Colesmom05 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 I need some advice regarding writing. My DS11 has not done a "formal" writing curriculum but is able to compose a decent paragraph or two without difficulty. I have looked at so many writing curricula, that it is making my head spin. I would not classify him as a reluctant writer but it is not something that he loves to do. I thought that IEW would be the answer but I'm worried about it being so formulaic. He is definitely not ready for WWS but perhaps WWE 4? I also looked at Meaningful Composition, W & R, Kilgallon, CC, etc. What would you do?? I am seriously at a loss for what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 One of my favorites is Writing Strands. Very simple to use, but it does a fine job of teaching children to write. Your son would probably start with Level 3 (they're experience levels, not grade levels). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 What happens when he is asked to write a third paragraph? Are you writing across the curriculum? 2 (moving into 3) paragraphs about history, science, lit topics? In sme cases, switching curricula is for *us* as parents, to feel like we are relentless in forward progress. But tbh, sometimes students need to sit with the skills they have, use them, deepen them if possible, before moving on. I'd shore up those two paragraphs...make sure they are *excellent* and, like I said, slowly move into making it three. And move to WWS or comparable when he is ready for it. Don't STOP writing, but deepen and expand the writing he does now. Yo can do that with a program, sure, but you can also just do it. Get to writing. Take apart the writing and play with it, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto6inIN Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 Just so you know, IEW doesn't have to mean formulaic. IEW has been wonderful for my kids. I don't hold them to the "style rules" of the program, instead telling them that they should review the style checklist after each composition to remind them of specific things they can edit to improve their sentences and vary their sentence structure *if needed/desired*. It's the "structure" part of the "writing with structure and style" that has been invaluable for my kids in developing organized and purposeful paragraphs and eventually essays. Sent from my Z988 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmstranger Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 I just (last week) started my 7th grader with WriteShop 1. I'm shocked, but he really likes it! We have done a few different writing curriculum, and I've liked some more than he has, but I actually really like the way WS works and he even mentioned that he likes it. It does require teacher involvement, but the teacher guide walks you through every step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 WWE 4 does come before WWS, but they are fairly different curriculum. If he needs practice with dictation and narration i would suggest WWE 3. I held of with WWS for my middle schooler who was not a fan of writing, but I wish I had started sooner and been willing to let the assignments take longer (2 or even 3 weeks for the first set of assignments. That is what I did eventually (around age 11) and my almost 12yo really had the hang of it now and his writing is notably improved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matrips Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 Iew gave my boys such confidence in their writing. I loved the program for them. It truly helped them believe they could write. Their papers were a bit awkward at first, but over the years we've worked through that when editing. And they always loved the challenge of finding better words in the thesaurus. We used SWI A and SICC A. I liked the DVDs so much better than the theme books. He teaches directly to them. they're in sixth grade now and I think they write really well. Currently my ds who used to stare and sob at the paper when asked to write, is now writing a short story for fun. This year they're doing WWS1, half speed, and then writing across the curriculum for more writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 We're loving Killgallon and it's mentioned in the newer WTM as a good middle ground between WWE and WWS. 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.