So what is everyone using for writing and how is it going?

[HappyGrace]

Logic stage writing is so important; a huge transitional time to prep for high school.

[redsquirrel]

We are using WWE4 and hoping that writing with skill comes out by next year!

 

I am also doing a lot of 'writing across the curriculum' a la SWB lectures. I have found the writing lectures from Peace Hill Press to be invaluable. I have listened to both the elementary and middle school lectures many times.

[i.love.lucy]

I also loved the writing lectures!

 

We are using IEW via Classical Conversations Essentials and it's going great.

[patchfire]

Dd is using Essay Voyage and also doing a lot of writing across the curriculum a la SWB's lecture. I'm especially pleased with her outlining, and last week, she made an outline for her essay on Alexander the Great before she wrote it. :D

[elegantlion]

We are using WWE4 and hoping that writing with skill comes out by next year!

 

I am also doing a lot of 'writing across the curriculum' a la SWB lectures. I have found the writing lectures from Peace Hill Press to be invaluable. I have listened to both the elementary and middle school lectures many times.

 

:iagree:Add the high school lecture to the queue and we're using WWE 3. Ds needed some "regrouping of his foundational skills". We're using Usborne's Introduction to Archaeology as outline material this year as well as our history books.

[Greta]

We started using Meaningful Composition this year and really love it.

[Sunshine State Sue]

We used Write Shop for 6th-7th-8th grade. You may read my review here.

[Cleopatra]

We're using Classical Writing - Homer.

 

Yes, sometime you wonder what it is you are doing but if you just follow the book, the results are quite amazing. My dd is writing across the curriculum as well. I haven't listened to SWB's lecture yet but with all the positive feedback it's obviously something I need to put on my 'to-do' list. ;)

[Another Lynn]

It will sound weak compared to what others are using, but we are using a Writing Skills book (by Diana King, I think). It has a little grammar woven in for the purpose of using stronger verbs, adj, adv. clauses. It teaches a 5 sentence paragraph and then moves on to various types - persuasive, comparison, etc. It is very simple, open and go, cut to the chase. It's easy to skip things if I choose to, or linger if need be.

 

He's also doing some narrations in Lit. and history depending on how much writing he does in Writing Skills.

[bethben]

I'm doing a mix of SWB and IEW. I really needed IEW for the structure and where to go next - I like that it will get them through high school writing without having to learn a new program. I am not an IEW lover - it gets the job done. I will use the SWB outlining when we get to report writing in IEW. Key Word Outlines don't make too much sense to me when there are longer papers involved.

Beth

[Mallory]

We are using Writing Tales 2 and WTM recomendations.

 

I think we will do CW Homer next year.....

[SilverMoon]

We are using Classical Writing with some low-key WTM recommendations and it's going great. They do take the CW skills they're learning into writing for history and science, too.

 

They're also using R&S English, but I don't put much emphasis on the writing lessons. I don't make extra opportunities to practice them in other places. Many times we will morph the R&S writing assignment into the science or history that was already assigned for that day. If both CW and R&S have them writing something on the same day CW has the trump card; the R&S lesson will be pushed to the next day.

[athomemom]

BJU Grammar and Writing has been a HUGE hit here!

[Mosaicmind]

Writing Strands here. Since we haven't done much I needed something simple and easy for him to use. It's been good but I want more. Don't know if I will switch of just wait and see.

[dangermom]

We are using Classical Writing--Homer B. It took me a while to wrap my head around it, but now I think I get it. The funny thing is that my younger one is doing Aesop and now that seems very simple and obvious to me; the first time around I was kind of confused.

[Lady Florida.]

We use Bravewriter. It's more CM than classical, and it definitely isn't an "open and go" curriculum. It requires a lot of learning on the part of the parent/teacher. It works well for my writing-phobic ds.

[creekmom]

After spending $$$ on way too many writing programs, the book I use the most is Write Source http://www.amazon.com/Great-Source-Write-Skills-Generation/dp/0669507105/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291158093&sr=1-3

 

Lots of examples of different types of essays and instructions for how to write them.

 

Writing covered in grade 6:

 

descriptive paragraph

narrative paragraph

writing an anecdote

process essay

classification essay

persuasive essay

pet peeve essay

response to literature

writing stories

writing poems

research report

lots of writing across the curriculum as well

[PeterPan]

I'm becoming a Lori D devotee. She had a doozy post where she detailed everything she did for junior high. Her misses seem to correlate to ours, so I'm hoping her hits will too. We're going to basically replicate it come January. I'm hoping it will solve our problems. Dd already loves Lori's idea of using SWB's discussion questions to spark the book reports. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211799&highlight=writing

 

BTW, our problem isn't structural. It's that dd and I are utter opposites on writing. :)

[HappyGrace]

I have Jump In here, which is on Lori D.'s short list of decent programs.

 

We completed Remedia Outlining and Para Made Easy. I think next I will pull from a few things in WriteShop that we need brushing up on, and then move on to Jump In.

