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What’s the Difference Between Modules 1-4 and Modules 5-8?
September 5, 2025 at 12:00 PM
by Writing Symphony
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What’s the Difference Between Modules 1-4 and Modules 5-8?

At Writing Symphony, our program is designed around eight modules per level. Each module includes four lessons, giving students structured, progressive practice throughout the year. Parents often ask us what makes the first half of the program (Modules 1-4) different from the second half (Modules 5-8).

Modules 1-4: Building the Foundation

  • Focus on introducing and reinforcing key writing skills for the grade level
  • Establish strong habits in grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph writing
  • Provide step-by-step guidance to help students gain confidence in organizing ideas
  • Ensure students are comfortable with the basic format and expectations of their level

Sometimes we hear that Modules 1 and 2 feel “too easy” and that a student might belong in a higher level. While this is occasionally the case, more often the first modules are meant to be practice , like a warm-up before the game begins. Students build confidence, strengthen skills, and prepare for the bigger challenges ahead.

Modules 5-8: Strengthening and Expanding Skills

  • Take the skills from Modules 1-4 and apply them in more advanced ways
  • Include longer assignments and opportunities for deeper critical thinking
  • Emphasize editing, revising, and polishing writing for clarity and style
  • Prepare students for mastery of their current level and a smooth transition to the next

If Modules 1-4 are practice, Modules 5-8 are the season of the game. This is where students really apply what they have learned, complete more complex assignments, and experience the “performance” side of writing.

Why Both Halves Matter

Together, Modules 1-8 give students a complete year of instruction. Modules 1-4 lay the groundwork, while Modules 5-8 strengthen, stretch, and refine those skills. Skipping Modules 5-8 often means missing out on the practice and mastery that make the learning stick long-term.

As our owner explains:
“In music education, the foundation prepares you for the opportunity to play more advanced pieces of music and to grow from. Students need the chance to write the essay, which is the recital part of practicing the instrument of writing.”

Just as musicians practice scales before performing on stage, students need both the foundational practice and the culminating essay experience to become confident, capable writers.