One semester English and Writing Course for 7th grader?

[...................]

My daughter took a local class for English this semester but the lack of clear daily instruction especially in writing has been a constant problem. I can't handle the stress of this again especially with this child who cannot handle learning on the fly. She gets very angry and uppity when corrected and taught after-the-fact.

 

The whole thing has been a huge frustration. The teacher assigns essays and MLA stuff every week and we are expected to fill in at home. Woth my extensive experience teaching writing to my older son, as well as my daughter I thought that would be easy to do. Instead my daughter is always, always angry at me for teaching her, holding her to a high standard and even communicating with the teacher. The teacher loves her writing and is super glad I'm involved (and super frustrated about the lack of involvement from the rest of the class)...but my dd just doesn't understand the situation and it's caused so much trouble.

 

Thus, I need to find a very clear direct English/writing program but one that can be just one semester.

Edited October 25, 2016 by Calming Tea

[RootAnn]

Would Ladnry's Writing Ropes be too simple for her? (Syllabus) - Spring class is still open for Mondays @ 11 a.m. ET.

 

ETA:  Or are you looking for one you can do at home?

Edited October 25, 2016 by RootAnn

[Lori D.]

Maybe alternate 2 Brave Writer classes?

 

Jan = writing = Write for Fun 1

Feb = literature = Arrow Book Club: Bud Not Buddy

Mar = writing = Middle School Writing Projects

Apr = literature = Arrow Book Club: A Long Walk to Water

May = literature = Arrow Book Club: The Secret Garden

May/June = writing = Kids Write Basic

[PeterPan]

Do WWS1 in a semester.  It can be largely independent, is highly structured, and is better faster, rather than slower.

[Lori D.]

My daughter took a local class for English this semester but the lack of clear daily instruction especially in writing has been a constant problem. I can't handle the stress of this again especially with this child who cannot handle learning on the fly. She gets very angry and uppity when corrected and taught after-the-fact.

 

The whole thing has been a huge frustration. The teacher assigns essays and MLA stuff every week and we are expected to fill in at home. Woth my extensive experience teaching writing to my older son, as well as my daughter I thought that would be easy to do. Instead my daughter is always, always angry at me for teaching her, holding her to a high standard and even communicating with the teacher. The teacher loves her writing and is super glad I'm involved (and super frustrated about the lack of involvement from the rest of the class)...but my dd just doesn't understand the situation and it's caused so much trouble.

 

Just had another thought:

What about the 3 of you -- DD, teacher, and you -- sit down together and see if you can work out a compromise where you step out of the picture and DD and teacher work directly together on DD's papers?

 

Maybe pay the teacher for for a weekly 45-60 minute tutoring session on another day of the week, and DD gets 2 things:

 

1. 30-45 minutes of one-on-one specific instruction of:

- aspects of how to write (esp. as it applies to the assignment)

- step-by-step walk-through of how to do the next paper

- a rubric or checklist with what the expectations for the paper are

 

2. 15-20 minutes careful going over/discussing the previous paper -- what it needed as far as overall structure and MLA formatting AND what was working well, specific revision needs AND brainstorm together how DD might do that; praise for her content and writing style; etc.

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Thanks for all these ideas! I think my daughter would love bravewriter so I'll take a look at that. :)