Circe LToW I vs. Integritas

[mjbucks1]

I am having trouble deciding between these two.  Any thoughts?  Ds will be 13 and a decent writer, but of course he has room to improve.  I really like that with Circe they have a class that has literature that will correspond to our history study,  but I have not seen one bad review about Cindy Lange, which makes me really want to go with Integritas. 

[RootAnn]

I have a kid who did LTOW I with an online provider (not Circe). She did ok with the method, but did not grow as a provider as much as her sister who had Mrs Lange. Both use a framework to build an essay (different methods, different frame). Feedback was good with the provider we used & IMO, feedback is super important.

I would say that if he already writes well, Lange is the instructor who can help him improve the most. But, if he needs more help coming up with ideas for persuasive essays, LTOW is a good structural basis for learning how to do that. [I am not a big fan of LTOW as a whole after having a kid go through just the first level. Maybe it gets better. DD thought it [LTOW1] was very slow & constricting in terms of style.] So, take into my account that bias!!

[fourisenough]

Cindy Lange is remarkable. Her instruction is very explicit and she has high expectations, but she’s gentle and motivating (rather than rigorous and demanding). My older did one year with her then we left to do an integrated great books class, followed by AP Lang, then AP Lit. Younger will start with her at some point, and I hope to continue all the way through her high school sequence (I’ll have to balance the budget by keeping other things in house rather than outsourcing— a fair trade to get to take Cindy’s classes).
 

I have no experience with LTOW/Circe, so I can’t compare.

[mjbucks1]

Thank you, both.  Your feedback is very helpful!  

Edited February 17, 2021 by mjbucks1

[Bokons]

I've only had experience with Integritas, and really recommend Cindy Lange. This is my ds' second year with her, and he has grown so much as a writer (he couldn't even write a proper paragraph when he first started with her last year). She gives very good feedback, and is open to working one-on-one with any students who need help. My ds has had tutorials with her for an essay, as well as emailing with her back and forth on an essay. She's the best writing teacher!