EthylPie Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I'm looking for a writing curriculum for next year. We are currently working through R&S English 2, which teaches grammar. Next year we'll use R&S 3, but from what I've seen the writing portion is pretty dry. We tried FLL but that was too much mommy talking for my boys and I'm afraid that's what WWE 3 may become. (I began to sound like the teacher in Charlie Brown, "Wha, whaa, wha, whaa.") Is it possible to use any of the theme based books without having viewed TWSS? I've written a master's thesis, so I have writing skills, but I need some structure teaching them. I'm more of a science and math, logical brain type, so I need some balance with finding appropriate selection of "fun" reading for kids. I've looked at many of the samples and I'm torn between WWE 3, IEW theme based (especially the geography based, All Things Fun and Fascinating, etc.) or maybe W&R Fables. Purchasing TWSS is out of our budget, and I don't think any of our co-op members use it. Please post your suggestions/experience. THANKS! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edeemarie Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 We have successfully used IEW for several years, and I have never watched TWSS. I did watch the overview DVD (I think it was like $10 or so) and IEW posts free webinars on each specific unit if you get stuck on something. All Things Fun & Fascinating was what we used first when my oldest was in 3rd grade (I think...it may have been 4th grade), but we had a great time with it. With IEW, there is no such thing as helping them too much and modeling is a big deal. It hasn't been until this year, now that my son is in his 3rd IEW book, that he has been able to really flourish with his writing on his own. The time I spent modeling and helping him is really paying off. But in my opinion, it's totally doable without watching TWSS. :-) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnlikelyHomeschoolingMama Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 We have successfully used IEW for several years, and I have never watched TWSS. I did watch the overview DVD (I think it was like $10 or so) and IEW posts free webinars on each specific unit if you get stuck on something. All Things Fun & Fascinating was what we used first when my oldest was in 3rd grade (I think...it may have been 4th grade), but we had a great time with it. With IEW, there is no such thing as helping them too much and modeling is a big deal. It hasn't been until this year, now that my son is in his 3rd IEW book, that he has been able to really flourish with his writing on his own. The time I spent modeling and helping him is really paying off. But in my opinion, it's totally doable without watching TWSS. :-) I am currently working through WWE 2 with my daughter and we'll finish some time in the Fall (in her third grade year). I am considering just going right into IEW and was looking at the Writing Intensive Level A. It seems like a good place to start for her first formal pen to paper writing program. Is there a reason you started with All Things Fun and Fascinating? I feel like I may need more hand holding. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edeemarie Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I am currently working through WWE 2 with my daughter and we'll finish some time in the Fall (in her third grade year). I am considering just going right into IEW and was looking at the Writing Intensive Level A. It seems like a good place to start for her first formal pen to paper writing program. Is there a reason you started with All Things Fun and Fascinating? I feel like I may need more hand holding. What do you think? The only reason I started with All Things Fun & Fascinating was because I was too cheap to get any of the SWI programs. 😉 I think SWI-A would be a fantastic place to start and would definitely give you more hand-holding than any of the theme books. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zarabellesmom Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 You could definitely do SWI-A without TWSS. I have TWSS and watched all of it (and it was really long...). It does give you a nice overview of where the program is going and why things are done the way are. You also get to hear Pudewa say things, like the previous poster mentioned, about how there is no such thing as helping too much. That said, SWI-A is DVD based for the student and all the instruction is right there. You would be absolutely fine. It also included the overview DVD for the parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 You can do the writing intensives without it for sure. I have two of the theme based books, but we have not used them yet. I will take a closer look at them today to see if that is doable without the TWSS. I confess that while I do have the teacher seminar stuff, I'm having trouble getting through all of it because it's so boring. I just want to be told the points and not listen to the blah blah blah. Although I am currently forcing myself through the whole thing because I really do want to get the maximum benefits from the program. I sure wish there was a comprehensive book available as an alternative because I'd prefer that over the videos. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 We used SWI-A when my kids were in 5th & 3rd grades (they watched it together and I just required a bit more output from the older child). I actually purchased TWSS but sold it once I realized that SWI had all of the instruction included. I think that doing one of the SWI courses would be a better way to start with IEW, followed by a theme based book, and you definitely would not need TWSS in addition to SWI. It would be more difficult to jump right in to a theme book without SWI or TWSS first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyP Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I do not think it is necessary to watch TWSS before using the theme based programs. I have been using a theme based program (American History Vol. 1) with my 7th and 4th grader this year. I have found it to be very teacher friendly and easy to use even though I have never gone through TWSS. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 I sure wish there was a comprehensive book available as an alternative because I'd prefer that over the videos. There's Blended Structure and Style in Composition - http://iew.com/shop/products/blended-structure-and-style-composition- it's supposed to be the book that TWSS is based on. I've read comments that the book isn't terribly user friendly and is much harder to understand than the videos, but I *much* prefer a book to a video (and it's *lots* cheaper), so I bought it in Dec and I'm (slowly) working through it. I'm only on Unit 3, but idk, it seems clear and easy enough to grasp so far - haven't put it into practice yet, but it at least makes me *feel* like I can do this thing ;). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaplank Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 You could easily do "All Things Fun and Fascinating" ,which I highly recommend, without watching TWSS. IEW has webinars on their website that also take you through unit by unit. They are pretty helpful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freemanfamilyof6 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 I do think you can do IEW SWI A without TSS, but you may have to do a little extra work digging on their website for help if you get stuck. Or you can just watch the DVD with your child (that is all the same info as TSS). I am sure you have a great background in this area, but the way they teach writing is different than most (in my opinion). I would recommend IEW SWI A if you are not going to get TSS, because the theme based books do not give enough background on how to do the program (again in my opinion). Also, IEW SWI A is fairly advanced in my opinion (per the grades they recommend). I tried in one year when my girls were 2, 3, 4th and had to table it for one year till they were a little more mature. This year they are doing well with it as 3rd, 4th, 5th graders. My 3rd grader is quite advanced, but does still tend to need more help and hand holding than the other two. HTH. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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