what writing for this creative thinker?

[EmilyGF]

I recently came across this chart about high achievers vs gifted learners vs creative thinkers.

 

DD10 is 100% a creative learner... DS12 did WTMA's WWS class this year (and is doing the next one next year) and it was a very good thing for him and for our family. But for a creative thinker? I don't think so!

 

What online writing class for DD10 who will be 6th grade-ish and who loves reading and writing? I don't want the class taught to me so I can support DD, I want her to be the student and me to only help as cheerleader and maybe editing helper.

 

Thanks,

Emily

[Julie of KY]

Brave Writer has a number of classes that might fit her. In those middle ages, many of the students do the class independently, but some have parental help/involvement. Unless the class lists the parent as the student, then the class is taught to the student.

 

Edited to say that according to your posted chart I have one of each in my three oldest kids -  high achiever, gifted learner, and creative thinker. Brave Writer has worked very well for all three.

Edited June 2, 2017 by Julie of KY

[Farrar]

But IIRC, Emily doesn't like Brave Writer much. ;)

 

And yeah, the classes are clearly not what you want. They are for the parent more than the student. I get why people get frustrated with them on that account. And it's why I wouldn't personally do them for my kids as well, even though I'm obviously a Brave Writer fanatic.

 

I've heard that the writing workshop type classes at Athena's Academy are good, but I have zero experience with them. A lot of the writing classes on Outschool are very inexpensive and look geared toward kids who are motivated to write and want to do it in a workshop style atmosphere. You could ask around about instructors and see who is good. But also, with a lot of the courses as little as $50 and limited time (a lot of them seem to run for a month only), then it might be worth the risk. There are some that are one offs as well and that might be a good way to see how a teacher is for $10 or so. Also, the fact that they're short term could be a benefit - you could do one about essays and another about creative fiction and see how each one goes. I've been thinking of doing one of those for my creative thinker who likes to write.

Edited June 2, 2017 by Farrar

[Runningmom80]

I have a creative thinker and we are kind of flying by the seat of our pants with writing.

 

I love the Bravewriter lifestyle, and I'm a giant Julie Bogart fan girl, but I'm not in love with the products. I think TWJ is the most useful piece, and it needs a heavy edit, so I get not loving BW.

 

BW doesn't work that well for my creative thinker, and I think it's because there is still too much control over what he's writing. We do free writes, but mostly I just let him write what he wants. He's currently working on a sci-fi novel, and frequently writes comics. He may do the BW online class "Passion for Fiction" but only because it looks like its geared towards the student. That may work for your DD?

 

For a 10 yo creative thinker who likes writing, I would strongly encourage just letting her go. The 5 paragraph essay is easy to teach when the time comes, especially if she's writing on her own whatever she wants. My HS assessor unschooles her kids and two of them just passed a CC placement test after a week of learning how to write a 5 paragraph essay. I'm not saying they aced the SAT essay or anything, but they are 12 and 15, so clearly it's not rocket science. I plan on working on it this year informally, but only because DS wants to start thinking about high school.

 

I realize that I don't have much (any?) experience with middle schoolers, but I am currently seeking work as a writer, and got a BA in English and Creative Writing, and that's the only reason I'm throwing my opinion out there. Feel free to ignore me!

[Jess4879]

I have a creative thinker and we are kind of flying by the seat of our pants with writing.

 

I love the Bravewriter lifestyle, and I'm a giant Julie Bogart fan girl, but I'm not in love with the products. I think TWJ is the most useful piece, and it needs a heavy edit, so I get not loving BW.

 

BW doesn't work that well for my creative thinker, and I think it's because there is still too much control over what he's writing. We do free writes, but mostly I just let him write what he wants. He's currently working on a sci-fi novel, and frequently writes comics. He may do the BW online class "Passion for Fiction" but only because it looks like its geared towards the student. That may work for your DD?

 

For a 10 yo creative thinker who likes writing, I would strongly encourage just letting her go. The 5 paragraph essay is easy to teach when the time comes, especially if she's writing on her own whatever she wants. My HS assessor unschooles her kids and two of them just passed a CC placement test after a week of learning how to write a 5 paragraph essay. I'm not saying they aced the SAT essay or anything, but they are 12 and 15, so clearly it's not rocket science. I plan on working on it this year informally, but only because DS wants to start thinking about high school.

 

I realize that I don't have much (any?) experience with middle schoolers, but I am currently seeking work as a writer, and got a BA in English and Creative Writing, and that's the only reason I'm throwing my opinion out there. Feel free to ignore me!

 

:iagree:

 

My middle kiddo loves to write.  We do cover formal writing every year, but I keep it to-the-point and make sure there is lots of time to write freely.  If she's in the middle of writing a story, and I'd planned to start a research essay, I will postpone the formal lesson. I like to throw in lessons that stretch her abilities and get her thinking outside the box.  I try to keep it short and sweet though. 

 

Edited June 6, 2017 by Jess4879

[Clear Creek]

My creative learner has been thriving with the Writing & Rhetoric series from Classical Academic Press. They offer online courses, though we haven't used them. The books are very thorough and ask a lot of the student, but the exercises are varied and open-ended enough that it doesn't get boring and allows for personal creativity to shine through.

[Chelli]

My creative thinker loves Writing and Rhetoric as well.