How Seven Steps enhances other literacy programs

Boost student success with the right literacy programs

With so many literacy programs out there, it can be tough to know which one will have the biggest impact in your classroom. The good news? You don’t have to choose just one!

Seven Steps to Writing Success is unique because it doesn’t just teach writing – it transforms the way students think about and approach literacy as a whole!

Whether you’re focusing on reading, oral communication, assessment or sentence and paragraph structure, Seven Steps provides a practical, research-based framework that enhances the literacy programs you’re already using.

Why Seven Steps works with any literacy programs

Unlike other programs that focus on inspiration, assessment or structure in isolation, Seven Steps provides a highly engaging, Step-by-Step methodology that breaks writing down into achievable, practical techniques. This makes writing exciting, accessible and most importantly, successful for all students.

But Seven Steps isn’t just for writing lessons – it can also be a powerful tool to strengthen reading comprehension. Exploring the techniques authors use to entertain, persuade and inform an audience helps students become stronger, more critical readers.

Let’s dive into how Seven Steps pairs perfectly with some current popular literacy programs in education.

Seven Steps and other literacy programs

Seven Steps and Pobble  |  Seven Steps and Talk for Writing | Seven Steps and Brightpath

Seven Steps and VCOP/Big Write | Seven Steps and 6+1 Writing Traits

Seven Steps and The Writing Revolution | Seven Steps and MultiLit

How Seven Steps Elevates Writing Instruction

Seven Steps and Pobble

Pobble provides a wealth of inspiration through high-quality images, student examples and writing prompts, sparking creativity in the classroom. Seven Steps builds on this by offering structured techniques that help students take their initial ideas and shape them into compelling, well-structured writing. 

Together, they provide a strong balance of creativity and craft.

How to use them together:

• Use Pobble’s images as inspiration when practising Seven Steps techniques like Sizzling Starts.
• Encourage students to analyse Pobble’s student examples, then apply Seven Steps techniques to improve their own writing.
• Combine Pobble’s prompts with Seven Steps’ focus on planning and structure to help students develop stronger writing pieces.

See more information on the Pobble website.

Seven Steps and Talk for Writing

Talk for Writing emphasises oral storytelling, helping students develop fluency and confidence in their language use. Seven Steps complements this by equipping students with explicit writing strategies that enhance structure, engagement and clarity. 

When used together, these programs provide a smooth transition from verbal storytelling to powerful, independent writing.

How to use them together:

• Begin with Talk for Writing’s oral storytelling activities, then apply Seven Steps’ writing techniques to bring those stories to life on paper.
• Use Talk for Writing’s innovation stage to develop ideas, then refine them with Seven Steps’ techniques like Tightening Tension and Dynamic Dialogue.
• Pair Talk for Writing’s model texts with Seven Steps strategies to deepen understanding of effective writing techniques.

Seven Steps and Brightpath

Brightpath provides valuable assessment and benchmarking tools that help educators track student progress. Seven Steps enhances this process by providing a clear pathway for writing improvement, ensuring that students develop strong, practical writing skills that translate into measurable growth. 

Combining both allows teachers to assess writing effectively and address any areas of weakness, while giving students the tools to elevate their work.

How to use them together:

• Use Brightpath’s assessment data to identify areas for growth, then apply relevant Seven Steps techniques to target those areas.
• Track student progress in Brightpath after implementing Seven Steps strategies to measure improvement.
• Compare student writing samples over time to see how Seven Steps’ techniques enhance structure, engagement and clarity.

Seven Steps and VCOP/BigWrite

VCOP/Big Write from Andrell Education focuses on strengthening vocabulary, punctuation and overall writing fluency. Seven Steps aligns with this by helping students apply these language skills in structured, engaging ways. 

The two approaches together ensure that students not only refine their language choices but also develop the ability to craft writing that captivates readers.

