Strong writing skills are essential for success in school and beyond, but not every family has access to paid programs or tutors. Luckily, there are plenty of free, high-quality online resources that can help Canadian students build their writing skills at home. Whether your child is just starting out or looking to refine their essay-writing abilities, here are five excellent tools to explore, starting with one made right here in Canada!
Created by Canadian educators, Route2Write offers free writing challenges, tips, and blog posts aimed at helping students improve their writing in a fun and accessible way. The platform also offers paid courses, but their free resources are updated regularly and cover everything from grammar tricks to creative writing prompts.
Backed by the International Literacy Association, ReadWriteThink provides hundreds of free student interactives, lesson plans, and printable worksheets. While it’s U.S.-based, many of the resources align well with Canadian curriculum goals and are great for both home and classroom use.
This comprehensive grammar guide is a go-to tool for students looking to polish their grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. It breaks down rules in a clear, student-friendly format and is helpful for proofreading essays or understanding tricky grammar topics.
Storybird lets students create their own digital books using beautiful illustrations. While some features are behind a paywall, there’s still a lot students can do for free, including writing poetry, short stories, or picture books. It’s a creative way to develop storytelling skills.
Although it’s designed for UK students, BBC Bitesize has clear and engaging lessons on writing, grammar, and reading comprehension. The interactive quizzes and videos make learning feel more like play, and much of the content applies well to Canadian learners.
Free doesn’t mean low-quality! These writing resources offer great value for families looking to support their children’s literacy skills without a hefty price tag. Whether you're exploring storytelling, brushing up on grammar, or tackling essay writing, there’s something here for every student. For more support and structured writing lessons, check out the full course offerings at
Route2Write.
