Finished reading The Writer's Jungle... LOVE it!

[momto2Cs]

I just finished reading The Writer's Jungle, and am totally in love with it. The gradual building and integration of skills makes so much sense to me now! I've been getting the daily prompts from BraveWriter Lifestyle, but now have the context to actually implement everything.

 

I'm now actually looking forward to writing with ds in the fall, without buying any more programs!

 

If you have TWJ and haven't read it all the way through, you should!

[Wee Pip]

and so...would you recommend others spend the big bucks to buy this? lol! people tend to struggle with this question, but those of us that don't own it already want to know:D

[SunnyDays]

I am reading it right now but just getting started... but I will say that it's still on the half price sale at HSBC, I think until 5/31. :)

[Pen]

I am reading it right now but just getting started... but I will say that it's still on the half price sale at HSBC, I think until 5/31. :)

 

How many megabytes is it? I have trouble with downloads.

[Farrar]

I struggle because I think the price is crazy, but I also think it was worth it... at least the HSBC price. It's a great book.

[momto2Cs]

I struggle because I think the price is crazy, but I also think it was worth it... at least the HSBC price. It's a great book.

 

:iagree: I got it as a download from HSBC, and then transferred it to my Kindle. I think with the price I got, it was totally worthwhile!

[Pen]

How long did it take you download it?

[SunnyDays]

How many megabytes is it? I have trouble with downloads.

 

It's just a PDF, and it appears to be 881 kb... not crazy big.

 

I am enjoying what I'm reading so far, it makes a lot of sense. She talks a lot about copywork and dictation. :)

[Pen]

It's just a PDF, and it appears to be 881 kb... not crazy big.

 

I am enjoying what I'm reading so far, it makes a lot of sense. She talks a lot about copywork and dictation. :)

 

Thank you. And the way she deals with copywork and dictation is different than Susan Wise Bauer approach, I take it? How so? I liked the website and free writing ideas, and yet I have so much on writing I am reluctant to add more that doesn't really add after all, if you know what I mean.

[momto2Cs]

I honestly don't know how SWB approaches it, but I'll give you a little run-down on the Writer's Jungle approach...

 

Copywork: She recommends utilizing several methods. One is selecting copywork for your child. You can just give it to them (photocopied or typed out, etc.), or you can do a copywork jar. You can also allow the kids to pick out their own passages to copy. She recommends setting a time limit, and then if they don't finish, they simply pick up where they left off the next day.

 

Dictation: She recommends starting by writing/typing out a passage, leaving out a word, or a few words. You then read the entire passage aloud while the child follows along on their copy. They then add in the words that were left out. Or reverse dictation - you write/type out a passage leaving out punctuation, misspelling a couple of words, etc., and they have to correct it.

[Farrar]

I found SWB's approach to narration really stilted and formulaic and the approach in TWJ to be much more organic - it's much more Charlotte Mason inspired. But that's just my personal opinion. :)

[Pen]

I honestly don't know how SWB approaches it, but I'll give you a little run-down on the Writer's Jungle approach...

 

Copywork: She recommends utilizing several methods. One is selecting copywork for your child. You can just give it to them (photocopied or typed out, etc.), or you can do a copywork jar. You can also allow the kids to pick out their own passages to copy. She recommends setting a time limit, and then if they don't finish, they simply pick up where they left off the next day.

 

Dictation: She recommends starting by writing/typing out a passage, leaving out a word, or a few words. You then read the entire passage aloud while the child follows along on their copy. They then add in the words that were left out. Or reverse dictation - you write/type out a passage leaving out punctuation, misspelling a couple of words, etc., and they have to correct it.

 

 

Oh Dear! And here I thought I was done buying things for a while...but it sounds good.... Do any of you have a link to the HSBC on sale version?

 

Unfortunately in many areas we seem to have what works, but writing still doesn't seem to be quite there for my son.

[SunnyDays]

We were running into the same thing... nothing quite clicking for writing. I do see us being able to easily implement several of the things JB suggests.

 

Here you go: https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/brave-writer/?c=1

 

You will want "The Writer's Jungle - Digital Version" and you'll need to create a free account if you don't have one.

[babybryte]

So does TWJ teach the mechanics of writing as well as the creative process? I've always been interested in Brave Writer, but I've never really understood it.

 

Thanks!

[Farrar]

So does TWJ teach the mechanics of writing as well as the creative process? I've always been interested in Brave Writer, but I've never really understood it.

 

Thanks!

 

It makes suggestions about how to teach mechanics, yes. But it's not a laid out program like something like First Language Lessons. It's more like here are organic ways to do this within this framework. And she's very much about individualizing things and about letting kids move through her "stages of writing" at different paces.

[momto2Cs]

It makes suggestions about how to teach mechanics, yes. But it's not a laid out program like something like First Language Lessons. It's more like here are organic ways to do this within this framework. And she's very much about individualizing things and about letting kids move through her "stages of writing" at different paces.

 

I really like how she wants kids to develop a love for writing. She specifies that if a child is reluctant with writing, let them do a lot of free writing until they have developed enough interest to do more. I believe this is in addition to copywork/dictation.

 

She also mentions other approaches - list making, nature journals, etc. Lots of ideas to get creative juices flowing.

[babybryte]

So do you need any other supplementation or is this a full program for writing?

 

Thanks! :)

[Targhee]

So do you need any other supplementation or is this a full program for writing?

 

Thanks! :)

 

Great question! Can I add to it this one: how hard would it be to implement on its own (do you have to do a lot of leg work as the teacher)?

[jar7709]

Great question! Can I add to it this one: how hard would it be to implement on its own (do you have to do a lot of leg work as the teacher)?