How to use them together:

• Use VCOP’s vocabulary-building activities alongside Seven Steps’ Show, Don’t Tell technique to enhance descriptive writing.
• Implement Big Write sessions for extended writing, then use Seven Steps strategies to edit and refine the pieces.
• Combine VCOP’s punctuation focus with Seven Steps’ Ban the Boring technique to create well-structured, engaging sentences.

Seven Steps and 6+1 Writing Traits

The 6+1 Writing Traits framework helps students understand key components of effective writing, such as ideas, organisation and voice. Seven Steps aligns closely with these traits, providing practical techniques that bring them to life in the classroom. 

By integrating these approaches, students gain a deeper understanding of what makes writing effective and how to achieve it.

How to use them together:

• Teach a writing trait (e.g. voice) and reinforce it with Seven Steps strategies like Dynamic Dialogue and Show, Don’t Tell.
• Use 6+1 Traits as an assessment tool, then implement targeted Seven Steps activities to strengthen weaker areas.
• Align Seven Steps’ explicit techniques with the 6+1 Traits framework to create engaging, well-structured lessons.

Seven Steps and The Writing Revolution

The Writing Revolution focuses on sentence and paragraph structure to develop strong writing foundations. Seven Steps builds upon these skills by helping students apply them in engaging contexts, ensuring that their writing is both technically sound and creatively compelling. 

This combination supports students in developing both accuracy and expression in their writing.

How to use them together:

• Use Writing Revolution to develop students understanding of sentence and paragraph structure, then use Seven Steps techniques to develop those sentences and paragraphs into engaging texts.
• Apply Writing Revolution’s structure-focused approach alongside Seven Steps’ engagement techniques to create compelling, clear writing.
• Use Writing Revolution’s sentence-expansion exercises with Seven Steps’ Exciting Endings to strengthen writing fluency and impact.

Seven Steps and MultiLit

MultiLit is an evidence-based program designed to support students who need additional help with reading, phonics, fluency, and comprehension. Seven Steps to Writing Success complements MultiLit by taking these foundational literacy skills and applying them to writing in a structured, engaging way.

By combining these approaches, educators can support students to read fluently, comprehend deeply and write with confidence.

How to use them together:

• Use MultiLit’s phonics and fluency programs to strengthen students’ decoding skills, then apply Seven Steps’ writing techniques to help them construct their own sentences and paragraphs with confidence.
• Pair MultiLit’s comprehension strategies with Seven Steps’ focus on author intent, helping students analyse how writers use techniques like Sizzling Starts and Show, Don’t Tell to engage their audience.
• Support struggling writers by reinforcing MultiLit’s sentence structure and vocabulary development alongside Seven Steps strategies like Ban the Boring and Exciting Endings to enhance fluency and creativity.
• Leverage MultiLit’s focus on the mechanical aspects of writing—including handwriting, spelling, and structured text creation in dictation, grammar, and extended writing tasks—while using Seven Steps to develop students’ authorial skills, ensuring they write with both accuracy and impact.

How Seven Steps elevates writing instruction

Each of these literacy programs brings valuable elements to writing instruction. What makes Seven Steps stand out is its unique ability to turn abstract writing concepts into clear, teachable techniques that students can master. It doesn’t just explain what good writing looks like – it provides step-by-step guidance on how to achieve it. The structured yet engaging approach makes writing more accessible, leading to real, measurable improvements in student confidence and ability.

By integrating Seven Steps into existing literacy programs, educators can create a dynamic writing curriculum that supports students at every stage of their learning journey, empowering them to become confident and skilled communicators.

The reading-writing connection

No single program can address every aspect of literacy instruction, but Seven Steps is unique in its ability to make the connection between reading and writing visible in the classroom. It provides explicit, engaging strategies that encourage students to read like a writer and write like a reader.

By integrating Seven Steps into your reading and writing lessons, students develop stronger literacy skills across the board. Whether used alone or alongside other programs, Seven Steps empowers students with the skills they need to craft engaging, structured, and purposeful writing while becoming more confident and capable readers.

Ready to transform your literacy lessons?

Empower your students with the skills they need to succeed in both writing and reading. Start using  Seven Steps today 🚀