Writing
IMPROVE YOUR WRITING SKILLS WITH LIGHTSAIL!
See how LightSail takes a multi-faceted approach to writing that provides unlimited inspiration and scaffolded support every step of the way.
Try our Informal Writing Workshop
Fun, gamified prompts teach through real-life writing encounters. Children spin the wheel and then respond to a grade-appropriate writing scenario, like creating a mock social media post, composing a thoughtful Tweet on a current event, or completing a hashtag challenge.
Try an Informal Writing Workshop yourself to see how children will experience writing in an organic and relatable way.
Press on the wheel to start!
Learn how LightSail’s library is tailored to your child’s reading level!
Age Range
We are LightSail for homeschoolers - a complete language arts platform built on the shoulders of LightSail Education, advancing the literacy skills of K-12 students in public, private, and charter schools since 2012.
Grading
Take the mystery and headache out of grading. LightSail provides automated grading for many assessments, pre-made grading rubrics, and grading guidance and samples from highly experienced teachers.
15-Day Lexile Cycle
Every 15 days, LightSail automatically updates your child’s Lexile score, allowing every feature to be tailored precisely to their reading level.
Your Data
Unprecedented data feedback presented in an easy to understand format empowers both parents and children to harness the power of data.
Power Texts & Zone of Proximal Development
Every 15 days, LightSail automatically updates your child’s Lexile score, allowing every feature to be tailored precisely to their reading level.
Reading Comprehension
Never wonder again whether your child is absorbing what they’re reading. Built-in comprehension assessments provide real-time feedback as they read.
Social Media
Parents and children can share achievements to popular social media platforms.
Reading Incentives
Come see how we incentify reading with the clever use of badges, gift rewards, motivational messages, and more.
Parental Controls
Complete oversight and control over all of your children’s content and activity.
Offline Reading
Every 15 days, LightSail automatically updates your child’s Lexile score, allowing every feature to be tailored precisely to their reading level.
Learn how LightSail uses
Gamification
Meet the educators who contributed to our modules.
Vida Mercer
🎓 Homeschool Evangelist
As a second-generation homeschooler, Vida has over 25 years of active experience in the homeschooling community as both a student and parent. Vida retired from a career as a litigation paralegal to homeschool her own daughters and discovered that assisting and encouraging others in their homeschooling journey was her true calling.
She has written locally and nationally on the topic, edited and developed curriculum, and helped countless families make homeschooling work for them. Now, she is delighted to share LightSail with homeschooling families and come alongside them in their quest to raise fully literate, lifelong readers.
🎓 Homeschool Evangelist
As a second-generation homeschooler, Vida has over 25 years of active experience in the homeschooling community as both a student and parent. Vida retired from a career as a litigation paralegal to homeschool her own daughters and discovered that assisting and encouraging others in their homeschooling journey was her true calling.
She has written locally and nationally on the topic, edited and developed curriculum, and helped countless families make homeschooling work for them. Now, she is delighted to share LightSail with homeschooling families and come alongside them in their quest to raise fully literate, lifelong readers.
Chrsitine Roman-Lantzy (Ph.D)
🎓 Behaviors Characteristic of CVI and SPED Teacher
Christine Roman was raised in Michigan and received degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education/Visual Impairment at Michigan State University. She worked as an itinerant teacher of the visually impaired in the greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area for 17 years prior to becoming a Research Assistant in the Vision Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh. While at Pitt, she completed studies in Orientation & Mobility and received a Master’s Degree in Medically Fragile/High Risk Infants.
Her doctoral studies were also completed at Pitt where she completed a Ph.D. in 1996; her dissertation, Validation of an Interview Instrument to Identify Behaviors Characteristic of Cortical Visual Impairment in Infants revealed that caregivers of infants can reliably report regarding the presence or absence of the characteristics of CVI.
Dr. Roman is the Director of The Pediatric View Program at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA and a former Project Leader of the CVI Project at The American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, KY.
She has lectured extensively regarding the CVI educational materials she has developed. These materials include: The CVI Range an assessment of functional vision, and The CVI Resolution Chart & CVI/O&M Resolution Chart used to plot and monitor progress both of which will be available in a book in press (working title, CVI: Identification, Assessment & Intervention) with The American Foundation for the Blind.
🎓 Behaviors Characteristic of CVI and SPED Teacher
Christine Roman was raised in Michigan and received degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education/Visual Impairment at Michigan State University. She worked as an itinerant teacher of the visually impaired in the greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area for 17 years prior to becoming a Research Assistant in the Vision Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh. While at Pitt, she completed studies in Orientation & Mobility and received a Master’s Degree in Medically Fragile/High Risk Infants.
