I started homeschooling with later elementary, so perhaps I'm missing something about what the younger grades need. My dd hadn't gotten any grammar instruction that I can tell through 3rd grade in public school. In 5th grade we started with Junior Analytical Grammar and loved loved it. The AG authors don't feel it's necessary to start with basic grammar until 4th or 5th. Then their regular AG program can be done for just a few weeks each year from 6th-8th. Both my dd and I really love it. Straightforward, simple, not too much time but it gets the ideas across.

Oh, I meant to add, for what it's worth... if you want to try a language software program, Tell Me More is comparable in style and quality to Rosetta (I'm sure some may disagree) and it is much cheaper. So if it doesn't work for you, as a few posters have indicated they found with Rosetta, it's a lot less lost. Also, they allow resale, whereas Rosetta doesn't, from what I understand.

I, too, wonder about whether language is really necessary! I took 4 yrs of high school German, a year at college, and a semester in Germany. Hasn't helped me in life as far as I can tell. (If I lived in an area with a tremendous amount of foreign language speakers, it might make sense to learn that language.) However, I do think studying some language for a certain amount of time can teach you more about the structure of one's own language (in my case, English) and if you choose a language which your own language is built on, that helps tremendously with vocab. My 12yo dd has been studying Latin for 2 years and I can't tell you the number of times, upon hearing a new word, she says, "Oh, that must be based on the Latin word ____ which means _____." Joy! :D

No, I hadn't heard of that resource! I thought SWB only had writing books for the elem. level. Thanks, I'll definitely check it out. Handholding for me sounds nice, too!

Another curric I've looked at and am considering for next year is by Deeper Roots Publications and is for 7th-10th grade level. Here's a description from a Cathy Duffy review: There are four titles in the series: Discovering Our Amazing God Discovering Who I Am in Christ Discovering Christlike Habits Discovering Christlike Character The four volumes are best used in sequence because they build conceptually, but individual volumes can also stand alone. The first volume begins by building a foundational knowledge of God. The second leads into our relationship with God. The third introduces building blocks of our walk of faith with discussion of faith, the Holy Spirit, prayer, decision making, worship, and Bible study. The fourth volume focuses on character building by addressing topics such as integrity, forgiveness, humility an self control.

My 12yo dd used the Explorers Genesis study this year (Quest level, which is Jr and Sr High). 30 lessons with 5 days of questions, then a few pages of commentary. She really liked it and wants to do the same type of study next year. I recommend getting the Answer Key because sometimes it wasn't obvious what they were asking, but their answer made it more clear.

How about Grace, Faith or Hope? :)

More great ideas! I've been so blessed by all these responses! Re your suggestion about alternate endings.... great minds think alike :) When my dd said she likes the idea of writing stories but just doesn't have any ideas of her own, I told her perhaps she could rewrite a scene or a different ending for some her lit next year - she was open to that! There's hope yet!

I do this with my 12yo dd, but I felt strange about doing it with my 9th grader. It's a good reminder that just as toddlers learn to walk at different ages, writing abilities may require hand holding for longer with some children than others! My library doesn't have the book but it looks helpful in more ways than one (we've begun wondering if she has ADD) so I just ordered it! Thx for the recommendation.

Lori D., I really appreciate your long and thoughtful response. So many great ideas! Love the ideas of comparing film to book (yes, she loves Austen films), real world writing, her own blog, doing some lit as read alouds, lit discussions together, offering a variety of assignments (thanks for the detailed suggestions). Interestingly, I just learned about the Movies as Literatures book a few days ago so with your mention of it I guess I should check that out! And I appreciate the reminder about WttW. We had actually just started that at the end of 8th grade, but the year ended and we put it aside. With her full schedule this year, I completely forgot about it! Oh boy, SAT prep....she's gonna just love that. (here's what I'll get from her .... :glare: !) I'm the "just give me a list and I'll do it" kind of person, so again, appreciate all your detail so I have something to follow. Although it's all just a little overwhelming. Blessings, ~Lori :)

Doodler, I love your suggestions about "breaking away from the conventional essay" and using different forms of writing/responses instead. When she did an IEW exercise of rewriting an existing story, it was stellar! So she does know how to use our language well. I think part of her problem is she's intimidated about "getting it right" when she's got to come up with her own ideas, and then organize and structure them a certain way. So if we can let her write on what she's passionate about, without a strict structure for now, that might get things going. Thanks for taking the time for such a detailed response!

My dd also did MFW Ancients (read entire OT and used The Old Testament Challenge book for discussion questions), and will read entire NT in MFW's 10th grade curric. As worthwhile as it is, it doesn't really teach how to study the Word. Now, I haven't used this resource yet, but I'm looking forward to trying the National Bible Bee's materials this summer. From their site: "...A "Sword Study" in-depth study on one book of the Bible leveled for three age groups, enabling the whole family to study the same book at the same pace. Sword Studies don't just teach the Bible, they teach a lifelong skill of how to study and apply the Bible, in just 20 minutes a day." You can order their Senior High level here:http://store.biblebee.org/products/2012-Senior-Sword-Study-%252d-PRE%252dORDER.html ~Lori :)

Agree! My dd has read everything he's written, multiple times. He writes so well (in fact, I love using his books as read alouds - they're such a pleasure to read, both for story line as well as style).

She does use her laptop for writing. That definitely helps. I'll have to ask her about writing stories. She hasn't done any recently. Thanks for your suggestions!

My 15yo dd hates writing, even after working this year with a writing tutor who was very positive and encouraging with her. I have been homeschooling only for 3 years so I'm still trying to break out of the mold of what "should" be done (based on my own public school experience, and what I think is needed for college). For two years we used IEW theme books, and this year she used the 9th grade MFW curric. We sometimes let her change the topic (from the one assigned) in the hopes that she'd be more positive about one of her own choosing, but she was still very negative and the whole process was tortuous for her and us. She is already complaining about having to read and write about literature this coming year (she thinks it's a waste of time). So, I'm wondering....what does she REALLY need to do for a credit in English/Lit/Writing? Quantity? Frequency? How often could she choose her own topics? If she chooses, do we limit it (eg, it has to be something to do with this assigned book you just read) or just let her choose whatever? Thanks for any ideas! Lori :confused1: