Perogi Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 I'm floundering a bit with writing instruction for my dd. Partly because I don't know how to evaluate if she's where she should be at the end of grade 5, partly because we bombed WWE 4, partly because I'm overwhelmed with the plethora of options. This year we ditched WWE 4 when we were about 12 weeks in because it was causing tears. For both of us ;) I then purchased Essentials in Writing just because I wanted something more traditional as an experiment and I appreciated that the DVDs took me out of the role of writing teacher. (I wish I had gone with IEW instead....but I didn't). We flew through EIW and will be wrapping it up in the next 3 weeks. I would like to use Killgallon for the remainder of this year and perhaps into next year or somehow alongside WWS next year and beyond. Where should I begin?? Elementary Sentence Composing? Grammar for Middle School? After one (both?) of those I'd like to use Paragraphs for Middle School. And I refuse to plan beyond that at this point :p Any insight? Am I on the right track? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 I found Grammar for Middle School to be perfect for 6th grade and plan on Paragraphs for Middle School for 7th. I think you could also do those in 5th and 6th, provided that she understands the grammatical terminology that is used in the GfMS book. You can check out the samples and see if you think she's ready for it that way. Sentence Composing for Middle School is redundant with GfMS, IMO, and GfMS is the better product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perogi Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 I wondered about the terminology and that's what drove me to consider doing the elementary book. We did FLL 1-4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyforlatin Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 There is correct terminology in Sentence Composing for MS but not in Paragraphs for MS. However, as long as you go through the former, I think the student will recognize the types of phrases and clauses in Paragraphs MS. We are thoroughly enjoying SCMS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perogi Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 Were you able to jump into SCMS without having done the elementary level? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyforlatin Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Were you able to jump into SCMS without having done the elementary level? The elementary version of SCMS is very similar expect that the latter has sentences from more advanced books such as Jurassic Park and The Martian Chronicles, although there are also sentences from children's books such as Harry Potter. The content is completely safe. I would go with SCMC and not the elementary counterpart as I think the authors provide a couple of more clauses and/or phrases. Not sure if I'm remembering correctly since we're away, and I only brought along SCMS and Paragraphs for MS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc26 Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 I am so confused! I got Sentence Composing for Elementary School for my 6th grader for next year. What comes after that? Paragraphs for elementary or middle school? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegeyser Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Not to steal the OP's thunder, but this is essentially where I am but have a rising 5th grader instead. I purchased the elementary texts, but I am wondering if I should just go ahead and purchase the middle school volumes and start him there. I can use the elementary books with my younger son, so my original purchase is not a waste. What do you all think? Thanks! Our writing background has been a little more varied. We've used WWE 1 and 2, CW Aesop for 3rd, and IEW SWI-A and CAP Writing & Rhetoric - Narrative for 4th. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 We are using Sentence Composing for Elementary School in sixth next year also. ETA: From there I was planning on moving to Paragraphs for Middle School and SYRWTLE Book 2 in 7th as I have the Blue Book of Grammar for well, grammar :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perogi Posted April 13, 2014 Author Share Posted April 13, 2014 I think I'm going to do Elementary Sentence Composing to finish out this year and look to Middle School Grammar for next. For some reason I thought Elementary would be too young, but it sounds like it'll fit this age group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 We're using Story Grammar for Elementary this year in 5th. I have Sentence Composing for Middle School to use next year in 6th, and I'm planning on Paragraph Writing for Middle School (or whatever the paragraphs book is called) for 7th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrissySC Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 Because you floundered, I would pick something more strict or traditional. Example: Hewitt's Homeschooling uses Write Source. This is a primal time to teach the writing process, forms of writing, and proofing & editing. Killgallon alone is not a writing program. It is a tool to assist in teaching writing. As a standalone, it is not enough IMO. Approach grammar while teaching proof & edit. Something to think about. :) I suggest something different because of your comments. We still need to teach formal writing techniques and applications. It sounds like that you have not yet done so. I would do it now so that you can approach the logic stage writings and essays with more appropriate content and purpose. Logic stage is the time to use writing to explain. Good read ... http://www.welltrainedmind.com/classical-education/ writing = communicating a message effectively and clearly with purpose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perogi Posted April 16, 2014 Author Share Posted April 16, 2014 Thanks ChrissySC - we did get through almost all of WWE and we've done Paragraph Writing Made Easy and then EIW this year. So, we've covered the basic forms of writing - paragraph construction, narrative, descriptive, persuasive, report, etc. - but I would like to add some style to her writing. We will be tackling WWS next year as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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