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Rhondabee

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Posts posted by Rhondabee

  1. Soooo, I am tossing around:

    -Biblioplan, which I've used in the past, but Streams of Civilization and History of US seem old for 4th graders, and are scheduled frequently. Considering using it for ds 12, who wants to keep studying in the context of the whole world and not just US history, and something else for the others.

    - Sonlight Core 4 for the youngest three, with History of US scheduled separately for ds12 and colorful books thrown in for my visual guys. (ds12 could read through SOTW 4 on his own if he'd like)

    - HOD for youngest three - using Beyond (I think, it's the American history year for 7-9), with the supplement for the 4th graders, and something else for ds12.

    - WP American Story II (which I own) for the youngest three, and something else for ds12. I didn't love the scheduling at all though...

     

    Well....

     

    I think part of it is trying to study from 1850-modern day world history and US history in one school year - LOL! It's just a lot to cover. (Edited: I think I would do the SL Core 4 and add in the SOTW-4 without also adding in the History of the US of the options above.)

     

    I know from scheduling SOTW-4 myself that there were some weeks we didn't even read from the Kingfisher encyclopedia to introduce the topic - all we did was read SOTW. We read one story a day. We might have copied a map. We wrote an outline or a narration, and that was it. I imagine with any program that adds in extra books, it would get confusing. (Especially for young ones.)

     

    I would encourage you to shelter your young ones (they will be *going* into 4th grade??) next year. There was material in Modern history that my then-5th grader told me he would have preferred not to have known (nukes and lynchings), and I decided that history was over for him that year (at the death of JFK). Also, just because material is scheduled to be covered doesn't mean you must cover it. IOW, for the in-depth history assignment, choose *one* history source a day for your twins, if that helps. Or, choose one or two topics spread over the whole week for them, while letting your 7th grader read some things independently. (You can do this *whatever* curriculum you decide on.) So, you could do like we did and choose to use a different story out of SOTW every day *or* you could choose to study ...oh...let's pretend...Abraham Lincoln on M/T/W from SOTW and 2 other sources and then study Helen Killer on Th/F out of SOTW and an additional source. Meanwhile, 7th grader is studying ALL the sources on ALL the topics for that week (usually 4 or 5 topics/wk, tho' hopefully Abe gets more than 1 day IRL - LOL!). Does that make sense? Probably not, but I'm sure you'll figure it out for yourself - LOL!

  2. I haven't actually started MFW. I admit I turned to it because I have 3 kids in 3 very different learning stages, and some health issues of my own and a very tight outside schedule helping my DH's business. I have always planned my own history and lit using WTM and just couldn't do it anymore - and I admit I could very well be projecting all that onto you - if so, please forgive me, and ignore me.

     

    BUT - isn't there alot of freedom with MFW to vary the amount of "challenge" for each student? I know that they are very into Charlotte Mason - but that there are other users who post here that combine MFW with WTM. So, for example, if you want to up the ante for your 7th grader, could you add in outlining next year?

     

    I have been told that the 1850-Modern Times year includes outlining, but I think it's the outlining in the SOTW-AG, which I can't whole-heartedly recommend. I would recommend outlining from a portion of the SOTW story *or* just a portion of one of the MFW sources. But, even if you did the SOTW-AG outlining, that wouldn't be the end of the world. I just think it's frustrating because the outlines leave out so much information, it's hard to figure out what the original outliner thought was important enough to outline.

     

    (ETA: I don't know that "outlining" should be equated with "deeper." What do you think would have made last year's study deeper? I would really like to know since I'll be doing EXP-1850 with my 7th grader this year!)

     

    Don't forget that a 7th grader will likely be starting Apologia General Science, which is difficult, especially at the beginning of the year. (It seems the beginning of the book is more difficult than the last part of the book to me.) Another way to go deeper would be with literature. You might consider Lightning Literature (our own Christine has free schedules at her Core Foundations Blog). If your DS hasn't read the books on the 7th grade List in the WTM, I would highly recommend that to you. I really believe that the literature listed in the Logic Stage section of WTM is what prepared my older DS for the Ancient Great Books.

