Thank you both. I agree. The WWS program is so awesome in the skills that are presented. I know that it is a great foundation. My3Girls, I'm with you on the "suck it up" and 11yo's not seeing the big picture. That's what they have us for LOL! I'm thinking that having the creative side mixed in should dilute some of the hatred (I hope!). My plan is to finish Level 1 (which will be in mid-January) and then use The Creative Writer (which was on Peace Hill Press and makes me assume that Susan Wise Bauer "approves" it) for the rest of the school year. I'll evaluate at that point to see where we'll go. Hollyberry, how are you combining the two programs? All at the same time or some sort of alternating pattern? I like the idea of doing both concurrently. I'm also considering Cover Story. What have you liked and disliked about it?

We are on Week 26 of Writing With Skills Level 1. My son HATES this book. I LOVE it. His writing has improved, and I know he's getting amazing foundational skills. It's awesome. Except for the fact that he hates it. Anyway, I'm determined to continue with this excellent curriculum because I know it will be great for his future. Or should I be so determined? He's in the 6th grade and is actually already a very, very good writer. He is a fantastic speller and knows his advanced grammar inside and out. Since he detests WWS 1 so much (too mechanical rather than creative, maybe?), should I go with Level 2 or move to my other thought, which would be the Middle School version of the "One Year Adventure Novel" called "Cover Story Writing." (Here's the link: http://www.coverstorywriting.com/) If he would just get on board with WWS2, it was be so great for him with the level of college/life preparation that I see that it is. BUT, I don't want him to end up hating writing altogether. Thoughts, please? Roxanne

Argh! I was hoping this was still current--it isn't. No longer available...

I've decided that the system isn't going to work for me. I've given it a good try, but nope. I'm going to put it up for sale to see if anyone else can make it click for them! Thank you to everyone for your answers.

Thank you for your review! That's what I was looking for. I picked it up at a swap and didn't know anything about it. I'm going to give it a try, but I'm also going to look into the IEW you mentioned. What does that stand for?

Ana--I hadn't seen Cathy Duffy's review--thanks for linking it! Roxanne--I was hoping for some help in figuring out how to "teach" it. It doesn't really have things laid out in a way that is easily understandable (to me, anyway), though I like everything she said in the introduction. What about it is keeping you from using it?

Bumping another time before I launch into it. I'll update this post with a review in a couple of months.

Anyone?

I have a 4th grader, so we're past the little ones level: Little House on the Prairie series (I looked at everything from the parents' viewpoint!) "Everest" by Gordon Korman--riveting! There are others, but I'll have to remember what they were!

I tried my best to search for this book in the forums and couldn't get the right combination of words...OR, it just hasn't been used by folks here! Is this familiar to anyone? Here is a link to their website: http://www.books4results.com/writing.htm Another Source It's a Canadian-based company. Thoughts? Thanks! Roxanne

I'm reviving this thread because I have NEWS!!! regarding this Life of Fred: Dogs book. I just received it and we started today. I was telling my husband about the controversy. I turned to the last page to show him, and LO AND BEHOLD, there was a sticker on the last page that is in the shape of a newspaper page. Stanley heard the concern of his customers and added the following: The KITTEN Caboodle The Official Campus Newspaper of KITTENS University late breaking news No Doggies to Die KANSAS: Mrs. Hund, head of the KITTENS Animal Shelter, announced minutes ago that the shelter has received a gift of $50,000 from a wealthy artist. The money will be used to expand the shelter and provide 10,000 new enclosures for the dogs and cats. "No longer will we have crowding problems," Hunt told the KITTEN Caboodle. "Every animal can stay here until it is adopted. No more euthanasia." The donor wished to remain anonymous. All that Hunt could say was that he was four inches tall and wore a baseball cap with KFF on it. Just thought I'd pass this along. This series is AWESOME. We are loving every bit of it and will continue through to the final books.

Thank you to everyone for your input. The lady who does our year-end evaluation recommended it and your descriptions make it sound perfect for our situation. Off to purchase a copy! (OleLadyinaShoe--here's a sweet tea to wash down the popcorn if you're a southerner. If sweet tea isn't your thing, I've got it prepared without sugar, too!)

I changed the to ask (beg) for opinions. Maybe that will help. Otherwise, one of us is going to have to bite the bullet, buy the book, and do our own review for the others!

Why not? Popcorn always fills the spot when you've got a long wait.

Originally, Little Women WAS two books. LMA wanted to end it when everyone was all safe back at home, but her public clamored for her to get all the Little Women married off. She wrote the second part because of that public outcry, but she said she would NOT marry Jo off to Laurie. She was feisty, wasn't she?

THIS. My philosphy exactly. Having the freedom to slow down, speed up, or even throw something out is why I like to customize my curriculum. It's a perfect fit for my personality AND that of my son. I *THINK* I'd do the same, in some sort of modified way, if I had more than one child. I taught 7th - 12th grades in a private school and had between 5 and 25 in my classes. That's where I began to veer from Abeka and "beef up" what I was teaching. Because of that, I vowed I would do the same if I ever got a chance to homeschool.

On some forums I am the Official Thread Killer. I hope that isn't the case here, but I hadn't thought about the "cooties" potential. We'll just try for a little while longer. Perhaps we'll be rewarded for our patient, large ears.

I chose WTM style because you can careen down a rabbit trail at will. My son is VERY science-minded (9yo). He absolutely eats up anything that I throw at him. Because of the WTM style, I introduced the Periodic Table to him this year and he knows more than a man at church whose major was chemistry. If I had used another curriculum, that particular topic just wouldn't have come up for him in 3rd grade.

PGR, our listening ears are getting no contact. I'm bumping for another attempt!

I think the hardest thing about having the chickens is that I would want to make them pets. THEN, if something came along and considered them dinner, I would be very, very sad. Our pastor had a mink, of all things, take out four chickens a couple days ago. He saw the mink a week before near his house (not near the coop) and was enjoying its beauty. Since the massacre, he's not so impressed with its beauty anymore!

My state (Vermont) was also its own "country" for a few years. We're required by the DOE to teach something about VT history each year, but that requirement can be met by showing up at the Mapel Festival in April and taking pictures.

Jennefer--I love your blog! I love toile, too! Thanks for sharing this.

Do you find that the more popular WTM-type books never get listed since the sites are for free?

I really like the idea of doing it in the summer! When I was in school, it lasted the whole year. I lived in Florida and they had a book that was made just for the Tampa school system. I still have it and still remember stuff from it. Thanks for all the suggestions!

:iagree: If it doesn't help me do what I have to do, it's just not worth my time. My account is still open, but I'm never there.