Writing for 1st & 3rd graders.

[christielee7278]

Hi all! This is the LAST piece we need to complete our curriculum for the new year, but I have no idea!

 

I was all set to buy Write Shop Primary A. Mostly to see if it would work for both of my boys. Neither have done any real writing. They write letters to friends and family occasionally but it isn't anything that I correct.

 

However, I think I might like EIW if I could ever figure out what to order. I've looked at the history-based lessons but the whole curriculum confuses me.

 

Then I also ran across Writing Tales. Don't know anything other than I noticed it has some good reviews on here.

 

Lastly Writing with Ease? Is this a handwriting or writing program?

 

I would really like to find something my 1st and 3rd grader could do together but maybe that isn't possible. We are going to do a lot more copywork this year. Maybe that would be enough writing?

 

Advice please! :lol:

 

Thank you!!

Christie

[truebluexf]

Of all of those I would use Writing with Ease and not plan to keep them together. Copy work would be enough for the first grader. The third grader could ease into dictation sometimes too.

[magnificat]

I don't have any experience with Write Shop, IEW, or Writing Tales - but my experience with WWE with 1st-3rd grade has been great.

 

WWE is copywork, narration, and dictation.

 

WWE1 takes very little time and was so enjoyable for us. The line size was the only issue for us - it is rather large. The days alternate between copywork and narration (no dictation in WWE1).

 

I am guessing your 3rd grader would need a little more than that, so look at the samples of WWE2 and WWE3 in the Peace Hill Press store. I can't remember when the lessons with dictation start.

 

Good luck!

[christielee7278]

So for WWE, would I need the instructor text and the student workbook or pages? It says the instructions aren't included with just the student pages so is that what the instructor text is for? Could I get just the student workbook then? I guess I'm wondering what the difference between the three are. Thanks!!

[4peanuts]

It's probably too much for your 1st grader if you are trying to combine, but since you mentioned EIW...They strongly recommend starting with the Student Writing Intensive--you would go with Level A for your 3rd grader.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone, but from what I understand, the Student Writing Intensive is a one time thing--you enter in at Level A, B or C depending on your age and after completing that level, exit out into whatever themed units you want to use. http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/sid-a

[ErinE]

So for WWE, would I need the instructor text and the student workbook or pages? It says the instructions aren't included with just the student pages so is that what the instructor text is for? Could I get just the student workbook then? I guess I'm wondering what the difference between the three are. Thanks!!

 

For WWE, the instructor's text is the 4-year overview. If you plan on writing across the curriculum, SWB walks you through the steps to build your child's writing skills. I use it for my 1st and 4th grader. We read history or science aloud. My youngest does an oral narration. I'll ask, "In a complete sentence, tell me one thing you remember," which I then copy down and she illustrates. She does daily copywork from her reading literature. For the eldest, it's a 3-4 sentence oral narration with him writing 2-3 sentences and I finish the rest. He also does dictation exercises 1-2 times per week.

 

The student workbook provides the writing subjects for you. Assuming they are not working on the same level, each child needs a workbook. The teaching instructions are in the front of the text and the student pages with reading excerpts are in the back. I started out using the student workbooks and I think they are great if you'd prefer an open-and-go program.

[christielee7278]

Thank you for your help!! I think WWE might be what we need. It would make sense because we already use other SWB books and I decided last spring to stick as close to the WTM as possible this school year.

 

One more question. I've read that the difference between WWE and Winning With Writing is teaches how to write a sentence and build a paragraph (read some reviews on here). I want my boys to learn to write well. Will WWE teach them this? Maybe WWS, if we continue through WWE? We are also using R&S 3 with my 3rd grader. Should I not worry then since R&S teaches writing as well? I didn't think it taught ENOUGH writing with my oldest child which is why I'm looking for a separate writing program.

 

Thank you ladies so much for your help!!!

[Writerdaddy]

Thank you for your help!! I think WWE might be what we need. It would make sense because we already use other SWB books and I decided last spring to stick as close to the WTM as possible this school year.

 

One more question. I've read that the difference between WWE and Winning With Writing is teaches how to write a sentence and build a paragraph (read some reviews on here). I want my boys to learn to write well. Will WWE teach them this? Maybe WWS, if we continue through WWE? We are also using R&S 3 with my 3rd grader. Should I not worry then since R&S teaches writing as well? I didn't think it taught ENOUGH writing with my oldest child which is why I'm looking for a separate writing program.

 

Thank you ladies so much for your help!!!

 

sounds like you are looking for something more than just.copywork and dictation. If you do decide to go with WWE, I am not convinced that it will lead to the result you are looking for. This is a matter of debate, and probably very different results happen depending on the child and Parent and many factors. But it is certain that WWE will not provide the direct how to instruction that you may be looking for, whether or not it necessary to have that.

[SilverMoon]

Thank you for your help!! I think WWE might be what we need. It would make sense because we already use other SWB books and I decided last spring to stick as close to the WTM as possible this school year.

 

One more question. I've read that the difference between WWE and Winning With Writing is teaches how to write a sentence and build a paragraph (read some reviews on here). I want my boys to learn to write well. Will WWE teach them this? Maybe WWS, if we continue through WWE? We are also using R&S 3 with my 3rd grader. Should I not worry then since R&S teaches writing as well? I didn't think it taught ENOUGH writing with my oldest child which is why I'm looking for a separate writing program.