 

I also have Meaningful Composition in the back of my mind, but I have a couple of beefs with it, so it may not work for us.

 

I like SWB's ideas for writing across curriculum but dd10 seems to need more actual instruction on structure right now, and I need handholding for that!

[Heather in WI]

I have found the writing lectures from Peace Hill Press to be invaluable. I have listened to both the elementary and middle school lectures many times.

 

:iagree:

 

My son is in the 5th grade. We are using Rod & Staff grammar plus writing for history a la The Well-Trained Mind method.

Edited December 1, 2010 by Heather in WI

[MomOfOneFunOne]

We use Bravewriter. It's more CM than classical, and it definitely isn't an "open and go" curriculum. It requires a lot of learning on the part of the parent/teacher. It works well for my writing-phobic ds.

 

Positively life changing! I love Writer's Jungle/Bravewriter. It changed my whole outlook in regards to writing and we just love it.

 

Yes, it's teacher intensive. I actually teach a small group now and my girl has gone from reluctant, almost phobic, writer to someone who astonishes me with her wonderful work.

 

I'm so happy with it!

[Stacy in NJ]

The assignments are stretching and challenging him, hopefully preparing him for high school writing. He's done several essays of different types so far.

 

My little guy (ds11) isn't using a program. I used several with oldest and pretty much just make it up as I go along for the younger. :D He writes outlines, summaries, and narrations ala TWTM way. He also continues with some dictation and a few more creative assignments I throw at him. In a year or even two, I'll probably have him complete Wordsmith and then Wordsmith Craftsman. I like to focus more on specific skills rather than complete programs. My two primary focuses are persuasive essays (5 paragraph) and research reports. All the other stuff is gravy.

[Ali in OR]

I am very pleased with MCT's Paragraph Town. I like his focus on academic writing. I think dd is really catching on to it also--I like what I'm seeing in her writing and I look forward to continuing on with Essay Voyage.

 

We are also beta testing SWB's 5th grade book in progress. When she has new material to test, we take a break from Paragraph Town and turn to that. I'm learning a lot from it. We also do the writing assignments in R&S 5. My intentions have been to do some writing across the curriculum also, but it has been kind of hit and miss. Since I have to actually plan it, it tends to get dropped when life gets busy (as it inevitably does).

[Kfamily]

We use the core books for Homer and Maxim from CW, as well as other types of writing following ideas from Charlotte Mason. Once we finish this, the plan is to be getting into Chreia (CW's next level) sometime in 9th grade. It's very ecelctic right now.:001_smile:

[gingersmom]

It will sound weak compared to what others are using, but we are using a Writing Skills book (by Diana King, I think).

 

 

We are using this book also. And it is working!!!

 

For the first time in his life my son is writing small paragraphs (5-6 sentences) that are on topic, make sense, etc.

 

 

:party:

[mazakaal]

I used Writing Skills for 4th and 5th and found it very easy to use and taught ds a lot.

[mazakaal]

7th grade ds is using IEW theme based writing lessons, and I'm very happy with it.

[1Togo]

We are using a mix of materials.

 

We had already started our school year, but I wasn't completely satisfied with writing. After listening to SWB's writing lectures and assessing everything on our shelves, I put together a plan that is working beautifully. We use WWE, which only takes 10 to 15 minutes, four days per week. After WWE, we work on poetry writing using The Grammar of Poetry on Monday and Tuesday. MCT poetry will follow GP, which we started before I discovered MCT. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, we work on outlining and writing from the outline using a variety of non-fiction resources. We do the outlining work for one week, and the next week we work on writing various types of original paragraphs using MCT and another resource. Dd would not enjoy only writing from outlines day after day, especially since she did two years of IEW work, and using Kingfisher only would not keep her interest either. However, I think the outlining sequence is important. I have used outlining as a study strategy for years. Using various sources exposes her to the writing style of different authors, and she is quick to note when an author does not stay on topic. We work on all this for a month and then take a break to work on short story lessons from an oop resource for a week. After we work through the paragraph types (7 or 8), we will move on to essays. Also, we are working on note taking/study strategies using dd's science textbook.

 

This is our best year with writing because the variety interests dd. Since all of this was new to dd, she struggled in the beginning, and I can't say she liked any of it. However, after taking a week off for Thanksgiving, she hugged me on Monday morning and said she was glad to get back to her routine, and more importantly, she is steadily improving. On her own, she writes short stories and in her diary every day.

Edited December 1, 2010 by 1Togo

[Mom22ns]

We've been using the LA from Sonlight Core 6 for writing. However, we took the month of November off to do NaNaWriMo and that was GREAT! My kids have both loved and hated writing at different times. NaNoWriMo made them love it again. I know it is anti-WTM to do creative writing, but I am sure glad we did!

[Jane Elliot]

I'm doing writing as outlined on SWB's middle grades audio lecture. It's going well. We did IEW history based lessons last year, and I did like that but decided to drop it for this year. No regrets so far.

