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Classical Writing- where to start


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Where would you start Classical Writing with a 9th grader (next year)? I have been looking at their site and samples today. It looks like it might be summary type lessons for the Aesop and Homer levels. My dd has gotten pretty good at that with history and reading narrations. Is there anything else in these levels that she might "miss" if she doesn't do them. I know she is behind in writing, but wondered if the first two levels, or the combined for older beginners, might be too basic. Would it be too hard to jump right into the Diogenes: Maxim level?

 

Amy

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I just bought this curriculum for my upcoming 8th grader and 9th grader. My 8th grader is using the Older Beginner Aesop & Homer while my 9th grader will be using Diogenes: Maxim. If you do buy the Older Beginner, you will need to purchase the three books (Student Guide, Homer Core Book, and the Instructor's Guide). I didn't know about the Core book so that held me back a week. For the Diogenes: Maxim book, you will need the two books - Maxim core book and the Student Guide.

 

I have started my 9th grader with Diogenes. I'm still going to review grammar with him (most of the grammar work was done in Homer). I have the Homer core book to refer back to if I have a problem with Diogenes. I believe a ninth grader could start with Diogenes. One thing that they worked on in Homer is a process called 'parsing'. It is finding the nouns (or verbs) and identifying the noun/verb functions (i.e. Common/Proper Nouns, Transitive/Intransitive Verbs, Direct Object/Subject Complement). If you ever used Shurley Grammar curriculum, it is very simular. Diogenes expands this practice. Other than that, I believe the concepts being taught in Diogenes are different and can be learned w/o Homer.

 

Just be prepare to purchase post-it to mark the books. They are confusing to work with until you get the hang of how the sections are laid out.

 

I am impress with the material presented within the books. I wish I knew about this curriculum a few years ago.

Edited by Harrison_B
clarity and spelling
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Where would you start Classical Writing with a 9th grader (next year)? I have been looking at their site and samples today. It looks like it might be summary type lessons for the Aesop and Homer levels. My dd has gotten pretty good at that with history and reading narrations. Is there anything else in these levels that she might "miss" if she doesn't do them. I know she is behind in writing, but wondered if the first two levels, or the combined for older beginners, might be too basic. Would it be too hard to jump right into the Diogenes: Maxim level?

 

Amy

 

 

If the Six Sentence Shuffle isn't carried forward, I wouldn't want to miss it. That is the one skill that I wouldn't want to miss, nor do I think you would learn it as you go elsewhere.

 

Because we are doing Homer now, I have no idea if it is carried forward.

 

Heather

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If the Six Sentence Shuffle isn't carried forward, I wouldn't want to miss it. That is the one skill that I wouldn't want to miss, nor do I think you would learn it as you go elsewhere.

 

Because we are doing Homer now, I have no idea if it is carried forward.

 

Heather

 

 

I looked through Diogenes and I don't see the Six Sentence Shuffle in this book. The parsing is carry forward in Diogenes to include adjectives and pronouns.

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If the Six Sentence Shuffle isn't carried forward, I wouldn't want to miss it. That is the one skill that I wouldn't want to miss, nor do I think you would learn it as you go elsewhere.

 

Because we are doing Homer now, I have no idea if it is carried forward.

 

Heather

 

What is the 6 Sentence Shuffle?

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What is the 6 Sentence Shuffle?

 

It is based on the idea of creating options for yourself (copia of choices). The child works on rewriting the sentences with synonyms, changing tense, changing from plural to singular (including from common to proper nouns), write the sentence in all the sentence forms and use a famous sentences as a model and re-write into that model to see if it come across better. Given we have just started it I am sure I am not doing it justice. :D Hopefully someone who understands it better will come along and help out a little more.

 

In my mind, it would be a great tool to have in the tool box if you have a sentence you know is awkward, or you want to make stronger.

 

Heather

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If the Six Sentence Shuffle isn't carried forward, I wouldn't want to miss it. That is the one skill that I wouldn't want to miss, nor do I think you would learn it as you go elsewhere.

 

Because we are doing Homer now, I have no idea if it is carried forward.

 

Heather

 

The Six Sentence Shuffle is in Diogenes: Maxim, but they don't do it as often and they don't spend much time on explanation. They assume you pretty much know what you're doing.

 

But yes, for the OP, I do think you can jump into Diogenes. You will likely need to come talk to some of us who have used Homer, now and again, but I think you can do it.

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It is based on the idea of creating options for yourself (copia of choices). The child works on rewriting the sentences with synonyms, changing tense, changing from plural to singular (including from common to proper nouns), write the sentence in all the sentence forms and use a famous sentences as a model and re-write into that model to see if it come across better. Given we have just started it I am sure I am not doing it justice. :D Hopefully someone who understands it better will come along and help out a little more.

 

In my mind, it would be a great tool to have in the tool box if you have a sentence you know is awkward, or you want to make stronger.

 

Heather

 

Thanks for the info.

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