Help! I'm pulling my child from public school mid-year

[alligator]

In 3rd grade my daughter stopped receiving adequate composition and language arts instruction.  Her 5th grade year also saw no language curriculum - just packets of suffixes and prefixes, no writing.  She is currently in the 6th grade.  Due to a variety of circumstances I will be homeschooling for language for the remainder of the year.  I need a ready to go curriculum that relies heavily on composition.  I would prefer a non-religious text, but am not opposed to a good Christian based curriculum. 

 

Thanks.

[OneStepAtATime]

Well, someone else will hopefully be better able to advise you in this area but I wanted to send you hugs and hope that your homeschooling goes well.  So you are only homeschooling language arts but she will be in school for the other subjects?  Trying to clarify for others that might respond to your request for recommendations.

[North Coast School]

Yes, please clarify if she will be home part-time or full time? 

 

Try Writing with Ease.  (You'll se it listed as WWE on this site.)  You can check out the book from your local library.  Not religious.

 

I also love Rod and Staff.  Published by Menonites, so it is Christian and quotes scripture. 

 

PS--I pulled one of my kids out mid-year and it actually went really well for us.  Best of luck!

[alligator]

Sorry for not being clear.  I haven't actually met with the principal yet, but my daughter and I are thinking that I will do only language and PE at home.  She will go to school for math and science (both of those teachers challenge her) and maybe history.  I am a former classroom teacher so teaching itself is not all that foreign, but in the past I never had a curriculum choice - that decision was made by the district.

 

I am looking for literature that makes use of short stories since she doesn't enjoy long novels.  I need something that is heavy in writing (Maybe a separate program).  Also, she will need to do some of the work on her own (as the eldest of 5 kids and a mom who is already committed).  

 

Thanks for any help you can give us.

[alligator]

I was looking at Writing Tales, but it only looks like it goes to grade 2.  Is that right?  http://www.olsenbooks.com/order.html

[TianXiaXueXiao]

If I was in your situation, I would probably shoot for using two curricula--one for grammar and writing and one for reading. My suggestions along these lines would be Saxon Grammar and Writing and McGuffey's Eclectic Readers (these are public domain and free for e-readers). Good luck to you!

[alligator]

If I was in your situation, I would probably shoot for using two curricula--one for grammar and writing and one for reading. My suggestions along these lines would be Saxon Grammar and Writing and McGuffey's Eclectic Readers (these are public domain and free for e-readers). Good luck to you!

 

Thanks.  I like the Saxon Grammar.  It seems like it will be easy for us to pick up and finish mid-year.  

 

Are there any websites or resources for "write an essay a week" with a variety of topics I can pick and choose from?  

[TianXiaXueXiao]

Thanks. I like the Saxon Grammar. It seems like it will be easy for us to pick up and finish mid-year.

 

Are there any websites or resources for "write an essay a week" with a variety of topics I can pick and choose from?

What would be the goal of writing one essay per week? I would be a little shy about making things overly strenuous during the transition from public school to home school. If you want her to have practice writing, you might consider weekly journal writing, nature journaling, letter writing to distant friends/relatives, short story writing, poetry writing, movie reviews, book reports, etc. I think it is really important to develop an understanding and appreciation for the essay and the various purposes for writing one. If you end up going with Saxon, it should lead your dc through the writing process and build up to essay writing.

[LibraryLover]

If she likes shorter works, I would go with WWE.

[Garga]

You are looking for something that is "heavy in writing." What are you picturing in your mind? There are different types of writing: book report, topic report, persuasive essay, creative writing, etc. What does the phrase "heavy in writing" mean to you?

 

We are using the Institute for Excellence in Writing, but I find their website horribly confusing. Some people buy the whole shebang for lots of money, but I just bought the theme based writing books and am working through those on my own. It took me a few months to feel that I understood how to follow the curriculum, but once the light went off for me it was pretty easy. http://iew.com/taxonomy/term/18/?f%5B0%5D=im_field_category%3A18

 

These books teach a few different types of writing and teach the nuts and bolts to make your writing more interesting and strong. Like, they teach how to have an opening sentence and a closing sentence that ties your piece together. They teach how to use things like adjectives and "strong erbs." Ie: instead of "He went away," they learn to do things like "He slunk away," "He skipped away," He stumbled away," etc. The books methodically teach how to add these things to their writings, week by week. My kids needed that nuts and bolts training.

