Looking ahead... writing program ?'s

[momto2Cs]

I am looking ahead to the future (3rd grade level), and have occasionally browsed through some writing programs... I'd like any feedback from those of you that have actually used any of the following, especially if you switched between them or to something else entirely...

 

Classical Writing Aesop, level A

 

Writing Tales 1

 

Primary Language Lessons

 

Other

 

Thanks!

[momto2Cs]

bump

[Narrow Gate Academy]

We've used CW Aesop this year with my 3rd grader. It has been an excellent fit for her. Although she can be very creative, she tends to balk at creative writing assignments for school simply because they are too vague. Rewriting from a model has been a much better approach for her and a much easier way of teaching for me. I don't have any experience with the other programs so hopefully someone else will chime in as well.

[Beth in Central TX]

Another CW user here. I started with Writing Strands, then immediately moved to Imitations in Writing. Once the student workbooks and IGs came out for CW, I switched again and plan to stay with CW for the long haul. We've almost completed our 2nd year with CW, and I've been very pleased with the improvement that I've seen in my older boys' writing. In addition, they are able to apply what they're learning in CW to other writing assignments in history, science, and literature.

[BizyPenguin]

I am looking ahead to the future (3rd grade level), and have occasionally browsed through some writing programs... I'd like any feedback from those of you that have actually used any of the following, especially if you switched between them or to something else entirely...

 

Classical Writing Aesop, level A

 

Writing Tales 1

 

Primary Language Lessons

 

Other

 

Thanks!

 

We're using Bob Jones English (just the writing portions) quite successfully. I've reviewed it on my blog, so I won't repeat it here. Click on "Curriculum Reviews" to find it. It's discussed under Bob Jones English. HTH!

[Sue G in PA]

Will be using WT1 with a 3rd grader next year. I highly recommend it. Easy to implement, looks fun for the child, grammar included (light, but good), well laid out, etc. Also planning to use PLL with my 2nd grader and some with my 3rd grader and that also looks quite good. Good luck w/ your decision!

[Kate in Arabia]

We also use Classical Writing. I started with Aesop A with my 3rd grader last year. This year (4th) we did Aesop B and are now finishing up Beginning Poetry A. He was a *very* reluctant writer. I don't know if it was simply more maturity, or the program, or a combination, but we went from literal tears at the thought of a narration to being able to knock out a couple of small paragraphs. Also he's enjoying poetry much more than I thought he would.

 

hth!

 

Kate

[Carmen_and_Company]

My middle dc used PPL for 1st & 2nd & aboslutely loved that book after attempting FLL, which was not my teaching style, nor dd's learning style. We did a combination of ILL & CW: Aesop with just the Core & Tales supplement during 3rd & 4th grades, and began CW: Homer A this year in 5th grade.

 

I'm using CW: Aesop A with my 4th grade ds and take breaks from CW by working through one lesson of Aesop A over two weeks, then spending a week or two working through the lessons in ILL, as I'm following a slower pace with Blaze who will complete complete Aesop B by the end of 6th grade & begin Homer for Older Beginners in 7th grade.

 

I wish we would have used Writing Tales I this year with my youngest, as it's a gentler introduction to the progymnastama lessons than CW:Aesop & better for kinestetic learners. I may ditch CW, continue working through ILL, and pick up Writing Tales III in 6th grade then move into Homer for Older Beginners in 7th grade with my youngest.

 

Back to your question, I think you can not go wrong with any of your choices, as they're all solid for beginning writers of your dc's ages.

 

I love PLL & ILL so much, if I had to do it all over again, I still would use both texts as an introduction to writing.

[Kathie in VA]

I use CW here with 6th and 7th graders. So far we are up to Aesop B and Homer A. I really love this program for many reasons but mainly for how it incorporates grammar in the lower levels and logic and rhetoric in the upper levels. I can't wait to start my 3rd grader next year. I'm finding Aesop very easy to use. The workbooks make it pick up and go. We just do the next thing. There is little to nothing for me to prep ahead of time.

 

hth

[PeterPan]

Ooo, absolutely recommend Writing Tales!!! Now here's the catch, some kids are going to do better in IEW. (shorter models, no creative additions, extremely clear expectations that some kids will thrive under) So I'd look at the two of them and chose the one that you think best fits the personality and bent of your particular dc. We did bits of WT1, all of WT2 (taught a class, way fun), and I have found it both incredibly easy to teach and a very good foundation to move into non-fiction, structured paragraph writing. We're probably going to be doing some IEW-style writing this summer carrying over our skills from WT2, applying them to the non-fiction IEW models.

 

CW is fine, tried that too, but WT blows it out of the water, just way more FUN.

[Jackie in AR]

I use CW here with 6th and 7th graders. So far we are up to Aesop B and Homer A. I really love this program for many reasons but mainly for how it incorporates grammar in the lower levels and logic and rhetoric in the upper levels. I can't wait to start my 3rd grader next year. I'm finding Aesop very easy to use. The workbooks make it pick up and go. We just do the next thing. There is little to nothing for me to prep ahead of time.

 

hth

 

We're using CW with 7th and 5th graders here, and plan to continue this series. Love, love, love it!

 

The incorporation of grammar, logic, rhetoric, and literary analysis makes it a full language arts program.