     

    For your twins, it sounds to me like they just need more time with free reading. I think I read that MFW schedules Book Basket for 20 minutes daily, but the WTM suggestion for free reading is more like an hour a day. (That's in addition to "Literature" time.) So, maybe there's a happy medium somewhere? Maybe Twin #1 might need to have some videos and/or audio books from the library allowed during that "Book Basket/Free Reading" Time. (not necessarily every day, but try a video once a week?) And, Twin #1 might choose non-fiction (and stick with the same topic for three weeks - that's ok! who says he can't?) While Twin #2 can choose a good historical fiction and read to his heart's content. (Actually, sounds like he might enjoy some good videos, too.)

     

    I just hate to see you throw away a good tool when you have kids who "like it" and "want to continue." Change it. Tweak it. Make it work for you.

     

    And, please tell me what you think would have made it deeper. I would really like to know.

  3. Ok - I have to admit that we did that same experiment, and even *I* couldn't have written a lab report about observing the pond that made it actually sound like an experiment. LOL, (I think - IDK - I might cry...)

     

    How in the world do you teach a 14yo boy to write a lab report about going to "look at a lake" and make it sound like that without finding someone else's lab report (didn't have yours at the time - LOL) and saying, "Here, make a Key-Word Outline and re-write this." Isn't that what we used to call cheating? Although, if I could get really good reports for him to compare his to for several labs in a row, then that might help. He could re-write his using the model, and (hopefully) not need the models after a while.

     

    Honestly, my ds is a good writer for a 9th grader. But, if I put his lab report beside his literary analysis paper - you wouldn't think it was the same "thinker." Does that make sense?

     

    I'm sorry - I've completed robbed this thread....

  4. I have taught Chem at co-op for years. I always make them do lab reports. It is the process that is important. I specify the format, what content I want in them, etc. I grade them according to a rubrics so they know what is expected. If they do the labs, it boosts their grades. If they move onto college lab classes, following format instructions is very important, even if the experiments are 'lame'. Don't wait for complicated labs to begin doing lab reports.

     

    We'll be doing Apologia Chemistry this year, and I have to confess - science labs are the bane of my homeschool existence. (Actually, of my entire educational experience since fourth grade. :glare:)

     

    Is there a way you could share your lab report requirements (formats and contents, etc.) and rubrics? I know that's a lot to ask.

     

    (Do you by *any* chance have Answer Keys for Apologia Chemistry Labs?)

     

    Thanks for any help you can give!

  5. I so appreciate all the comments on this. My dd just started going through the Advanced Algebra LoF book today (just arrived in the mail yesterday, but I didn't consider ordering geometry at the time because I thought we were sticking with the old curriculum). Anyway, of her own free will she probably spent an hour with the main book and the home companion which. never. happens. with math. I asked her what she thought so far and she said she thinks we should get all of LoF at least for a supplement if not as a whole curriculum. That's a pretty surprising statement for her. I was really thinking to get the TT for geo when I started this thread, but now I don't know. I'm going to have her keep up with LoF Adv Alg for now and see how it comes along for the next few days. I just worry that the novelty will wear off. lol Need to make a decision on a course of action within the coming days.

     

    Keep the comments coming, this is very helpful!

     

    I haven't used/seen it, but specific to SAT/ACT Testing, you might start a new thread asking about ChalkDust's SAT Review. There might be other programs out there as well, I just thought of that one re-reading the thread.

  6. I guess switching Geometry texts is a common problem....

     

    My poor son switched from the college-level ChalkDust to LOF and went bust. Don't know if LOF now has a Home Companion or not, but at the time it did not, and so neither program had a sufficient number of practice problems for my DS. I would definitely recommend the TT for an average kid.

     

    (We went with Saxon, but my DS is younger, and needed to go back to Algebra I. For us, it was a good thing.)

