WWS 1- has anyone done it with a 4th grader?

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

Just a question to see if this might work.  I've taken a look at the sample and it looks doable, but would love some feedback.  

 

I'm looking at WWS because I'd like a text directed to the student.  This is for a strong but not particularly enthusiastic writer.

[....]

You could always try and see what happens.

 

I tried WWS1 with a 5th grader several years ago and she only made it half-way before we had to drop it due to frustration (on both our parts).  And she's a really strong student.  (This is my kid who won an essay contest at school in 1st grade.)  I won't use it with a 5th grader again.  We tried it again in 7th grade and that was perfect for 2 of my kids.

 

Is WWE4 a possibility?   

[happypamama]

I would not attempt it with a fourth grader unless that child was a really, really strong writer. Fifth might be stretching it a bit. It IS written to the student, but it required a fair amount of handholding. So try it and see, if your student is a strong writer, but have something else in mind in case it doesn't work.

[redsquirrel]

Ive been thorough WWS 1 two times.  Once with ds1 who was a 6th grader (that is when it came out) and now with DS2 last year when he was a 5th grader. DS2 took it through the WTMA as part of 'expository writing 1'.  He is now in expository writing 2 and using WWS 2.

 

I have said several times on this board that one of the biggest mistakes I personally made with WWS 1 was handing it off to my older son.  Yes, it is 'written to the student' but for us, it didn't work like that.  He needed me to stay very closely involved. It took me a long time to figure that out.  Too long. By that time ds1 was frustrated.  We got through it and he did learn a tremendous amount, but it was bumpy.

 

With DS2, even though he was taking the class online, I stayed very involved. I went over each assignment with him. We talked about what the assignment was asking, we reviewed instructions, I checked in, sometime he did assignments with me listening as he talked himself through it. 

 

He did great and very much enjoyed the class and he was a 5th grader. But I was very much involved. 

 

I love WWS and find it an excellent program, but if the main reason you are interested in it is that you have an expectation you can get some relief from direct instruction, it may not work out that way.  Or it might, it's difficult to know. Just be aware that she is younger than the target age and it might require that much more from both of you.

[Syllieann]

There was a thread on the accelerated board from a few years ago. You could try posting there for updates.

 

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/344094-wws-how-young/

[The Governess]

I used it with dd when she was in 4th. We got close to halfways through the book. It is a lot for a fourth grader. The reading selections are very high level, and even though dd was an advanced reader, she did not always understand the selected text.

 

Last year, in 6th, she took the class and did very well. It's an excellent program, but I would wait unless you have a very motivated and very advanced student. Dd could have finished the program in 4th but she got more out of it by waiting, and she enjoyed it much more as an older student.

[kolamum]

Like Red Squirrel, we didn't hand it off to the child either.. I found that it worked better for our child by going over the lessons with him & then having him get about his work. We started it once with him in 4th because it was recommended. He did fine with it, but we put it aside for a summer holiday, moved homes, etc. & then picked it up again in his 8th grade year where we started over. He gained more from it waiting later then he did earlier. He enjoyed it both times, but rather then moving into Volume 2 this year he's trying out Cover Story.

Would it work with a 4th grader? I think it would at fist because the first few lessons are very like WWE, but as it progresses things get harder. I'd be unlikely to use it with someone at that age. :) 

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

Thank you for all the feedback!  I will keep thinking on it, but it sounds like something to put aside for a year or two more.  

[SparklyUnicorn]

The material I think is pretty advanced.  Technically not so much the writing if you used the same ideas/procedures with other reading selections.  Some of the reading selections or topics to write on are difficult. 

[eternalsummer]

We got through half of it with DD11 when she was 9; she is a very strong reader and a relatively competent writer.  For her the input was fine - figuring out outlining and using a thesaurus and all that was great.  The quantity of output as we moved into the second half of it was too much, though.

[Chrysalis Academy]

Agreeing with others. We started it and did the first ~10 lessons in the spring of 4th grade, but I don't recommend that. Dd is a very strong writer. I wouldn't even consider trying it with my current 5th grader. It does ramp up a lot after the first 10 lessons. I wouldn't assume you can hand it off even though it is directed to the student. Content is more challenging for a young student than the procedures required.

[EKS]

I tried it with an advanced fourth grader.  He needed me to work with him on the lessons.  It ended up not being a fit for him, but not because of his age.