Nicholas_mom Posted April 8, 2016 Share Posted April 8, 2016 Hi, I am looking to teach essays for 8th Grade next year. I just do not know what curriculum to use? I am looking for ideas. We did WWS1 in Grade 6 and this year ds did a writing coop that used IEW (Robotics, Radar one). I am reading MCT Voyage but we are just reading it. I feel like something is missing in MCT Voyage that I need to use something else like Lively Art of Writing or Lost Tools of writing, I don't know what! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted April 8, 2016 Share Posted April 8, 2016 We also did WWS 1 and read MCT Voyage and found it lacking for essay writing instruction. We followed that with Lively Art of Writing (using the workbook), a Bravewriter Kidswrite Intermediate class, then Writing With a Thesis. It's been a solid progression that has served us well, dd is more than prepared for high school writing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas_mom Posted April 8, 2016 Author Share Posted April 8, 2016 Great! Thanks! :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto6inIN Posted April 8, 2016 Share Posted April 8, 2016 We've used Wordsmith Craftsman. It worked really really well for my oldest DS. My 2nd DS has had to review certain parts and go back and re-learn a few times, but he's starting to catch on. We might use the Elegant Essay after Craftsman if I don't think his essays are up to snuff after finishing it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas_mom Posted April 8, 2016 Author Share Posted April 8, 2016 We've used Wordsmith Craftsman. I am not familiar with this one. I need to check it out! Thx. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted April 8, 2016 Share Posted April 8, 2016 I love Lost Tools. For the first time I understood how to break down and explain the steps for a persuasive essay. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillStanding Posted April 8, 2016 Share Posted April 8, 2016 IEW The Elegant Essay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 We also used The Lively Art of Writing. Regards, Kareni 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Brooks Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 Thinking in Threes Writing with a Thesis- I bought at the suggestion of Chrysalis Academy. Great choice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlktwins Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 I just ordered The Lively Art of Writing from the library. I also found a PDF workbook and teacher's guide here http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/471528-lively-art-of-writing-formatted-workbook-and-key-x-post/ . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas_mom Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 Thank you for all your thoughts! I really want to do Lost Tools of Writing but it sounds too intimidating and too much work for me to figure it all out. Since I have an only child, it will be waste of time for me. I am looking for something broken down for me like The Lively Art of Writing or Thinking in Threes, etc. :) Just follow along the steps in the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 We used Thinking in Threes this year and have just started Lively Art of Writing. If you can ignore the drag racing and antiquated housewife references, I think it contains some very solid guidelines. We are using with the aforementioned workbook. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamato4 Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Does it matter which edition of LAoW to use? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 I used Analytical Grammar's Teaching the Essay. They no longer have that product, but they make another, Beyond the Book Report 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Does it matter which edition of LAoW to use? No, but do make use of the great workbook created by Quark, one of our members! It really helps a kid get the most from LAoW. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I used Analytical Grammar's Teaching the Essay. They no longer have that product, but they make another, Beyond the Book Report Season 3 teaches the essay, oral presentations, and research papers. Our co-op is going to use Season 3 next year with a group of upper middle and high school students. I think it's going to be a great year! We have 3 writing teachers for the group of 17 kids. Each teacher is going to teach one of the three sections that is more their own specialty. Then they will divide the group into 3 skill level categories to work with them a bit more one-on-one and fine tune the assignments accordingly. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted April 24, 2016 Share Posted April 24, 2016 Seconding IEW's Elegant Essay, but also LOVE, love, love the Lost Tools of Writing- fantastico! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 We have only done persuasive essays this second semester of eighth, but it is going well, I think. We have done WWS 1-3 and find that we can use the tools there for adding interest to essays and organize them. The primary thing to learn, then, was to formulate a strong thesis. We have used several chapters of Writing With a Thesis (thanks, WTM boards!) and will continue reading through and discussing, as well as reading other examples of good essays. I own LTOW and find it too formulaic for where my ds is in writing. Maybe it would have been useful if we hadn't done all of WWS, or maybe there is a way to streamline LTOW that would still be beneficial, but I am finding he doesn't need anything that structured at this stage, even though of course he will need to refine his essay writing the next couple of years. 2 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.