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CW- if you have experience- should I start my 2nd grader in primer or Aesop?


LisaD
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I am seriously considering using CW with my DS starting next year for 2nd grade. This year we are finishing WWE 1 and FLL 1. He has no problem completing any of the copy work (short or long), has no problem with answering most narration questions in WWE although I sometimes need to reread a section for him (occasionally he would rather be outside and isn't focused- typical of a very active 6yo boy! Lol) and I still have to remind him to use complete sentences. As far as the grammar skills being taught in both, he totally gets those and will often volunteer the info and has great memorization skills (very visual; we also do lots of memory work- poetry, bible, music etc).

 

To give you an idea of his ability/experience (I only offer this because based on what I read on the CW website about placement and looking at samples, I would place him at Aesop and not in the primer): He reads above grade level....informal testing using McCall-Crabbs reading test lessons and the highest level passage he read (before I stopped) was 7.6 and he answered 9/11 correctly), but I really don't know how accurate that is. He can read almost anything he picks up fluently (nonfiction kids books like DK etc, bible, fiction, and anything I'm reading to them). He reads magic treehouse, and busy times (pathway readers). He tested at the middle of third grade for spelling (using spell to read and write). Although we haven't done formal dictation with WWE yet, I have begun giving him a sentence to write at the end of his spelling test and he does fine with 10 words or less...we just started this. He is also very verbally articulate (aka- Chatty Cathy lol) and has a high vocabulary for his age.

 

If you have used CW, what do you think? Does he need more dictation experience before going into Aesop and I should wait til 3rd grade? Or will he be fine to go into Aesop at 2nd grade? I don't think it will be too challenging based on the samples online, but while I don't want it to be too challenging, I also don't want it to be too boring if it's not challenging enough. KWIM?

 

Thanks for any input! (Also: if you are familiar with Ruth from NZ's extensive and very informative reviews on writing curriculum from a couple of years ago, I have read it thoroughly and have been taking notes. :) )

Lisa

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I used CW Aesop (lightly) with the boys in grade 3, and more in grade 4. In hindsight, I ought to have simply just waited and used it formally in fourth. But my boys were not advanced in any way, shape or form when it came to verbal skills or grammar skills. And one still struggles with comprehension of written material. 

IMO it is a book better for fourth grade for an average or struggling writer. Doesn't sound like you have one of those. 

 

When anyone asks me about how and when to start CW I always tell them to purchase the Core book and read it cover to cover over a period of several weeks. The core book for Homer took me almost six weeks to read and digest. Because the core has the methodology and discusses the levels of study I think it is a good place to start when you want to find out whether you and your student will enjoy this kind of writing program. I happen to love CW so far. The boys enjoy it the way I adapt  it to fit them.

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That's a great idea! I may end of buying the core book. Does any one else also have some helpful insight? I was looking online tonight at the primer sample and it looks fairly easy...I'm wondering how it progresses? I figure I have three main possibilities: 1- he could do primer starting next year in 2nd grade and progress from there or 2- he could do Aesop starting in the fall for 2nd grade and progress from there or 3- we could do WWE 2 and FLL 2 next year then start with Aesop in 3rd grade.

 

What do those of you with CW and WWE and FFL experience think (based on his skills I described in my original post)?

 

Thanks!

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