Writing with lighter grammer for "3rd" grade+ studied dictation vs lists

[countrymum]

Same rising 3rd grader. I have a thought. What ya think of the combination below?

1. Memoria press Classical Composition Introduction or possibly Fable if I combine with 5th grade bro.
2. Simply Charlotte Mason Spelling Wisdom and Using Language Well
3. Perhaps Memoria Press English Grammar Recitation
4. Maybe 1 Memoria Press literature guide in January when we hole up for good sentence writing practice.
5. She is also writing in Bob Jones 3rd grade science workbook
6. We have a Bob Jones 3rd cursive workbook

When I asked her, her only response was whatever took the least time...;)

Edited March 26, 2021 by countrymum
Spelling....my nemis

[Lori D.]

Well, if this is the same child you mentioned in your other thread who hates narration and is artsy and creative and prefers creating her own stories... I think that after looking at the sample pages of MP's Intro to Composition, that the formal instruction and very structured writing with narration is going to NOT be a good fit at all. Also, you mentioned in that same post you would like to encourage her creativity. I don't see MP's Intro to Composition as being a good fit for assisting with that goal, either. JMO.

Edited March 27, 2021 by Lori D.

[countrymum]

I know, but I think she'd stop being creative if I turned it into anything required or resembling "school".  She only likes to write when it's her idea, and not really all that often. Mostly she'd rather play pretend or run around outside. 

She has done well with some fable retelling recently in language lessons for today. She also doesn't seem to mind the narrations from that text.  She is getting better at them. She just doesn't like to narrate history or books she's read on her own. Thats what made me start thinking of this. 

[Lori D.]

11 minutes ago, countrymum said:

I know, but I think she'd stop being creative if I turned it into anything required or resembling "school".  She only likes to write when it's her idea, and not really all that often. Mostly she'd rather play pretend or run around outside. 

She has done well with some fable retelling recently in language lessons for today. She also doesn't seem to mind the narrations from that text.  She is getting better at them. She just doesn't like to narrate history or books she's read on her own. Thats what made me start thinking of this. 

Totally understand that. My DSs were like that about a lot of things. sigh. 🙄

If it looks like MP will work as a continuation from the language lessons she's been doing and not minding, then great! I hope that will work well for you both. It just looks pretty dry and repetitive to me. 😉 

Edited March 27, 2021 by Lori D.

[PeterPan]

It's a shame there's not something workbooky or open/go that hits narrative at the level some kids need. 

Evan Moor has a 6 Traits Daily Writing that isn't too bad. It's concise, recommended by Timberdoodle, and it actually does a reasonable job. You might hate it less than you think.

If you're wanting the full enchilada https://mindwingconcepts.com/pages/methodology

[countrymum]

 

Yes I've thought that too, but it's also no fluff, predictable, and to the point;) She might take the dry gladly for the rest....

Writing tales looks good too. I also like some of English Lessons Through Literature, but not the book choices, and I already have Spelling Wisdom and handwriting.....

Also with a baby this summer fewer parts might be good....I looked a lot at writeShop, but it looks messy!

My mind isn't made up yet though.....

Edited March 27, 2021 by countrymum

[countrymum]

48 minutes ago, Lori D. said:

Totally understand that. My DSs were like that about a lot of things. sigh. 🙄

If it looks like MP will work as a continuation from the language lessons she's been doing and not minding, then great! I hope that will work well for you both. It just looks pretty dry and repetitive to me. 😉 

That was supposed to go with the above post....not sure what happened...

Edited March 27, 2021 by countrymum

[countrymum]

I will look at 6 traits again too...just saw that.

[Foofaraw]

On 3/26/2021 at 7:27 PM, countrymum said:

Same rising 3rd grader. I have a thought. What ya think of the combination below?

1. Memoria press Classical Composition Introduction or possibly Fable if I combine with 5th grade bro.
2. Simply Charlotte Mason Spelling Wisdom and Using Language Well
3. Perhaps Memoria Press English Grammar Recitation
4. Maybe 1 Memoria Press literature guide in January when we hole up for good sentence writing practice.
5. She is also writing in Bob Jones 3rd grade science workbook
6. We have a Bob Jones 3rd cursive workbook

When I asked her, her only response was whatever took the least time...;)

Have you considered Cottage Press Primer, Level 2? It would cover your numbers 1, 2 and 3 (maybe 6 if she's already learned the basics of cursive).  There's place for drawings with the oral narrations, picture and nature studies.

23 hours ago, countrymum said:

I also like some of English Lessons Through Literature, but not the book choices,

On paper Cottage Press and ELTL are similar, but I like that CP doesn't dictate our chapter books for the whole year.

[PeterPan]

On 3/26/2021 at 9:31 PM, countrymum said:

Writing tales looks good too.

So I will tell you one of the nice things about WT is you can use her once a week co-op lessons and then have the rest of the work be independent. Might be convenient with the baby coming. It really is a wonderful program.

The 6 Traits Daily Writing series is structured and something you could implement with your eyes closed. It's not going to have the pizzazz of WT, but I have used it quite a bit with my ds and appreciate the clear structure. With him I need a lot of open and go and it gives me that. I shared it with ds' intervention specialist, and she's now using it with her kids, haha. 

When choosing between good options, sometimes it's ok to be a bit pragmatic. Like you say, new baby. The co-op lessons so you only teach writing once a week and do the rest independently might make Writing Tales a winner. Or use something else that way, lol.

[countrymum]

I had cottage press 1 time and really looked at it.....I should have put my thoughts into words...somehow it wasnt "right"...helpful I know.

I am really leaning toward memoria press intro to comp or fable, classical academic press fable 1, or writing tales...

[Sarah0000]

She sounds like my son who likes CAP W&R. He also accepted EM Daily 6 Trait Writing but I wouldn't consider that a full program.

[countrymum]

@Sarah0000 how many levels of CAP did you use? I mostly think I want retelling practice and perhaps some work in word choice and strong sentences. Did fable 1 do this?

[Sarah0000]

I've used Fable, Narrative 1 and now on Narrative 2. 

The first three levels are definitely great with those things. IIRC, Fable has all of the same elements as the other two levels but with a bigger picture framework. The others get into some specifics such as outlining that Fable doesn't have, but they all present information from the perspective of communicating ideas in different ways, how words can change meanings, how sentence organization can influence what the reader understands, etc.

I can't remember just how much Fable focuses on word choice and strong sentences. That kind of thing is usually just one portion in each lesson so it's not everyday. Not like a workbook designed specifically for those things.