 

Thank you ladies so much for your help!!!

 

R&S will teach the sentences and paragraphs, though I'm not sure it will work on actual paragraphs at the 3 level. If you stick with the series it certainly will.

 

 

To answer the OP, I had a first and third grader last school year. The first grader did copywork and narration. The third grader worked on writing part of his own narrations, dictation, and a bit of copywork, too. Neither used WWE workbooks. I had already done WTM-style grammar stage writing with two kids before WWE was written, and I prefer to draw it from the materials they're reading or listening to anyway. If the explanation for doing this yourself in TWTM isn't thorough enough for you, the WWE hardback instructor text will hold your hand. :001_smile:

[boscopup]

However, I think I might like EIW if I could ever figure out what to order. I've looked at the history-based lessons but the whole curriculum confuses me.

 

You mean IEW. EIW is yet ANOTHER writing curriculum. :lol:

 

I'm using IEW with my 3rd grader this year. We previously used WWE1 and 2 in first and 2nd grades. WWE was great for those young stages. Now that DS was ready to start learning to write and was not really moving forward with copywork/dictation, I decided to try IEW. It's been wonderful for us! We're using SWI-A, and I also got TWSS (so I did the combo). SWI-A is Pudewa teaching your student, and you are given extra materials for reinforcement. The video lessons are watched once every couple weeks, and you have some extra paragraphs there that you can assign and help your child through in the same manner, practicing what was learned in the video. TWSS is the parent instruction, which explains the ENTIRE program from start to finish. TWSS can be used by itself or with a themed program or as teacher training while using SWI. I plan to use SWI-A this year, and when we get done with that, I'll use TWSS and write across the curriculum for the rest of the year and next year (4th grade). Then in 5th, I plan to do WWS (though that could change - I'll try out the sample before I buy).

 

My initial plan for the next child is to use WWE1 again in first grade, but we'll see how that goes. It may not be a good fit for him. I like the program though and think it's great for first grade. :)

[Mrs Twain]

IEW is my favorite because I think it is the best of what I have tried. You would buy the combo TWSS (which is DVD instruction course for you as the parent) plus the SWI-A (DVD lectures and assignments) to start with your 3rd grader.

 

WWW is my second favorite. I actually use a combination of WWW and IEW for my kids' writing program which has worked very well. Your first grader could use just the WWW alone, either level 1 which is very basic or level 2 which may be a better fit depending the abilities of your 1st grader.

 

I use WWE about once per week. The philosophy of teaching writing is very different than other programs, and personally I am not willing to put all of my eggs in one basket and just use the WWE/WWS programs alone.

 

Incidentally, one of the best ways to help your kids develop in writing is to read aloud good quality literature to them every day (or listen on CD). The reading aloud aspect is important for kids in that they need to hear the language. Ideally, it is best to read aloud two hours per day, though that seems rather impossible for many families. We aim for about an hour per day total. I heard Andrew Pudewa (of IEW) give a lecture on this last summer, and it was quite interesting.

[christielee7278]

After looking over all of the suggestions, I'm thinking maybe WWE teacher book with me selecting the copywork and dictations AND WWW.

 

What do you think? Too much for a 3rd grader also doing R&S English?

 

I like IEW but don't have it in the budget right now. Maybe next year.

[Mrs Twain]

After looking over all of the suggestions, I'm thinking maybe WWE teacher book with me selecting the copywork and dictations AND WWW.

 

What do you think? Too much for a 3rd grader also doing R&S English?

 

I like IEW but don't have it in the budget right now. Maybe next year.

 

WWW and WWE can be done together in my experience. I think they are a good combination.

 

I use R&S English as well. I mostly have my kids do only the grammar exercises, skipping the writing exercises since they are redundant with our other writing programs.

[skeeterbug]

Correct me if I'm wrong, anyone, but from what I understand, the Student Writing Intensive is a one time thing--you enter in at Level A, B or C depending on your age and after completing that level, exit out into whatever themed units you want to use. http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/sid-a

 

You mean IEW. EIW is yet ANOTHER writing curriculum. :lol:

 

I'm using IEW with my 3rd grader this year. We previously used WWE1 and 2 in first and 2nd grades. WWE was great for those young stages. Now that DS was ready to start learning to write and was not really moving forward with copywork/dictation, I decided to try IEW. It's been wonderful for us! We're using SWI-A, and I also got TWSS (so I did the combo). SWI-A is Pudewa teaching your student, and you are given extra materials for reinforcement. The video lessons are watched once every couple weeks, and you have some extra paragraphs there that you can assign and help your child through in the same manner, practicing what was learned in the video. TWSS is the parent instruction, which explains the ENTIRE program from start to finish. TWSS can be used by itself or with a themed program or as teacher training while using SWI. I plan to use SWI-A this year, and when we get done with that, I'll use TWSS and write across the curriculum for the rest of the year and next year (4th grade). Then in 5th, I plan to do WWS (though that could change - I'll try out the sample before I buy).

 

Thank you both for posting these explanations! I'm looking at IEW for next year and it's a bit confusing to know where to start.

[christielee7278]

WWW and WWE can be done together in my experience. I think they are a good combination.

 

I use R&S English as well. I mostly have my kids do only the grammar exercises, skipping the writing exercises since they are redundant with our other writing programs.

 

Thank you! Just what I was hoping to hear!