Writing.....what do you guys think??

[kfeusse]

First, I must say that writing is not my strong suit.  In fact, even though I tried several types of programs, I never really pushed the kids to do much because I didn't have any idea as to HOW to make it happen...so I just sort of kept putting it off.  Then, my kids hit High School and I realized that I needed to buckle down and figure this out. 

 

We started using EIW and that was pretty good....my daughter was writing without tears...so for me, that was a success.  But then I realized again that her writing was more like a 6th grader than a 9th grader. But, still, I thought that we were making progress, so I didn't push a whole lot. 

 

Well, now she is a junior.  I realized we needed to up our game plan.  So I am having a dear friend of mine grade her writing (because, I am terrible at it...first off, I am not objective enough and secondly, I do not catch all of the errors I should be).   So my 11th grade daughter is currently using level 10 EIW.  She is doing the assignments and turning them into her grader....however, my friend isn't teaching her...she is grading her work, explaining what she needs to improve upon and allows her 2 tries for a grade.  

 

I will admit, my daughter tends to be a status quo kind of gal...she wants good grades, but doesn't push herself to achieve good grades.  She doesn't have bad grades...but for example, her last writing assignment was first graded as C-.  Then she was allowed to improve upon it....I helped her some...but we both missed some important things and my friend then gave her a B.  Her main errors were grammar related....

 

My concern is that the lady who is grading the papers isn't actually teaching her...she is leaving that up to the videos my daughter is watching.  Do you think that is enough...and the rest should fall into place?   I could have my friend sit down with DD and teach her some, but we live a fair distance away and we would only get up to that neck of the woods 2 times a month.  Could this be something that could be done over the phone?  

 

Also, I feel I need to stay completely out of it...my daughter is relying on me to help her and after I helped her this last time, it is clear that I missed some important things that I maybe should have helped her fine...but it's not my class....it's not my paper...it's hers....

 

So, if she were taking writing in school.....how would the teacher/student relationship work or look like?  

 

 

What would you do?  

 

thanks.

[historymatters]

I assume she just started EIW recently, so I suggest letting time and the lessons work.

 

Next year, I highly recommend 'Writing ER' at Big River Academy. My son REALLY likes his teacher, Wendi Reed. It's his favorite class and he dislikes writing!😅

BRA also offers a semester to learn the Research paper. She could do that next year, too. Their prices are super.

 

If your friend would speak to her over the phone about where she could improve, then I think that's very doable. They can each have the copy in front of them and go over it.

 

Since you said grammar was an issue, I would recommend Our Mother Tongue, beginning now, using the 2 year schedule and Editor in Chief, level 2 first then level 3.

 

Analytical Grammar is another option instead of OMT, though I have no experience with it.

 

Hope that helps.

[Julie of KY]

Well, what I did with my high schooler was turn to online Brave Writer classes. They were expensive, but excellent at meeting him (and every student) where they were and moving them along in their writing. As far as I can tell, the grading is not against other students, but against your own improvement as well as turning things in on time and following instructions. 

 

Brave Writer takes my student's writing and gives them feedback so that they can tremendously improve, but does so in a way that they are not telling the student what to do. What my kids have learned through BW carries over to other writing and now into college for my non-writer.

[kfeusse]

thanks for these ideas....I will be looking into them

 

[Pen]

What you describe sounds good.  My ds is in BMS this year, and I wish that the teacher would require them to do several drafts of writing and improve upon their efforts as you describe your friend is doing for your dd.  I think that good editing and showing someone how to improve what they have written is probably about the most helpful thing a writing teacher can do.

 

We've also used Bravewriter and I think that is good.  The grading was very generous (an A+ for work in Kidswrite Intermediate that would probably only garner a B or B+ at my ds's BMS), but what was more important was that it gave my ds an approach to use that worked quite well for him.