Okay, somehow I managed to ignore all the W&R threads all year. I assumed it was only for early elementary. I am looking for something for my daughter who will be in 6th in the fall. She has used Writing Tales 1 this year and has enjoyed it, but I would like to try something different next year. Something that she can keep progressing with through the levels. WT only has two levels. My older kids have used a lot of IEW and a little WWS. I'm just not sure either of those will be right for my DD. She is very creative and doesn't mind writing long stories, she just doesn't like assigned writing.😊 She is comfortable with writing short history narrations and re-writing short fables. Does W&R sound like it would be a good fit? If so, where should I place her? I'm thinking Narrative 1, but am unsure. This would mean she would only get through Narrative 1 and 2 in 6th. I am also open to other suggestions for a different writing program as well. Thanks!

Thank you, both. I ordered the Great Courses lecture, and the edition of the book that SWB suggested. We've never tried a Great Courses lecture, hopefully we'll enjoy it.😊

Thanks!

I am considering this for ds for 10th grade next year and haven't found many reviews of it. Are the dvds really necessary? Can I really count it as a lab course even though my student would only be watching the labs, not performing them? How does it compare in difficulty to other high school biology courses? Thanks! Allison

Is level 5 available yet? I thought I read on another thread that several people will be using level 5 next year. Thanks! Allison

My 9th grader is not enjoying BJU lit, so I'm looking for something else. I was leaning toward trying PP guides, but then came across Lightning Lit and it looks interesting. I'm worried the PP guides will stretch out a book far too long. Will the 8th grade LL set be too easy for a 9th grader with no prior lit analysis experience? He is a good reader, just hasn't done any formal analysis. He is also using WWS and Easy Grammar. Will LL be too much? Thanks! I'm trying to decide quickly so I can place an order today.

Thanks for the responses. My daughter is going into 5th grade. She is not necessarily a reluctant writer, she writes a lot for fun, I just haven't pushed anything too formal for her yet. She does a lot of copywork, dictation, and writes narrations for history and science. I have both WT 1&2, and while I think she may be fine with level 2, I think she might enjoy level 1 more. It also seems to lead into level 2 nicely. So, I thought if she does WT 1&2 for 5th & 6th, then she could begin WWS in 7th. I really don't want to start WWS with her too much earlier than that. My olders are using it now and finding it challenging. Pastel & RootAnn, I guess I too am wondering what prepares a child well for WWS. Allison

Do you think a child who has completed Writing Tales 1 & 2 will be well prepared for WWS? My olders are currently using WWS, but had previously used IEW. I think Writing Tales is a better fit for my dd, but want I to make sure it will prepare her for using WWS. I suppose I should know the answer, but I need some reassurance.😊

Thanks! I wonder why they don't carry it.

I found the student workbook, but not the IG. Am I just missing it? Help! I want to start this on Monday.

Thank you for the replies. I'm going to have him finish WWS 1 and then move on to level 2. Hopefully level 3 will be out by the time we need it. Does anyone know of a release date for level 3 yet?

Last year my 8th grader only made it through about half of WWS1, mostly because we were trying a few different writing programs, not because of difficulty. This year I would like to continue WWS where he left off, then start level 2. My concern is that the program was written for younger students, and I don't know if it is appropriate for high school. I'm also a little concerned after reviewing the s&s that persuasive writing won't be covered in any of the levels. Will one year be enough to work on higher level writing skills, assuming he finishes the WWS series in grade 11? I have a copy of Essentials in Writing 10 that I have been looking over. It seems to cover all the "typical" high school writing instruction. But, I don't think I'm crazy about it. There is something about the method in WWS that I like. Anyway, this is my first high schooler, and I am so nervous about making a mistake. It almost seems like the safer approach would be to go with Essentials in Writing. Is anyone else using WWS with a high school student? Can someone reassure me, one way or the other? Allison

I am trying to decide between either The Trojan War by Coolidge or The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum for my middle school age son to read this year. Is one better than the other? Or should he read both? Thanks!

Like the pp, I wish it used all the Narnia books. We began the year with it, and have alternated between this and WWS. I do like it, but it is my least favorite, and most confusing to use, of the theme books. (We have used ATFF, Ancients, Middle Ages, and US History 1)

My dd will use it in the fall for her 5th grade year. I used it a few years ago with my sons, and we really enjoyed it. I will probably use IEW for writing instead of WWTB.

