Teaching a child how to write an argumentative essay, a factual narrative, or anything else is hard. Most of us never learn to write well with ease (I'm looking at me). I wonder how to teach writing most effectively, in grade school and beyond. I think SWB, in "The Complete Writer," disagreed with the usual advice to "give the children high-interest assignments and have them write, write, write, and revise, revise, revise." But what other way is there to teach writing? I have just ordered SWB's book, so I will soon see her ideas first-hand, but I wonder what has worked for others, if not write, revise, and repeat. I see that "Imitations in Writing," by Matt Whitling, is a program that involves the student attempting to rewrite a classic piece of writing. That';s different, and it sounds promising--learning by imitation. Well, what has worked for any of you? What methods or programs? What hasn't worked? Thanks, Gary

Kimber, this is useful to me because I was thinking about using Dolciani. But what exactly does she include in chapters 3&4 that are not in LoF? Thanks, Gary

Solutions to Gelfand's math problems used to be available from Charon or Myrtle's math blogs, I understand, but they are gone now. Does anyone know of another source or version of these solutions? It will make all the difference for me because I don't think I could use Gelfand without them. Thanks, Gary