Need Summer Writing "Curriculum"

[taffnus]

My oldest dd is finishing 7th grade in private school. She was homeschooled through 5th. She is weak in writing and I'd like to focus on that this summer. I can't do a structured online class because we won't be home for a long enough stretch of time.

 

My goal would be for her to learn how to write topic and supporting sentences and help her strengthen her academic writing skills.

 

I've looked at Hands-On-Essays but honestly, the videos look a little cheesy. I don't want to lose her off the bat. I haven't crossed it off the list.

 

I did IEW briefly with her in elementary but she has asked not to do that.

 

I'd love some recommendations on an easy-to-implement program or even workbook. We will have maybe 5-6 weeks, scattered throughout the summer to work on this. Thanks!!

[HollyDay]

Have you looked at Ignite Your Writing?

Edited April 11, 2016 by HollyDay

[Haiku]

If the previous poster means Igniting Your Writing, then that is not what you are looking for. It's a great program and a lot of fun, but its focus is on style, not on form, and it does not teach students how to write topic and supporting sentences.

 

I'd suggest using School Composition, which is free from Google Books. Its entire focus is on well-formed paragraphs using strong topic sentences and well-crafted supporting sentences. If you look at it and decide she's beyond it, you could use Writing in English, the second book. It focuses more on structuring an essay and has numerous models to write from.

 

My dd learned a ton from these books, and you can't beat the price.

[SilverMoon]

For a back to basics approach Killgallon's middle school paragraph book is short enough to complete in a summer.

 

The simple, inexpensive Lively Art of Writing by Lucile Payne is an older book that's excellent for basic essays. You'll probably want to substitute your own topics for her to write about; those are a bit dated. This is a one semester course, but you could likely read the early chapters together and do the exercises orally until you get to a chapter you think she really ought to work on. There are lots of editions on Amazon for dirt cheap. Somewhere in the high school forum here there's a free, boardie-made workbook to go with it.

Edited April 11, 2016 by SilverMoon

[taffnus]

Thank you for the suggestions. I'll look at them all. I did look at the workbook made for the Lively Art of Writing and it looks great. I'm thinking I could pull out certain parts of it to complete. I'm off to look at Killgallon.....

[ondreeuh]

Someone here (ChrysalisAcademy?) suggested Writing with a Thesis by Skwire, and I bought a cheap copy on Amazon. It is great! It is accessible to middle schoolers even though the target audience is a bit older. It covers all kinds of academic writing, both structure and style. Honestly I was just reading through the beginning and thinking that since it explains things so well, it would make a perfect summer crash-course in writing a strong essay. My son has written plenty, but I don't think he really has a a clear sense of what he's doing and why. This book gives that.

[Momling]

I like EPS Writing skills 2 by Diana King. It's got grammar, mechanics and writing in it and is easy to implement.

[mc26]

I like EPS Writing skills 2 by Diana King. It's got grammar, mechanics and writing in it and is easy to implement.

Yes.  I am using this now after several writing curricula failed miserably.  Also look at The Paragraph Book (I think there are 4 of them) by the same publisher.  

[laughing lioness]

Lost Tools of Writing. Fantastic, super easy to implement and learn and great supporting videos, TM- cannot recommend it highly enough!