 

You really need to read TWJ ;) In some ways, once you've read it, it is open-and-go, in that it gives you confidence and easy methods to start slow on your own, and you don't need anything more than good books, paper, and pencil, and the 'legwork' is a joy rather than a chore. This is what I love about it. On the other hand, if you are the type of person who wants everything laid out with specific lesson plans and projects planned, you are going to either have to find those elsewhere or make them yourself...this luckily, is not me.:D Bravewriter does have other products such as Arrow and the new Jot It Down to get you started with more specific lesson plans, though.

[Farrar]

You really need to read TWJ ;) In some ways, once you've read it, it is open-and-go, in that it gives you confidence and easy methods to start slow on your own, and you don't need anything more than good books, paper, and pencil, and the 'legwork' is a joy rather than a chore. This is what I love about it. On the other hand, if you are the type of person who wants everything laid out with specific lesson plans and projects planned, you are going to either have to find those elsewhere or make them yourself...this luckily, is not me.:D Bravewriter does have other products such as Arrow and the new Jot It Down to get you started with more specific lesson plans, though.

 

I agree. It's a philosophy. It's a complete program for language arts (she talks about reading, vocabulary, and so forth as well). But many people may want to pick some of her ideas and have more structured programs to use for specific skills within language arts, including writing. I admit that having read it, I do kind of blink a little when I see people who are doing a huge number of other full programs for language arts. One of the points I think she's trying to make is that less is more for writing and that seems to miss the point.

[Walking-Iris]

I've been reading through TWJ lately and I'm in love with it. I've struggled to find a good writing fit and my plans for next year are BW with Arrow and WWE (3 moving into 4 by end of year hopefully).

 

From my initial readings, the ideas of "implementing" Bravewriter just don't mesh with her overall philosophy. If you like a program that gives you ideas and philosophy that you can then fulfill how you like then it may be for you. One of my favorite passages: "We live much of our lives in the left side of the brain. We need to obey laws, handle machinery, follow recipes, pay bills and read directions. For those moms who clip coupons, write out lesson plans and schedule the laundry, letting go of the control over the writing process will feel very loosey-goosey. In fact, it feels downright unnatural. These mothers tend to search for the writing program that does it all step-by-step. They want to know that they haven't missed anything and that their kids are getting an incremental guide to the world of writing. Here's where your otherwise bright brain fails you."

 

Basically if you're looking for a scheduled open and go writing program that gives your kids specific assignments, Bravewriter might not be for you. I've also got Jot It Down and that's still a very loose attempt at scheduling.

 

If on the other hand you're okay with directions like, "The most important part of the process is allowing chaos, musings, incomplete thoughts and ideas to bubble up from within-uninhibited by a tortuous assignment." If that makes sense to you, resonates with you, and you know what to do with that kind of directive---then I'd say give Bravewriter a try.

 

Besides that I think it is an excellent book to have just for giving advice on how to evaluate/revise writing as well. That's the bulk of the book really. Just let your children write and here's some advice on how to revise and evaluate. And use copywork and dictation as models of great writing. She doesn't tell you how to construct a perfect paragraph for example. "In paragraphing, as the mood shifts, I hit return. That's it. Keep ideas together. Don't fret." Again, if you're the type that wants more detailed directions, this kind of statement may drive you crazy.

 

The Arrow can be used completely separate from TWJ by the way. It's a monthly read aloud with copywork/dictation passages pulled from the book and a writing project idea and literary analysis discussion. You can subscribe or pick your own individual unit.

 

I like the way she describes narration/copywork/dictation in TWJ better than I liked the description in WTM. WTM just seemed so dry and academic. Don't get me wrong I still love that book. But the description of those processes in TWJ just seem more alive and creative and less strict.

 

Put it this way. WTM and WWE appeal to my intellectual, 36 week school year side. Bravewriter/TWJ appeals to my learning as a creative, lifelong organic adventure side.

 

Not necessary depending on your confidence level but I personally am still using a separate grammar and spelling program.

 

HTH

[Wee Pip]

This was very helpful, Walking Iris, thank you! Sounds like I would find the copywork,dictation ideas helpful, but not the writing philosophy part (very similar to our current methods here at home but I'm finding we need more structure).

[Walking-Iris]

This was very helpful, Walking Iris, thank you! Sounds like I would find the copywork,dictation ideas helpful, but not the writing philosophy part (very similar to our current methods here at home but I'm finding we need more structure).

 

There's structure. It's just more organic than specific assignments on specific days guaranteed done in 36 weeks, kwim?

 

There's ideas for freewriting every week and then taking a few of those through the complete writing process which she outlines for you. There's the idea of a complete writing project each month. The chapters that deal with how to evaluate and revise writing are splendid. There are examples of student's writings. The thing that isn't in TWJ is specific daily assignments in incremental steps or worksheet type busy work of any kind.

 

I like it because I have been trying to find a writing program that would work for us and TWJ gives me the confidence to do away with writing programs and to just trust the process.

 

And there's a lot of advice on how to trust that process. It's the creative element that is sorely missing from WWE. Also i was questioning the purpose of the copywork/narration/dictation trinity. WTM and the WWE text just didn't explain in a satisfactory manner why I should be doing that with my kid. The statements that kids shouldn't write creatively bugged me. It just seemed like a pointless chore. TWJ explained those concepts in a way that gave those processes a life for me. She talks about Alive Writing and the Writer's Voice. All of that appeals to my artsy-fartsy family. :lol: It's also the only homeschooling "book" that I've seen my dh peek into.

 

But seriously I'm no expert on BW. I've just started reading it after much struggle this year with writing. But I am really liking what I am reading and I'm absorbing it slowly and making notes and am excited about it. I haven't felt a glimmer of excitement about a new homeschooling method/program in a long while.

Edited May 29, 2012 by Walking-Iris