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g-love

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  1. Hi there, I've looked into both classes but the cost of those in addition to their other classes x2 (for twins) is looking prohibitive. It's a good backup plan for us though if we hit a wall or find ourselves floundering. In that case, we may go back to the drawing board and pull out all the stops, financially speaking. Thank you for your recommendations. I'd be interested to know how you like WttW.
  2. Thank you so much for thinking through this with me -- it really helps. It sounds like your dd and mine may just have been in the same BW class together, taught by Samantha? We've been using BW for years too and I think it has both ignited and safeguarded a love for writing in them. They learned a lot in the EE class but have a long way to go for mastery, for sure. Had they not been taking the class I don't think I would have made sure things were as tightly pulled together, so it gave us all a good model to follow as they practice. In reading over your suggestions, I'm fuzzy on a couple of things: Should they work on the expository essay exclusively until they've nailed it and then work through LToW 1, or work on both the expository and persuasive essays simultaneously (using LToW for the persuasive essays)? We'll hold off on WttW for next year but since we have Jill's syllabus and Teaching the Classics, which she schedules as an optional 5 week module, I'm thinking we'll use it for the lit side of things -- as a socratic seminar for literary analysis discussions. Although we love talking books already and they are pretty familiar with the basic elements, it will be a good review. I think things are slowly coming together in my head -- thanks to your input. I really appreciate it! I will likely pm you, if I can figure out how (I'm ridiculously inept at these things) ;).
  3. If I were to do LToW first, do you feel that it's sufficient writing for 10th grade composition? My kids have taken two Brave writer classes this year (Kids Write Intermediate and Expository Essay) which were fantastic but they need a lot more practice with essay writing in order to become fluid. In your opinion, is LToW the logical next step? Should learning the literary essay follow the persuasive essay? Why or why not? Obviously, I have a lot of questions about how to place the various "pieces of the puzzle" down. I'm nervous about my own learning curve with LToW and don't want to be the reason it doesn't get done or done well. Any experience with the new version? I hope to purchase it soon so I can get started on it myself over the summer.
  4. So, I'm wondering if this would be overkill or a nice combination of two approaches using the same literature pieces. I have the Jill Pike syllabus and it seems so open and go that I think it would actually get done, whereas LToW worries me a bit if I can't stay ahead of the lessons. But if we use it slowly, as I'm able to, could that work? It seems my twin 15 yr. old dds could benefit from both approaches. If you think I'm nuts, please say so! Also, if you think I should use them sequentially rather than simultaneously, what order would make the most sense? Would we really be missing out on a lot if we used WttW for the first semester (without Teaching the Classics or the novels Jill Pike adds in) and followed up with LtoW the following semester? I feel torn about this since I already own the Teaching the Classics and that seems like such a nice, gentle introduction to analysis, besides the fact that the selected novels are great. Anyone out there done both in high school? I'm feeling like LToW will be too basic for 11th grade, if I hold off. Thoughts?
  5. I hear you! My dds are both dyslexic to varying degrees but love writing as long as they have enough margin built into their schedules. I have to keep reminding myself that less is more when it comes to learning. It's hard to find that balance between challenging them and overwhelming them, ya know? Anyway, I am more and more sold on LToW and like you I think I'll use that as the spine with some other resources thrown in. The Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings sounds great! If we weren't focusing on American Lit next year, I'd take a look at that too but I'm not even looking in case I get tempted! ;) When it comes to creative writing, I think I'll let my dds choose between a short story workshop and NaNoWriMo. Best wishes on your planning!
  6. Oh, thank you, Samantha! I was beginning to think I was going bonkers or had worded something oddly! :) I'm leaning toward LToW too for the same reasons. I'm having a hard time figuring out the best sequence for things. Should the persuasive essay be learned before or after the literary analysis essay? Does it matter? What if your kid loves narrative writing and may even want to pursue being published? How much time do I devote to that? And what about the dread research paper? When do we focus on that? If they do LToW 1 next year and 2 for 11th grade, will they be behind? Sigh. Anyway, thank you again for letting me know I'm not alone out here! Best wishes to you! Amy
  7. My twin dds have completed two Brave Writer courses (Kids Write Intermediate and Expository Essay) this year for 9th grade. They did do some other writing such as NaNoWriMo, poetry etc. but the BW classes were the bulk of their writing curriculum this year. For next year, I'm considering the following options: 1)The Lively Art of Writing (through Write At Home, which uses it as a spine for their 8 week essay workshop) and Short Story writing (also an 8 week workshop through Write At Home) then lots of writing across the curriculum, possibly pulling in Killgallon for work on style. They do like creative writing and while I want to encourage their interest, I want them to make sure they hone those academic writing skills. 2) Windows to the World, using Jill Pike's syllabus -- This appeals to me because it ties in writing with literary analysis but I'm wondering if they need a little more essay (particularly the persuasive essay) instruction before digging into this? This leads me to consider the following, 3) Lost Tools of Writing Level 1 (fifth edition) -- since my girls haven't learned the persuasive essay, this looks attractive, but is it dry? Hard to teach? (I'd consider the online class but need to pull back on the cost for next year). 4) WWS 2 -- My girls got about half way through WWS 1 in 8th grade. We could pick it back up, speed through it and go on to level 2. At this point it seems like the least attractive option but I do like the program. My girls just really, really love fiction, particularly the classics, so this isn't too palatable for them right now. Any thoughts and recommendations? My head is swimming! Thanks, Amy
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