  7. Have you checked the IEW Yahoo group files? It is called IEWFamilies.

     

    There's a file there that will help you figure out which IEW Unit to use for different types of writing prompts (for any curriculum). I'm sure if you ask, the moderators there will be glad to assist you further. (There are *LOTS* of files there, and sometimes I get lost trying to find a particular one - LOL!)

  8. Not too dry. (but that's just because I'm such a fun mom - ha! LOL)

     

    Because when we outlined ala WTM in the past, we used the KIHW and it was the introduction to the topic (and I had pre-read all that was coming later in the week), I usually helped with the outline. That way, if there was a cryptic sentence (one that assumed the reader had an insight or knowledge that my DS didn't have), I could fill him in. This was really helpful when we studied modern history, and my boys were split in 8th and 5th grades - and we did the outlines together. Also, I could use that time as a discussion time, and know that the rest of the week would be pretty independent. I think it would have been "dry" or overwhelming if I had handed DS the book and said, "Go outline this."

     

    My 7th grader will be using MFW next year, and I haven't decided how we're going to approach outlining....

  9. I just finished doing TruthQuest Greece and Rome with my 9th grader. Thoroughly loved it for him!

     

    But I have to ask you: Did you and the kids like SOTW? Were you excited about SOTW-2 *before* you were introduced to TQ?

     

    The answers to those questions are more important than what anyone else says...

     

     

    **********************************************************************************************************************

    ETA: Sorry, I'm so tired, and will probably be asleep before you answer, so I'll just say I don't see how TQ could claim to be "...more fun & understandable..." than SOTW and the AG. As I mentioned before, I loved TQ with my high schooler. It was a wonderful living books curriculum for high school that incorporated a christian worldview. But, even DS often came away saying it was sometimes too much of a good thing. So, my vote is obviously for SOTW.

     

    Best wishes! No matter what you decide, I'm sure you'll have a great year!

  10. ...is that there is no real need for one.

     

    Basically, you establish a rhythm that suits your child's level -- grammar, logic, rhetoric. Then you run with that rhythm and approach through a few years of study, gradually increasing/changing the workload and the level of the work.

     

    You're always responding to your own child. You're not trying to fit the child to a curriculum; rather, you're fitting an approach to a specific child.

     

    Once the rhythm is established, all you have to do is keep it going; do the next thing. It's simple (though not always easy). It's customized, which is key.

     

    :iagree: .

  11. How many labs did you do total? Some AP Bio courses I think only have 14 labs.

     

    If you did a good overall number of labs and he has mastered the use of a microscope along with an intro to dissection and some work with Pundett (sp?) Squares, I think you should be OK.

     

    He's done 25 Labs altogether. The ones missing (in my post) are:

     

    a leaf collection & identification

     

    mixing red cabbage & ammonia & noting color (pH) - I think we did this in middle school, too

     

    a microscope lab (which would have helped on the test, but he has had lots of microscope work this year)

     

    fruit classification

     

    bird identification (sit outside and identify birds)

     

    **********************************************************

     

    I think I'll re-do my grading sheet to include only the labs that we did do, and include the drawings that I had him do. Doesn't sound like I'll be nixing anything earth-shattering.

     

    Thanks, guys!

  12. Apologia Biology: Here's the scoop...

     

    I had let my DS skip a couple of experiments in the first semester of Biology because we had already done them in middle school science. I made a note of this on the "grading sheet" I made up for first semester.

     

    But, then while he was doing Module 14 (2nd semester), I had a change in my migraines (short story: hormonal changes this year must have "clicked on" and now a brain injury from childhood is somehow causing my veins and arteries in the left side of my body to spasm during my migraines, causing it to burn and tingle and feel like I'm having a heart attack) And, it took about a month for me to find a doctor who got to this diagnosis, so DS did not do *any* of the 3 labs for Module 14. (and did not do so well on the Module 14 test, either - go figure ;))

     

    He also only completed only 1 Lab each (out of 2 possible each) for Modules 15 and 16. (and basically he did Modules 14 - 16 on his own, to be honest). But, he's a kid who did the work - he didn't cheat.