Her doctoral studies were also completed at Pitt where she completed a Ph.D. in 1996; her dissertation, Validation of an Interview Instrument to Identify Behaviors Characteristic of Cortical Visual Impairment in Infants revealed that caregivers of infants can reliably report regarding the presence or absence of the characteristics of CVI.
Dr. Roman is the Director of The Pediatric View Program at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA and a former Project Leader of the CVI Project at The American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, KY.
She has lectured extensively regarding the CVI educational materials she has developed. These materials include: The CVI Range an assessment of functional vision, and The CVI Resolution Chart & CVI/O&M Resolution Chart used to plot and monitor progress both of which will be available in a book in press (working title, CVI: Identification, Assessment & Intervention) with The American Foundation for the Blind.
Allison Kelly
🎓 Team Leader
Allison started her teaching career in New Jersey as a 9-12th grade English teacher. During this time, she also worked with a local community college and four-year college teaching Writing and Literature. After ten years in New Jersey, she relocated to Florida where she worked as a College Prep, IB, and ESOL English teacher for three years. As a Department Chair, she learned the power of goal setting and data-driven instruction to amplify Best Practices instruction.
While earning her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at American InterContinental University, she explored what motivated educational stakeholders ranging from students through administration. With this knowledge, she developed motivational strategies to drive results in her classroom, department, school, and community.
If she could be any fictional character from a children’s book, she would be Pippi Longstocking. Much like Pippi, Allison celebrates resilience, kindness, fairness, and acceptance.
🎓 Team Leader
Allison started her teaching career in New Jersey as a 9-12th grade English teacher. During this time, she also worked with a local community college and four-year college teaching Writing and Literature. After ten years in New Jersey, she relocated to Florida where she worked as a College Prep, IB, and ESOL English teacher for three years. As a Department Chair, she learned the power of goal setting and data-driven instruction to amplify Best Practices instruction.
While earning her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at American InterContinental University, she explored what motivated educational stakeholders ranging from students through administration. With this knowledge, she developed motivational strategies to drive results in her classroom, department, school, and community.
If she could be any fictional character from a children’s book, she would be Pippi Longstocking. Much like Pippi, Allison celebrates resilience, kindness, fairness, and acceptance.
Ashley Klewin
🎓 English Teacher
Ashley is a Midwest elementary school teacher with six years of teaching experience. Since beginning her teaching career, she has taught fourth and fifth grades, as well as elementary students of all ages in an English Language Learner classroom setting. During this time in her career she grew to identify herself as a culturally responsive teacher, and further developed her interest in literacy instruction.
As a lifelong, avid reader herself, Ashley strives to instill a love for reading in her students as she shares her love for books in her classroom. With a great passion for literacy, she recently earned her Master’s Degree in Reading Education. While earning her degree she expanded her knowledge of best practices in literacy instruction, data collection, and assessment, which she now incorporates in her student-centered fifth grade classroom.
If she could be any fictional book character, she would be Alice from “Alice and Wonderland.” Fueled by curiosity, Ashley is always ready to try something new both inside and outside of the classroom.
🎓 English Teacher
Ashley is a Midwest elementary school teacher with six years of teaching experience. Since beginning her teaching career, she has taught fourth and fifth grades, as well as elementary students of all ages in an English Language Learner classroom setting. During this time in her career she grew to identify herself as a culturally responsive teacher, and further developed her interest in literacy instruction.
As a lifelong, avid reader herself, Ashley strives to instill a love for reading in her students as she shares her love for books in her classroom. With a great passion for literacy, she recently earned her Master’s Degree in Reading Education. While earning her degree she expanded her knowledge of best practices in literacy instruction, data collection, and assessment, which she now incorporates in her student-centered fifth grade classroom.
If she could be any fictional book character, she would be Alice from “Alice and Wonderland.” Fueled by curiosity, Ashley is always ready to try something new both inside and outside of the classroom.
Kelli Trenga (Ph.D)
🎓 Educational Leadership and SPED-Elementary
Kelli Trenga, Ed.D. is the coordinator of PENNCREST Cyber Academy in western Pennsylvania. She previously taught various levels of elementary education for over 15 years, with heavy emphasis on literacy instruction and special education. During that time, Kelli was honored with the Crawford County’s Educator of the Year award. She holds degrees in Elementary and Special Education, and Curriculum and Instruction from Mercyhurst University and Gannon University, respectfully.
Her passion for education drove her to pursue her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. Her dissertation was a phenomenological study of dental professionals’ preparedness to manage the behaviors of patients with autism spectrum disorder during dental treatment. In addition to professional pursuits, Kelli serves on local boards for the United Way and Child to Family to Connections. She resides in Meadville, Pa. with her husband and two sons.
🎓 Educational Leadership and SPED-Elementary
Kelli Trenga, Ed.D. is the coordinator of PENNCREST Cyber Academy in western Pennsylvania. She previously taught various levels of elementary education for over 15 years, with heavy emphasis on literacy instruction and special education. During that time, Kelli was honored with the Crawford County’s Educator of the Year award. She holds degrees in Elementary and Special Education, and Curriculum and Instruction from Mercyhurst University and Gannon University, respectfully.
Her passion for education drove her to pursue her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. Her dissertation was a phenomenological study of dental professionals’ preparedness to manage the behaviors of patients with autism spectrum disorder during dental treatment. In addition to professional pursuits, Kelli serves on local boards for the United Way and Child to Family to Connections. She resides in Meadville, Pa. with her husband and two sons.
Haley Wilson
🎓 Middle School English Reading Teacher
Haley teaches high school English in the Southwest, working with students of all ability levels. She’s taught grades 6-12, both as a Special Education and General Education teacher. Haley’s pedagogical approach is rooted in empathy and ethnomethodology, allowing her to create and implement curricula designed to meaningfully engage all students across multiple mediums, reinforced by data-driven reflection.
Earning her Master’s in Curriculum and Teaching with a specialized focus in Special Education has equipped her with the tools necessary to provide equitable access to content materials for all learners. At the same time, she challenges and encourages her colleagues to do the same. A Teacher of the Year nominee, Haley’s development of heterogeneous materials has cultivated her students’ trust and excitement in their exploration of content in her classroom.
Her colleagues and administration revere her curriculum application and adaptation. Encompassed by any fictional literary character, she would be Matilda, consistently looking to reading as a stronghold in the face of a challenge, guided by strong moral ethics and a great sense of humor.
🎓 Middle School English Reading Teacher
Haley teaches high school English in the Southwest, working with students of all ability levels. She’s taught grades 6-12, both as a Special Education and General Education teacher. Haley’s pedagogical approach is rooted in empathy and ethnomethodology, allowing her to create and implement curricula designed to meaningfully engage all students across multiple mediums, reinforced by data-driven reflection.
Earning her Master’s in Curriculum and Teaching with a specialized focus in Special Education has equipped her with the tools necessary to provide equitable access to content materials for all learners. At the same time, she challenges and encourages her colleagues to do the same. A Teacher of the Year nominee, Haley’s development of heterogeneous materials has cultivated her students’ trust and excitement in their exploration of content in her classroom.
Her colleagues and administration revere her curriculum application and adaptation. Encompassed by any fictional literary character, she would be Matilda, consistently looking to reading as a stronghold in the face of a challenge, guided by strong moral ethics and a great sense of humor.
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We're here to help!
Find answers to frequently asked questions or contact us for more support.
You can email us at
How many parent accounts are included with a child's license?
Every family account includes two Parent Accounts.
I am part of a homeschool group and we share teaching responsibilities. How can I access those accounts?
LightSail has created a Teacher/Coach role that can connect with multiple accounts. This is available as an add-on purchase. This account acts as additional parent with full teacher control to all connected accounts.
Is your platform only Faith-Based?
LightSail is available for both Faith-Based and Secular families. A parent can choose to allow or hide faith-based content including Unit Studies. LightSail has created hundreds of faith-based Unit Studies, Bookmarks, Quotations, and Memory Modules.
If I want to purchase a book with your Premium Books Shop, do I have to buy a copy for each license I purchased?
How does LightSail’s ChildSafe protection work?
At LightSail, a parent’s ability to oversee their child’s online experience and align it with their faith and values is of the utmost importance. To this end, LightSail contains an entire suite of parental control features and never-before-seen ChildSafe Content Controls giving parents ultimate peace of mind.
These content controls contain dozens of nuanced subcategories for potentially objectionable material based on both maturity and religious factors. Then, it shows parents if a book contains a reference to any of those subcategories and allows them to block or allow single titles or entire subcategories for each child individually. Our ChildSafe Content Controls offer unprecedented insight into and control over the content your children consume without the need to read every book in advance.
- Block or allow individual pieces of content.
- Block or allow entire subcategories of content.
- Require a child to request parental approval before opening entire subcategories of content.
- Block, allow, or require requesting parental approval for all Classics library content.
- Block or require requesting parental approval for all unrated content.
Click here to learn more about all of our parental controls.
Parental Controls
Complete oversight and control over all of your children’s content and activity.
About Us
We are LightSail for Homeschoolers—a complete language arts platform built on the shoulders of LightSail Education, advancing the literacy skills of K-12 students in public, private, and charter schools since 2012.
Gamification
Fun built into every aspect of LightSail’s platform encourages kids on every step of their learning journey. Badges, Social Sharing, and Gift Rewards are all within the Parental Controls!
Vida's Message
