julikins Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 (edited) What is your favorite Writing Curriculum and why? Feel free to give me any details you want to give :001_smile: In the recent "Worst Curriculum Purchases Ever" thread, Writing Strands came up quite frequently. I was planning on starting it next year with my soon-to-be 5th grader who has had very little writing exposure, except for what we do in ILL. Why is it so hated? What do you use instead and why? Thanks! Edited February 3, 2012 by julikins Better title for poll, reword Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 If I were homeschooling again, I'd make every effort to use Writing Strands all the way through high school. I'd have used it the first time except that we started hsing before it was written, and by the time all levels were available, dds were taking classes at the community college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in the UP of MI Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 My first choice is Classical Writing, though I haven't used it yet (except the Primers). It was between this and Writing Tales for my third grader next year. WWE/WWS is my back-up if I decide that CW is not working. I have used WWE 1 and liked it. I'll be using similar techniques with my first grader next year, but not using the workbooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 I don't know why other people don't like it. I tried it once when my oldest was young. She hated it. It was like....write: The pencil. The next day write: The yellow pencil. Next day write: The big yellow pencil. I don't remember what level that was (does it have levels? I don't remember). But, it dragged and dd groaned. Maybe if we would have stuck it out we would have seen the light, like Ellie. I don't know. I'm starting little dd on WWW and so far she loves it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PentecostalMom Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 If I were homeschooling again, I'd make every effort to use Writing Strands all the way through high school. I'd have used it the first time except that we started hsing before it was written, and by the time all levels were available, dds were taking classes at the community college. This, except I am homeschooling again. Ds used WS on the recommendation of a lady I really looked up to in hsing. Her children are more articulate than most college graduates I know! Ds flew through college english classes and I attribute this to WS. IMO, one of the reasons it is disliked is because it is somewhat vague. However, this is to make you think, not do what the directions say to the letter. We will be starting it next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyWImom Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 We have just started Writing Strands 3, and are really liking it so far. Short, easy lessons, and, IMO a gentle introduction. (Which my dc needed) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbollin Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 I don't know why other people don't like it. I tried it once when my oldest was young. She hated it. It was like....write: The pencil. The next day write: The yellow pencil. Next day write: The big yellow pencil. I don't remember what level that was (does it have levels? I don't remember). But, it dragged and dd groaned. Maybe if we would have stuck it out we would have seen the light, like Ellie. I don't know. not that it really matters... but that is from WS level 2, lesson 1 day 1. Goal of lesson was to learn to expand sentences through use of adjectives. if this would help anyone to get a feel for the style in that level.... You hold an object and write a quick description in complete sentence. It is a pencil. then you brainstorm for one adjective, then 2 or more adjectives. Introduce use of "and" or commas when you do 3 adjectives. Now the child writes down each of those thoughts in complete sentence. so they take thoughts into writing. next day lesson, learn to be more specific in noun and not just pronouns so that by end of lesson sentences are along lines of "My mother's yellow pencil is kept in the desk." (prompts are given to help the student think) day 3 lesson - add a new description. day 4 - pull all three of those lessons and use a new object. so yes, for 7 year old, the lessons are in short segments to write longer sentences. Short effective lessons that come from working with writing mentor, start out loud, go to pencil and paper. gets more each lesson and each level.... I still think of Writing Strands as the "Karate Kid" of writing programs...... I struggled understanding the purpose of the lessons when I was wanting to teach my child how to write. But, just like "wax on and wax off" and "sand the floor" and "paint the fence" were really karate moves in muscle memory.. Writing Strands gets those basics in muscle memory for the student to apply throughout other assignments in school. I know WS isn't popular, but I liked it too. not sure what I consider "the best" out there.... -crystal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julikins Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 :bigear:Anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyfaithe Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I plan on using WS with my dd as part of her file folder work. My older kids used several levels and although some of the lessons seemed bogus TO ME, they enjoyed them. They are short and incremental for the most part....easy to teach and easy to guide into better writing skills. Right now, we are using WWE with my younger kids and Sonlight LA for CORE W with my 13 Yo dd and enjoying it very much. Faithe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
besroma Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreeBlessings Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 We hadn't used WS in the past, but started with Level 3 this year. The kids really like it so far. They actually ask to do it, lol. We used WWE when they were younger and I did like it. I like WS because they are enthusiastic about writing and it is easy to implement, but best of all they are learning writing skills. They are actually thinking about the instruction and applying it to their writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom2011 Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 We like Winning With Writing :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.