Winning With Writing or something else? How do you choose a level?

[ukfan78]

I am trying to figure out what level to buy. I am considering levels 4, 5, or even 6. My ds will be 12 in November and is starting 6th grade. However, he hasn't had a lot of writing instruction. He did Spectrum writing in 3rd grade (didn't finish it) and Oak Meadow 5 last year. I prefer a workbook, but I am open to anything that give clear instructions and explains the assignments well.

 

He likes to do creative writing for fun by typing on the computer and printing out stories. He does really good on these. He even adds in dialogue! But he hasn't had any instruction. He has learned what he knows through reading. He needs to learn when to change paragraphs and how to make his paragraphs longer. And I want him to write something other than creative stuff. I want to find a program that is easy to use, but will teach him the structures of writing from the beginning.

 

I was looking at the S&S of WWW and I think my ds would need to start at level 4 or 5, just to be sure he doesn't miss anything. Has anyone used both of these levels? Which one should I choose for him?

 

I am also open to other writing sources! I have been looking at Wordsmith Apprentice (which looks fun), Writing Skills by EPS (all the samples show are grammar lessons!), Essentials in Writing (do I need grammar with this?), Write Source, Just Write, Jump In, and Writing Strands. I would rather take a gentle approach this year. I want him to learn the basics of writing and how to put it all together. We are doing Easy Grammar 6 this year, so I am looking for something that is mostly writing. I considered Hake, but does their writing have clear instructions from beginning paragraphs and on? Any recommendations for a basic writing instruction program? I do need it to be mostly secular! I am not interested in WWE, WWS (yet), or IEW (too expensive for now).

 

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me!

Edited July 13, 2012 by ukfan78

[CyndiLJ]

We are using several levels of Winning with Writing, and I would say 5th or 6th either one would be fine. There is a lot of reinforcement of concepts with brief explanations for reminders, so you wouldn't really hurt yourself by starting with either one.

 

We really like it, and will be using Write Shop later on, as well as mixing in a little IEW (We have the first year of it and like it but not to continue on with it...too much the same thing but GOOD for different reasons than WWW).

 

Cindy

[ukfan78]

We are using several levels of Winning with Writing, and I would say 5th or 6th either one would be fine. There is a lot of reinforcement of concepts with brief explanations for reminders, so you wouldn't really hurt yourself by starting with either one.

 

We really like it, and will be using Write Shop later on, as well as mixing in a little IEW (We have the first year of it and like it but not to continue on with it...too much the same thing but GOOD for different reasons than WWW).

 

Cindy

 

Thanks Cindy! I contacted the company and they recommended that I start at level 5. I want to make sure he has plenty of practice with the writing process. I am just looking for gentle instruction without TOO much writing. He loves to type, but I really need him to actually write some this year. He writes slow because he hasn't mastered cursive yet and his printing is awful! :) I am sure level 6 requires more writing than level 5. I figure we can work through level 5 and then go from there.