Has anyone skipped a level in Classical Writing? Diogenes woes.

[FloridaLisa]

So, this year is going so much better than last. Last year was just a year to get R done. Fortunately, we had been homeschooling long enough that we had a solid rhythm. I could put some books in my kids' hands and, coupled with our co-op and a couple of online classes for my olders, we made it through. [We were dealing with the sudden death of my husband, grieving, adjusting to a new way of life, and, for me, a very busy life of one parent for seven kids.] Anyway, this year I have been interested in schooling and cooking and life. BUT, writing has not gotten done. We started out with a whimper and it fizzled quickly. I had done Aesop and Homer with two of my boys earlier (and loved it) and planned to do Diogenes Maxim/Chreia this year.

 

But, I don't like it! Probably because we haven't progressed far enough to really get any meat out of it. It seems like busy work at this stage. I'm really ready to get to some good essay writing. I want CW to work.

 

So, has anyone skipped Diogenes? I'm off to research on the CW site, but I know there are a few here that have used and like CW. Care to weigh in?

 

 

Thanks!

Lisa

[MicheleinMN]

I am considering doing just that with 2 of my boys. I really want to use CW Herodotus, and I think it can be done without having used Diogenes (which I own, but do not love). I wish I could tell you how it turned out, but I am still in the trying to decide stage, not the BTDT one.

 

HTH

[Tress]

bumping for you, because I'm curious about all things Classical Writing :D.

[Snickerdoodle]

:bigear:

 

We are halfway through Homer B (OMG, so much work!!) and really wondering what the next levels are like. Can you speak to what you didn't like about the next level?

[jibaker103]

So, this year is going so much better than last. Last year was just a year to get R done. Fortunately, we had been homeschooling long enough that we had a solid rhythm. I could put some books in my kids' hands and, coupled with our co-op and a couple of online classes for my olders, we made it through. [We were dealing with the sudden death of my husband, grieving, adjusting to a new way of life, and, for me, a very busy life of one parent for seven kids.] Anyway, this year I have been interested in schooling and cooking and life. BUT, writing has not gotten done. We started out with a whimper and it fizzled quickly. I had done Aesop and Homer with two of my boys earlier (and loved it) and planned to do Diogenes Maxim/Chreia this year.

 

But, I don't like it! Probably because we haven't progressed far enough to really get any meat out of it. It seems like busy work at this stage. I'm really ready to get to some good essay writing. I want CW to work.

 

So, has anyone skipped Diogenes? I'm off to research on the CW site, but I know there are a few here that have used and like CW. Care to weigh in?

 

 

Thanks!

Lisa

 

I am glad to know I am not the only one who does not like Diogenes! My ds gained so much knowledge from Homer/Aesop for OB but when we attempted Diogenes the structure of the lessons and layout of the books was less than desirable. After so much research and planning I really wanted CW to work. We are now using a combination of TWTM and IEW. Maybe the best thing to do is move on Heredotus which I wanted to use from the beginning. Hmmm....

[FloridaLisa]

Well, I hate to comment on why Diogenes isn't working for us b/c I don't feel like I've given it a fair shake. At this point, I would have to conclude it's a teacher problem rather than the curriculum. We are only a dozen lessons in. But thus far, the work has seemed irrelevant and basic. I continued plugging through because, having done earlier CW programs, I thought it must be laying a foundation in the first lessons. But we haven't yet made it to the great analytical and expositional lessons.

 

I did find this: Maxim and Chreia Accelerated in four classes! Based on what we've done already, and all of the work my dc did in Aesop and Homer, I'm hoping that this will be the bridge we need to jump through and to Herodotus this year.

 

I'll be happy to resurrect this thread and report back after we finish the lessons. I plan on starting Monday. I've already e-mailed Kathy Weitz about some preliminary questions.

 

Lisa

[Cleopatra]

We skipped the last half of Homer B on clarity, concision and (I can't remember the other one). It was a good thing. My dd is just beginning Diogenes Chreia (the second level)

 

Can you skip Diogenes? Well, keep in mind I haven't reviewed Herodotus yet, but with the limited information I have, I would say the answer is yes ....... and no ......

 

With Classical Writing, instead of just teaching the child a framework for writing, they get into detail in their attempt produce exceptional writers. My dd and I have had fantastic discussions on the structure of some of the models (Marc Antony's speech in Julius Caesar, the Gettyburg Address, etc.) Some of the writing is truly amazing and it's so beneficial to pick it apart, so to speak, to understand not only its structure, but its effect on an audience, etc.

 

So I think if you skipped Diogenes you would be missing some of the detail that makes this program so effective. However if you did skip it, I don't think it would be the end of the world, provided your children were able to understand what was expected of them in Herodotus.

 

What I constantly want to skip is the grammar lessons. My dd is still doing them because they are serving as grammar practice but sometimes I want to beat my head against a wall when I look at them. I'm still not completely clear how their benefit equals the amount of work that goes into them.

[FloridaLisa]

With Classical Writing, instead of just teaching the child a framework for writing, they get into detail in their attempt produce exceptional writers. My dd and I have had fantastic discussions on the structure of some of the models (Marc Antony's speech in Julius Caesar, the Gettyburg Address, etc.) Some of the writing is truly amazing and it's so beneficial to pick it apart, so to speak, to understand not only its structure, but its effect on an audience, etc.

 

See, and this is what I really liked about Aesop and Homer. It forced the student (and teacher) closely read, analyze and play with great writing and writing structure. We just have yet to reach it in Diogenes, I'm a bit weary and I want to clip through this material. Thank you for your input. I'm hoping the online class will help my zeal return, coupled with an end to basketball season which will give us more time.

 

Lisa

[Cleopatra]

I understand your frustration, Lisa but it might be easily remedied. I try to look over the lesson before my dd does it. It usually takes about 30 seconds. I then determine if it might be beneficial for me to discuss anything with her. I find about 30-35% of the time I feel that I need to sit down with her. Our conversation may take anywhere from 5 - 15 minutes.

 

I'd be interested to hear what you think of the online class. I was thinking of the class too but it is almost an hour and when you add the writing time on top of that, the time commitment scared me.

 

BTW, I'm very sorry to hear about your husband. You have alot to deal now so try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Remember what "they" say: most of what you learn is learned after high school!

 

We'll keep you and your family in our prayers!

[1Togo]

We are finishing CW Maxim, and it was tough going at first; i.e. not only the work, but the time involved, but dd settled into it and likes Maxim. At one point, I wanted to quit, but she insisted that we keep going. Fwiw, we are in the last unit, which teaches the modern 5-paragraph essay, and just as Kathy Weitz said when I was trying to decide if I wanted to use CW, those essays are writing themselves. Dd really understands the ways she can use Maxim paragraphs for her modern essays. From Maxim, we are going to switch to Maxim/Chreia-in-a-Month, check the boxes for the Maxim work, work through the scheduled Chreia lessons, and move on to Herodotus, which is excellent. For dd, the Maxim work has been worth the effort. She is not a natural writer, but she writes easily now and thinks deeply about the issues connected to her topics.

 

If you have any questions, feel free to pm.

[dovrar]

:bigear: Bump

[TammyS]

From Maxim, we are going to switch to Maxim/Chreia-in-a-Month, check the boxes for the Maxim work, work through the scheduled Chreia lessons,

 

 

Is this the online course that is a subscription for 6 months. I have been looking at that and trying to decide if I want to do it. I would love any feedback you have on it.