Thanks so much, Julie. The breakdown of the books is very helpful. It doesn't seem quite so overwhelming now. I can see now why you view it as a year of apologetics more than ancients. 😊.

Thanks, Crystal. And thank you for the link from the other thread.😊

Thank you both. Crystal, did you use any audio books with your oldest dd?

Did your dc enjoy all the ancient literature scheduled in this guide? I am not opposed to reading these types of books, my kids have read many of the children's versions over the years, but I am concerned that it may get a bit boring reading nothing for literature except ancients for the entire year. Am I way off here? I am really hoping to hear that your dc loved reading all that ancient lit!😊 Also, is there anything wrong with using a different science than Apologia? I am leaning toward ACE Biology. Just one more question.😊. Was there anything that your dc didn't like about the program? Thanks so much! Allison

I would love some feedback on my son's WWS paper on Kepler. He is in 8th grade and has used IEW for years. WWS started out easy for him, but quickly became challenging. (We started WWS at the beginning of the year and then put it aside for a couple months, so we're not too far into it yet.) Thanks so much! During the 1600’s, many astronomers believed in a theory called Geocentrism. This was the belief that Earth was in the middle of the solar system. However, Johannes Kepler believed in Heliocentrism. This theory was that the Sun was in the middle of the solar system. After studying Heliocentrism at university, Kepler was employed as an assistant to an astronomer named Tycho Brahe, who passed on many of his ideas to Kepler. They studied the orbits of planets such as Mars. Kepler tried and failed forty times over a period of five years to find a mathematical explanation for the movement of Mars. Finally, in 1605, he realized that Mar’s orbit was an ellipse. By 1609, he published his work in Astronomia Nova. Kepler wrote that all planets move in elliptical orbits, and move faster when closer to the Sun. “The planetary orbit is elliptical and the Sun, the source of movement, is at one of the foci of this ellipse,†Kepler stated.

My ds will be in 9th next year, so I am starting to plan.:) I thought we would use MFW AHL, but we have been using Notgrass America the Beautiful this year and really enjoying it, so I have been looking into Notgrass World History for next year. I've read that the English portion is really not credit worthy. Any opinions on that? Would adding WWS 2 (he's currently using WWS1), Easy Grammar 9, & a few Progeny Press guides bring it up to a full credit? Then would we still do all the writing assignments in Notgrass? Thanks for any help. Planning for HS is making me so nervous for some reason. Allison

Thank you all. I have read up a little on the vaccine, and am concerned because it is a live vaccine. It seemed like the most "optional" of the vaccines needed to be delayed or skipped. Although I would really hate for him to get the virus. I'm really not crazy about the idea of my tiny 2 month old receiving all these shots at one time. I do think it is way too much for their tiny bodies, but I also know I want him immunized. I'll look into a delayed schedule. Any suggestions on that? I want to be well prepared before the ped appt on Firday. I'm going to also look into the book rec by Dr. Sears.

My 2 month old is scheduled to get this vaccine, along with a bunch of others, on Friday. This is a new vaccine to me. My other kids are older and it wasn't around then. Did your baby do okay with the vaccine? :bigear:

Thanks. I'll look into Kiss and Hake. I remember looking at Kiss years ago and found it to be very confusing. Has it gotten more user friendly?

We just started WWS and my boys (7th & 8th) love it! It is the first writing program that my 7th grade ds has said anything positive about, ever.:001_smile: I am unsure which grammar program to use alongside WWS. We have used an IEW/ GWG combo for the last few years, but were ready for something different. I have Rod & Staff 6, but it seems like overkill used with WWS. Am I wrong? Would I use both everyday? Would I use the writing lessons within R&S as well? I also have GWG. We are so used to this it is probably the easiest choice to go with, but I don't know that retention has been all that great. I'm also concerned that it doesn't go beyond level 8. Would I stop grammar in 9th, and just continue with WWS and lit study for high school? We have been trying Easy Grammar 8 for the past week, and I'm not thrilled with it. The boys like it because it is quick and easy, but I feel it is lacking...something. Does anyone have any suggestions, or what are you using grammar with WWS? Thanks!