[Mom0012]

My son is taking an IEW writing class and that has been a good fit for him. On the days he has free because he's completed his assignments from his class, we have just started using Sentence Composing. I'm hoping to see good things from that. Another program I am considering for him in the future is the Writing Skills series by EPS that a few other posters have mentioned. So many wonderful programs, so little time.

 

My daughter has used WWE 1 and 2 and we are halfway through 3. She really likes it, and I'm hoping we'll wind up with good results from this program. I may let her take the class my son is taking (if I can afford it) at some point because I think the teacher makes writing more fun and interesting than I could ever manage.

 

Lisa

[Hedgehog]

We're using WWE 2 and 3 and it's going good :001_smile: DD11 especially is beginning to find it easier to narrate without telling me the whole story word for word! DD9 never had that problem. The dictation is going better than I expected, too. The first time we tried it they were so upset they couldn't remember it right, but they're learning to just do their best and in any case, they're improving as we go on. I'm happy!

[3byzaz]

Meaningful Composition here also and it has been a HUGE success for a few years. We love it!!!

[ahousefullofjs]

It will sound weak compared to what others are using, but we are using a Writing Skills book (by Diana King, I think). It has a little grammar woven in for the purpose of using stronger verbs, adj, adv. clauses. It teaches a 5 sentence paragraph and then moves on to various types - persuasive, comparison, etc. It is very simple, open and go, cut to the chase. It's easy to skip things if I choose to, or linger if need be.

 

He's also doing some narrations in Lit. and history depending on how much writing he does in Writing Skills.

 

Wow! This looks like it would work for us. Is the Teachers Handbook necessary?

[Momma H]

:bigear:

Wow! This looks like it would work for us. Is the Teachers Handbook necessary?

:bigear:

[Samiam]

We are using Writeshop.

It is going well so far and little by little I can see DS12's writing improving.

 

He has a ways to go, but I am happy he is at least using adjectives nice..ie interesting senctences!!

 

AND, most importantly, the way Writeshop has it broken down, he does not complain at all.

[Paintedlady]

After dabbling in IEW last year, we're doing WWE 3 this year. Kids definitely preferred IEW but I like both programs and think they both teach valuable skills. I'm not sure if we'll do WWE 4 next year (although I already own it) or maybe go back to IEW or maybe try something else. I think that will be my big decision going into next year. I usually refuse to entertain ideas for next year's curriculum until Jan. at the earliest.

[Another Lynn]

Wow! This looks like it would work for us. Is the Teachers Handbook necessary?

 

:bigear:

:bigear:

 

No, imho, the teachers handbook is not necessary. I haven't used it at all yet. I do have it on hand and may refer to it when we get to the various types of writing because I think it has additional topics to choose from. This is where I struggle - coming up with a topic that my ds will think is worth writing about, that can't be answered in a single word, and that doesn't require a dissertation either. So, I think it might be handy towards the end for the additional topic suggestions. But not necessary.

[JaniceO]

We just started using the Writing Skills book for my 5th Grader. It's easy to follow and straightforward. My son hates writing, but this book is working well for him.

 

My 7th grader is using Jump In and is doing really well with it. He also hates writing, but he's having fun with the assignments in this program.

[Wildiris]

I do not think there is one program or book that a person can use to teach writing.

 

Books I've used:

 

6 + 1 Traits of Writing

Thinking in Threes

Voice Lessons

Oxford Essential Guide to Writing

Unjournaling

Zen and the Art of Writing

Writing Alone and With Others

Writer's Inc

The Craft of Research

Style, Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace

I selected portions of the above books that worked for a particular type of writing, or I used the entire book because it met all our home school needs. The two subjects which require the most writing are history and writing about literature. In the 7th and 8th grade I've found my kids have difficulty expressing an opinion and supporting their ideas, so I emphasize this type of writing.

 

We also study grammar as a formal subject from elementary school on up, require independent reading, and study vocabulary. Through our discussions about fiction and non-fiction, we identify the structure and plot devices used to tell a story and determine why we think it works or does not work using examples from the source. Most of all, I teach the kids to listen to their words. They read their writing aloud and refine as they go always asking, "Could I say this better?" I firmly believe in teaching the process of writing. I look for writing books that encourage the reader/student to make mistakes, to revise, to edit, and to produce a final draft. While at the same time, we also practice timed writing. As I said, no one book or program will do it all.

Edited December 2, 2010 by Wildiris

[ahousefullofjs]

No, imho, the teachers handbook is not necessary. I haven't used it at all yet. I do have it on hand and may refer to it when we get to the various types of writing because I think it has additional topics to choose from. This is where I struggle - coming up with a topic that my ds will think is worth writing about, that can't be answered in a single word, and that doesn't require a dissertation either. So, I think it might be handy towards the end for the additional topic suggestions. But not necessary.

 

Thank you. I have a hard time coming up with interesting writing topics too. Good to know.