     

    So....here's my question: Do I just write a note explaining that "the teacher was sick" and excuse the missing labs, or do I make him do the labs now?

     

    I'm afraid without the labs the colleges won't accept the course as a lab-based science? He did do all the dissections - although, we did demolish the poor crayfish. Thankfully, the other 3 were successful - LOL!

     

    Thanks for your help!

     

    *******************************************************

     

    ps - Older DS would have done the 2nd lab for Module 15, but his younger brother ate all the fruit....

     

    Twice....

     

    In younger brother's defense, the man-child has grown an inch a month every month for the last 15 months....

     

    And he wonders why I'll only buy him 3 pairs of shorts at a time?! :lol:

  13. Rhonda, first, I'm sorry about your health challenges. Btdt, and I know it's hard! It sounds like you've made a lot of really good changes to keep things practical and moving forward. A moment, semester, or even year of hard times doesn't change the overall tenor of our progress and accomplishments. You're going to get there.

     

    Now as far as this administrator and what he did, I'm going to edit my whole post. :) In my small experience, most cs are struggling and have an unfortunate competition with homeschoolers. The cs people don't know how to interpret homeschooling. Just because he has had negative examples come across his desk doesn't mean ALL homeschoolers or like that or that yours is. Have you done standardized testing? Have you had any sort of confirmation that you're on track? I would simply tell him that you'd done such and such assessment, feel comfortable you're on a good track, and could he not undermine your family's choices. Plain and simple.

     

     

    Well, I'm glad I got to read it, however quickly, before it disappeared. ;)

     

    I do know that this man is in the uneviable position of having to let a very high number of teachers go if enrollment does not drastically increase. However, I do *not* think he said *anything* to encourage my DS to enroll in his school. DS hasn't asked about enrolling - at - all - since this conversation, and this is a school that we had toured years ago before we moved to the area (when DS was entering 2nd grade), and he liked the school then, and he has friends now that go to the school.

     

    Our biggest concern (my DH and I), was that this man asked DS to keep the conversation private. (My DH teaches this man's children at Aikido, so he's not a complete stranger.) So, anyway, I had to ask DS did he say anything to the effect that they had a "special relationship" and such. At which point, DS burst out laughing, and finally said no, that the man only meant not to go bragging to the other kids - not to keep it private from his parents. So, we all breathed a huge sigh of relief, talked through the whole thing, and I haven't thought that much about it until I sat down to put together DS's grades.

     

    I will just be so glad when 9th grade is officially on paper and tucked away! I think I need to be off-line til then. Thank you all for being here. I am constantly amazed at how generous this board truly is!

  14. Oh, I'm sorry you are going through this. I just wanted to offer a HUGE counter to what you are hearing to encourage you in your homeschooling. Maybe the SS teacher knows some homeschoolers that didn't make it into some great schools, but the general argument that hsers can't get into college hasn't been true (for years? ever?). Many blessings as you recuperate. :)

     

    Lisa

     

    Thanks! I'm sorry my post was somewhat snippy. I do appreciate the encouragement.

  15. Or assuming something that just isn't true. At least it's not in the two areas that I've lived in. Homeschoolers are getting into public and private schools by the bushel *with* excellent scholarships (and doing well once they are there). If you *hear* this again, I would definitely probe the source and evidence a bit.

     

    Lisa

     

    We have a very good Christian school in the area (we live in one the best school districts in the Atlanta area, and this school competes for the best students). One the teacher/administrators for the Christian school, a couple of public high-school administrators, and several high school teachers go to our church.