 

How they teach this is by showing the child a piece of writing, maybe a story about knights, and then having the child outline the piece and then turn around and re-write the piece in their own words. It's been very effective for my boys would couldn't come up with a starting point in their writing. By having them read the piece, outline it and then write it for themselves they've become confident and aren't terrible at writing anymore.

 

Is that the sort of thing you need?

[73349]

When I taught sixth grade (private school), I had students write for about ten minutes a day in response to a prompt. They found it rather hard at first to organize their thoughts and respond in a paragraph or two, but it got much easier with practice. (I didn't have a book for the prompts, though. I just made them up, ensuring that I had a variety.)

 

Meanwhile, I taught both grammar and some of the elements of composition with HRW's Elements of Language, Introductory Course. (Someone is selling it used on Amazon for $25 right now. It would not be worth buying new to use with just one student.) I didn't always like the order of topics, but the explanations are clear enough that she could read at least the composition sections on her own and summarize them aloud for you so you know she understands them. The grammar would work better with at least a few minutes a day of direct instruction.

[alligator]

What would be the goal of writing one essay per week? I would be a little shy about making things overly strenuous during the transition from public school to home school. If you want her to have practice writing, you might consider weekly journal writing, nature journaling, letter writing to distant friends/relatives, short story writing, poetry writing, movie reviews, book reports, etc. I think it is really important to develop an understanding and appreciation for the essay and the various purposes for writing one. If you end up going with Saxon, it should lead your dc through the writing process and build up to essay writing.

 

The reason I am taking her out of school is because they aren't doing an adequate job of teaching the writing process.  They focus too much on free write and the teacher never goes through the draft/re-write process and therefore she is not learning good writing skills.  Although she has the requirement of 2 reports a year, both are done completely at home.  

 

I like the idea of movie reviews and book reviews.  I will definitely add that.  But again, she will go through the word web/pre-write then draft then final draft process.  

 

 

[alligator]

You are looking for something that is "heavy in writing." What are you picturing in your mind? There are different types of writing: book report, topic report, persuasive essay, creative writing, etc. What does the phrase "heavy in writing" mean to you?

 

We are using the Institute for Excellence in Writing, but I find their website horribly confusing. Some people buy the whole shebang for lots of money, but I just bought the theme based writing books and am working through those on my own. It took me a few months to feel that I understood how to follow the curriculum, but once the light went off for me it was pretty easy. http://iew.com/taxonomy/term/18/?f%5B0%5D=im_field_category%3A18

 

These books teach a few different types of writing and teach the nuts and bolts to make your writing more interesting and strong. Like, they teach how to have an opening sentence and a closing sentence that ties your piece together. They teach how to use things like adjectives and "strong erbs." Ie: instead of "He went away," they learn to do things like "He slunk away," "He skipped away," He stumbled away," etc. The books methodically teach how to add these things to their writings, week by week. My kids needed that nuts and bolts training.

 

How they teach this is by showing the child a piece of writing, maybe a story about knights, and then having the child outline the piece and then turn around and re-write the piece in their own words. It's been very effective for my boys would couldn't come up with a starting point in their writing. By having them read the piece, outline it and then write it for themselves they've become confident and aren't terrible at writing anymore.

 

Is that the sort of thing you need?

 

 

That's pretty nifty.  I like that there is a Robot themed one - she would love that.  It looks like it would be good with my 4th grader too - for after schooling.  

 

Essentially her writing at this point is just stream of consciousness - whatever she thinks comes out with little thought to organization or using complex vocabulary.  

[Dolphin]

 

Essentially her writing at this point is just stream of consciousness - whatever she thinks comes out with little thought to organization or using complex vocabulary.  

 

So, I have a 6th grade boy at the opposite of this. I would start with IEW's Student writing Intensive. In the first lesson he talks about the stream of consciousness and the complete shut down of writing as the 2 poles. His course is good for both. In a clear way he explains about organizing thoughts and not rambling. You watch the DVD lesson together, and she should have her writing material with her. My son uses a tv table. Then there are 2 more lessons that you give, to reinforce what was just taught.

 

This is pretty easy for mom. You watch the DVD, give her the forms and edit her papers. I would start that way, as if you jump straight into a more intense course you could really put her off and just have a lot of arguing on your hands. If she does well with that for the rest of 6th grade, you could look at Writing With Skill for 7th grade. I think jumping straight into WWS with her writing background would overwhelm her, but I also think the IEW course this year could be a nice transition. 

 

A lot of people here have positive things to say about Brave writer, but I have not used that.

 

Now, for literature.

 

I would download this audio lecture from SWB. Here are the lecture notes for while you are listening to the audio.

 

If she has not had much grammar, you could do First Language Lessons 3 and the 4. FLL 3 is an entry point book. Another option would be MCT Grammar Island. We use Rod and Staff (It does not preach, but many sentences are about God.) Hake Grammar is another I know a lot of people on here respect.

 

If you are also looking at spelling as a part of Language arts. I love Phonetic Zoo. Here is a review I write about it. Apple and Pears and Spalding also seem to be very popular choices.

 

Hope that helps.

[kiwik]

Sorry this is a bit off topic but how does part time home schooling work? My son's schedule is so random I would never know when he was supposed to be there and when not and PE and language arts could be 5 15 minute chunks spread over 6 hours.

 

Eta. you will be fine. You can do this.

 

It just occurred to me that this is the good side of having "blocks" on topics. I have been reading about it and wondered why you would subject a child to a long block without a break. Definately an advantage for part time schooling though.

[alligator]

Sorry this is a bit off topic but how does part time home schooling work? My son's schedule is so random I would never know when he was supposed to be there and when not and PE and language arts could be 5 15 minute chunks spread over 6 hours.

 

Eta. you will be fine. You can do this.

 

It just occurred to me that this is the good side of having "blocks" on topics. I have been reading about it and wondered why you would subject a child to a long block without a break. Definately an advantage for part time schooling though.

 

At our school the children have specific times for each subject and they rotate teachers.  I am pleased with her math and science teacher and will leave her in those classes.  PE is T and TH in the morning, so she will just go late on those days.  The school is only 3 blocks from home so it will be easy enough for me to pick her up or send her to school late.  For PE she could even sit in the office and do her homeschooling work if I were unable to go get her.  

 

She is heavily involved in sports 4 nights a week plus weekend games which is the reason for her not taking PE.  We will do the same for middle school too.  (MS is 7-8 in our area).

[OneStepAtATime]

I agree with Dolphin that IEW's student writing intensive would provide you with exactly what you are looking for and would be easy for you to implement if you get the DVD's.  Whatever you decide regarding curriculum, I hope your transition goes smoothly for both of you.  Best wishes...

[HS Mom in NC]

If you're looking for writing that specifically academic writing based on short, high quality readings, consider Writing With Skill by Susan Wise Bauer. It's Jr. High level writing. It covers every type of academic writing in a short simple, systematic, step by step way that is directed to the student. The instructor's guide has a series of prompting questions for each step of each assignment if the student gets stuck and it has a rubric for the parent to evaluate if the job was well done. If you get it, get the student workbook and the instructor's guide.  It's designed for 36 weeks with 4 assignments per week. You could take a slower pace than that if you like. Susan Wise Bauer teaches composition at William and Mary so she knows what a child needs.

 

I cannot recommend IEW-I advise against it as I don't think what it teaches is quality writing and yes, I did go to the 2 day seminar and I did buy the program and used it for several months, so I do have actual first hand knowledge. Earlier in the year someone asked if people thought IEW could be harmful and many of us gave a detailed list of the problems with that programs.   (I know, now people are going to be upset.)