurative to descriptive, helping students 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—from personal narratives to informational writing—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.

🔁 Spiraling & Scaffolding Throughout the Year

While I teach the six skills in a specific order, I spiral them all year long.

That means:
✔️ I bring skills back into warm-ups
✔️ We pause when needed and re-teach tricky ones (like sentence complexity)
✔️ I embed skill-spotting into reading, science, and social studies

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.

💬 What Happens When You Teach in This Order

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 rushing through content—it’s about building a strong writing foundation that your students can grow from all year long.

Trust the process...

🎥 Want to See It All 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