     

    The Christian school administrator taught my DS in Sunday school during his middle school years. He subbed for the high school class last Sunday, and asked my DS to stay after for a private talk. He was greatly encouraging to my son - telling him he *had* to go to college, that he was so mature in his thinking, not to be discouraged and let the other kids drag him down, that he would write recommendations for him, blah, blah, blah.... BUT - then came all the comments about homeschooling, and not being able to get into a good college, etc. - comments which only mirrored the numerous, smaller comments made throughout the last few months by the handful of others.

     

    So, these are not *college* people - these are high-school teachers and administrators. I don't know what they're seeing, or if they're "seeing" anything at all. And right now I'm not in a place to care. I have been dealing with health issues brought on by a childhood injury and hormonal changes and migraines reacting together, and I am just not in a place emotionally or physically to want to deal with setting anyone or anything straight. I just want to get my disorganized ducks in a row and take care of my own. :tongue_smilie:

     

    (OhElizabeth - ROFLOL - I admit I let things slide when my entire left side was burning & tingling & numb for 4 solid weeks. But I refuse to write essays, and everyone here *knows* I can't do science experiments - LOL!!!! Seriously, I chose My Father's World for next year's history & lit, and I signed DS up for the Lost Tools of Writing Class with Memoria Press for next year so that all his classes will have pre-written lesson plans. I know that God led me through that dark, dark place to lead me into something better. We're getting there.)

  16. I just started homeschooling on Monday, so I may not add much experience to this conversation but here I go.

     

    I am also following Donna Young's plans but I am following her Chemistry plans.

     

    I do what the paper says to do each day, and if I finish before the 45 minutes is up, then I finish and move onto my next subject. This helps a lot because some days my English would take longer or my History, and since I moved on after 20 minutes instead of 45 minutes, I had that extra 25 minutes that I would not have had before. I do the same with my other classes.

     

    Hope I helped :)

     

    Yes - and good luck with your year!

  17. I'm a bit nervous about admitting this, but I take Carnegie hours (used as the sole means of determining credits) with a very big grain of salt.

     

    .

     

    Thanks for the encouragement! I *know* that - I went to public school. But, it's easy to forget. It's easy to buy into the hype that it's hard for homeschoolers to go to college - I've been hearing that alot lately from teachers at church.

     

    Glad you posted!

  18. Rhonda, I think you're taking this farther than anyone, including all colleges, expects. No, you don't need a timer, lol. As Karen says, we're using school terms and school measures to quantify what our kids are doing. If he finishes the book and accomplishes to your satisfaction what is generally recognized as a credit, then so be it. I don't think anybody is going to ask you for start and stop times along with your transcript. :) The ONLY reason this was even an issue for Quiver was because she had two similar courses done consecutively in one year, which raises a lot of questions with the person doing the transcript evaluation. She has multiple options for how to record her stuff, all reasonable, depending on what she wants to do. But for you, mercy, please don't use a timer, lol. You're doing fine! They take the word of homeschoolers at face value. Set reasonable standards, have him do the work, and write it down. That's all there is to it. :)

     

    Thank you.

     

    I'm sure my children thank you as well. ;)

     

    Taking a :chillpill: and making better plans for the next 3 years! :lol:

  19. ETA: Initial question answered. But if you're curious, read on: =)

     

    *****************************************************

     

    I'm curious, first, if I should start timing all our classes.

     

    I admit that our 9th grade history classes often turned into 1 1/2 hour-plus sessions daily, if you include all the reading and discussions. And, I have very little written work to back that up. I'm frankly procrastinating at writing that one up, though it was the class that turned my child from a "child" who thought in very concrete terms of black-and-white and us-vs-them into a compassionate adult who now sees the world full of *people* iykwim. I know if I give him anything less than an "A" it would be highway robbery; I don't know how to justify that A. (I'm hoping that since its Ancient History, it will be an elective and not examined that closely.)

     

    BUT - my actual question concerns our experience with Apologia science (NOOOOOooooo!!!)

     

    We basically followed the Donna Young schedule for Biology, taking the full year to complete the basic course. And, I anticipate giving him a full credit for the course. But, after reading your comments about timing the course, I must admit that most days he only spent about 30 minutes on this class. (Labs definitely took longer. The study guide days took longer.)

     

    So, next year when it comes time to do Chemistry...should I have him write down the starting time, and follow the schedule, but KEEP WORKING FOR A FULL HOUR EVERY DAY and then pick up in the schedule wherever that happens to be? And then, if we finish the basic book early, order the 2nd book, and work as far as we can until the end of the year?

     

    I'm not worried about finishing the 2nd book necessarily. And, of course you know if I suddenly implement this new idea, the problem is, it's suddenly going to take an hour to finish whatever is written on the schedule for the day...as this is not a science-oriented kid, and the "reward" for finishing early last year was that - he "finished early". sigh!

  20. if using rod and staff do i need to supplement with another program for punctuation? i know it's heavy on gramar, but i didn't see much on punctuation (i am using grade 4). i have another program called grammar key which has a punctuation section, would this be sufficient?

     

    You are not seeing much on punctuation in grade 4 because in grade 4, R&S has not touched on much beyond compound sentences. As other sentence structures are introduced, the student will be taught how to punctuate them. It is frustrating when your student wants to write beyond what they have learned to punctuate. But, I suppose that is good practice in learning conciseness.

  21. Can you tell me what you mean by skipping the writing parts (do you mean in the individual lessons or the lessons that are about writing?:confused: Thanks I am working on my grammar issues and I have a writing program and usually do R&S orally but was going to start doing the written on a white board, with that said I was wondering if you meant skip the lessons that teach writing and if so is that is the ones with the stars beside them?:001_huh:

     

    I mean to skip the lessons that are about writing. So, in the sixth grade book I recommended to the original poster, (you can see the TOC here), you would skip lessons 4, 8, 13, 16, and 17, etc.

     

    Actually, I would probably have my students read through those specific lessons if I were doing IEW for writing and I were a new homeschooler - because IEW does not specifically teach how to logically organize & develop a paragraph. That's even what I did last year with my 6th grader. I do think R&S does a better job at teaching paragraph development than IEW does.

     

    I didn't make my 6th grader do any of the writing assignments for those R&S "writing" lessons, though I think there were a few worksheets that went with them that I had him do. (Usually, he would have to read two paragraphs and choose the better of the two and explain why it was better.) Then, I would have him keep the principles in mind when he did his next IEW assignment (or his next cross-curricular assignment). Does that make sense?

     

    There were quite a few writing assignments that we just skipped out right, especially the ones that dealt with taking notes and writing reports. We did read the ones on writing stories, because they deal with the beginnings of literary analysis. We also did the ones on Descriptions and Poetry. I think we usually just read the lesson, and kept going in writing.

     

    We had a daily short but sweet grammar time - but remember, he's been doing R&S grammar since 3rd grade! And we also did writing every day. I'm not sure that every kid could do that, but he really hit his stride last year. The IEW really helped his grammar - REALLY! He knew adverb- and adjective-clauses instinctively before we got to them in the book because the IEW had already introduced them in a fun way. So, I think the two are a great combo.

     

    DH is home, and my DS's 9th grade transcript is still in a mess on the floor.

     

    OOPs - must go!

  22. Rhondabee,

    Would this be doable: Put the 4 oldest ones in R&S 6th and only use the grammar skipping all of the writing assignments since we will be using IEW?

    After that keep progressing through the R&S levels for grammar only and continue to use IEW for writing? Or do you think it would be better, given their ages, to just forget about R&S and use something like you suggested?

    Unfortunately, Analytical Grammar isn't in our budget this year. At least I don't think it is. It seems like when I looked at it it was pretty expensive for 4-5 children. I'll go back and check.

    Thanks!

    tracy

     

    Yes, I think using R&S-6 with everyone will be great (not to mention easier on you)! They will actually learn a lot of grammar while doing the IEW, which will make the R&S that much easier to teach.

     

    Make sure to have your oldest one pay very close attention to the punctuation prompts in the IEW. That is the best way to learn punctuation rules, anyway. (I mean, you want *everyone* to, but your oldest has the shortest amount of time, and the most habits to unlearn - ask me how I know. ;))

     

    If your olders are prepping for SAT's, you might also want to go ahead and plan for a mid-year, sometime after Unit-7 or 8, IEW High School Essay Intensive Week. Then, every Friday or every-other Friday, have a 25-minute timed essay to practice getting ready for the SAT. Just a thought~

  23. I'm still trying to decide on what to have my 5 kids do regarding grammar this year. Here's a little background: They have not had much in depth instruction in the way of grammar. They will be grades 7-12 in the fall.

    1. For my 12th grader I will be using Our Mother Tongue first half of the year followed by a diagramming workbook for extra practice in the second half of the year.

    2. My 9th and 10th graders could do the same as 12th grader or use R&S below grade level, which we are fine with.

    3. For both of my 7th graders I would probably start them in R&S 5th or 6th.

    I have thought of using R&S 6 grade for my 7th-10th graders.

    **We will be using IEWs SWI-C for everyone for their writing instruction.**

    Here is my other alternate, alternate, alternate plan ( i have so many you see) and this is where my strange question comes from.

    What if I used a diagramming/grammar workbook that would bring them up to speed in the grammar and diagramming department this year (NOT R&S I found one at Rainbow Resource called Grammar Rules) and then next year let them continue to use diagramming workbooks once or twice a week to keep practiced and then for WRITING instruction start with maybe book 7 of R&S and do ONLY their writing assignments as our writing course instead of doing more IEW? We could go through two R&S books in one year if just using the writing assignments. I just really, really like the writing instruction given in R&S but have already purchased and started IEW and like it so far. Just not sure I would want to spend the money to purchase the SWICC for the following year as it is quite expensive.

     

    well, this has turned into

    If you've made it this far then I thank you for reading. I appreciate any comments on this subject.

    tracy

     

    I would not use R&S-7 as the writing instruction for a high schooler because (and I am going by memory from 3 years ago) it's primary focus is grammar - and advanced grammar at that. It does go into paragraph development, but high schoolers need to be advancing into essay development (at least by the end of the year).

     

    What I would advise is to use R&S-6 for grammar. Go as slowly as needed. I would not jump the gun into 7, because the first part of 7 reviews 6th so quickly it will make your students' heads spin if they have never had grammar. And, actually, if truth were told, what I might *really* advise, as much as I love using R&S for myself, is to look at Analytical Grammar. (Because it is set up for a student who doesn't have any grammar background, and if it eases your conscience, it *is* a WTM recommendation.) There is also this grammar program that is set up for group instruction, written by the author of the Excellence in Literature program. (I have neither seen or used it, but it might be worth checking out, given your circumstance, IDK. Or, you could use what you found - I haven't seen it, either.)

     

    Have you watched the TWSS videos, or will you watch them as you go throught the SWI? They will definitely help you apply the SWI concepts to the differing abilities of all your students. (The "robbing the rich to teach the poor" concept will be priceless in your situation, and one you'll really be able to use.) I don't think you can go wrong using the SWI-C for all of them to get a good start in writing.

     

    You can always take the concept they are learning in the SWI and apply it across the curriculum. If you don't feel ready to plan that yourself, you might look at getting some of the extra resources available from IEW to help.

     

    Best wishes for a great year!

  24. Congratulations! You have finished the race with this one and have earned the blue ribbon from me and the others on this board who have read your wisdom for years.

     

    I love your blog, too!

     

    GardenMom

     

    :iagree::grouphug::iagree::grouphug::iagree:

     

    Only (very late) last night one of your posts from last year saved me from certain disaster as I desperately try to piece together the mess that became my oldest's 9th grade year! Thank you for sharing your life-school here with us.

     

    May God bless you and your DD as she starts her own journey!

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