rafiki Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 My son likes CW. I can't say that he loves it yet, but the other day he told me that parts of school were fun, like the part where we diagram sentences. :001_huh: He did not get the grammar lovin' gene from me. I like the stories that CW uses as models. We are just finishing Aesop B and I found most of the stories to be well liked by him. The James Baldwin stories were especially appealing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2g2b Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 My son is in 5th grade and likes Wordsmith Apprentice. He loves comics and there are comics through out the book. It isn't on the level of IEW as far as teaching writing. However, he can do it independently and this year with a new baby we needed that. We can work more with the IEW next year. Vickie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andie Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Growing with Grammar has probably been the least painful thing for the boy here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 We are using Analytical Grammar for 6th-7th-8th grade and, while ds doesn't love any schoolwork, he appreciates the efficiency of the program. Caution: if you have a child who needs a lot of repetition in grammar, this may not be the best choice. We are using Megawords for spelling and ds likes it because it's easy. Test scores show him to be at or above grade level, so I'm happy too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I agree about Wordsmith Apprentice. We're about half-way through, and my boys kind of like it and it gets done without many complaints. I don't think it has enough writing so far, so I also have them do journal writing and some other writing. We will finish the book though, and then start one of the IEW-themed books next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I'm guessing that learning styles and personality are going to come into play more than anything. My two oldest boys have been very visual and kinesthetic; my youngest it's hard to tell yet since he's only 4, but he seems more balanced than them. He likes pictures but auditory learning works fine for him too, from what I can tell, so I'm thinking different things might be a good fit for him than they are for my other boys right now. Anyway, for my school-age boys: Rod and Staff works well for my oldest. He needs the repetition and does better with mastery learning. All About Spelling is perfect for my 8 year old, he loves being able to see and touch, it really helps. We've had no complaining about either of those. Other things we're still working on finding the right fit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Girl Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 My son is enjoying the Michael Clay Thompson products. The ones we have used are Grammar Island, Sentence Island, Building Language, and we are working slowly through Paragraph Town. These have been for a 7yo 2nd grader. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 My boys don't complain about Galore Park English (Junior and So You Really Want to Learn....). I think there's a good mix of passages for girls and boys. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 My younger son, who is somewhat behind my older one in the LA area, never complained about First Language Lessons (we skipped some of the repitition), Primary Language Lessons or Intermediate Language Lessons. He's using WordSmith Apprentice this year and seems to like it, too. I used a Spectrum Writing workbook with him a year or so ago and he seemed to like it pretty well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Youngs Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I have 12yo and 10 yo boys doing the following: Easy Grammar, Spelling Power, Latina Christiana I, McGuffey's Third Reader for vocab and public speaking and they write a history narration a day for me each day. The only complaints I've had are when I've changed our program around. The only new addition was Spelling Power last summer. We've used Spelling Workout, IEW, Imitations in Writing, Writing Strands and LLATL. They were all either too easy, I hated them, or it seemed like busy work. What we are doing now is great for them and I can see them progress. I do think that the curriculums above, used alone, would not be sufficient without a classic literature program, to build up their vocabulary and stretch their minds~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homemama2 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 For my ds6: FLL 1/2 (cuz it's FAST) ;) AAS (using the tiles = less handwriting which= big thumbs up here) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrianne Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 For any grade, what language arts products have your boys never complained about or possibly even enjoyed? We are big fans of FLL. My boys love these short easy lessons. They remember the chants especially the preposition chant. I love the fact that narration, grammar, poem memorization, and dictation are rolled into one program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaof2andtwins Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I think the only language arts my son did not complain about was Winston Grammar. He did get tired of using the cards. He is a short cut kind of kid. Now that I think about it, he didn't complain about CW Aesop B either. I don't think he loved it, but at least he didn't have to come up with original ideas. We are starting to use Writer's Jungle now, and he actually seems to like the Friday Freewrites. Jennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 My 8 yr old loves loves FLL. He gets excited when I pull out the book. WWE is a bit more of a challenge for him. When it's time for dictation he paraphases instead of writing word for word what the sentence is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 My 6 yo likes WWE1. He always wants to do it first, along with Singapore Math--his favorite subjects. He tolerates AAS. I think he would duslike any spelling program, though, and he dislikes workbooks especially, so AAS seems the best because of the hands-on. He has come to dislike FLL. We are almost done with level 1 and already skip all the poetry in favor of other poems. I was still planning on using FLL2, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I agree about Wordsmith Apprentice. :iagree: My son really struggles with writing and this has been great for him. We do other writing in addition. He is just finishing a research paper that I have been surprisingly pleased with :001_smile: However, he hated working on that, and almost never complains about the daily writing we with do with Wordsmith Apprentice. It is a great way to gently keep a reluctant writer writing. Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle T Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 DS, 12.5, is currently enrolled in two online classes with Time4Writing, which is by the same company as Time4Learning. DS is doing a basic mechanics class, and a paragraph writing class. I'm personally not thrilled with either class, because there just isn't enough instruction/direction before assignments are given. Often just a brief half page of examples, then the student has a quiz. But DS has done every assignment without complaint, and is always interested in any teacher feedback or grade. Other than doing freewrites, which he likes, this is the least complaint I've ever had with writing. Once we finish the Time4Writing classes, we will start Wordsmith Apprentice. Michelle T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSDCY Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 We enjoy Michael Clay Thompson's LA program very much this year. Ds really likes Grammar Island and Sentence Island. They use stories to introduce grammar and sentence structure so it is fun and gentle. Next year we are going to continue with his next level which is Grammar Town and Paragraph Town. Other than IEW, I'd say this is my best curriculum find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori in MS Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 The FLL series, and WWE have been favorites here. They used to hate Writing Strands, but now don't really mind doing it. They also like the IEW dvds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Well, neither boy jumps up and down for joy with *any* school related thing, but the following are programs that I never heard complaints about. (lol) Best of luck finding what fits your boys! Warmly, Lori D. Writing - Ready, Set, Revise (gr. 4-6) -- great "writing warm-up", doing just a page a day - Wordsmith Apprentice (gr. 4-6) - Jump In (gr. 5-8) Grammar - Take Five Minutes, A History Fact a Day for Editing (gr. 4-6) - Comicstrip Grammar (gr. 5-8) - word usage review worksheets - Giggles in the Middle (gr. 6-8) - editing; grammar concepts review - Chortling Bard (gr. 9-12) - editing; grammar concepts review - Winston Grammar - Basic (gr. 4-5), Wordworks (gr. 6) Advanced (gr. 7-8) Done on whiteboard, 3x/week, 4 sentences/day, fast and painless -- our boys always looked at it more like a puzzle to solve. Spelling - Megawords (gr. 4 and up) - one-on-one word discussion/practice (variety of techniques) Vocabulary - English From the Roots Up (gr. 4-8) - we did it as a game - "in the moment" quick definition/discussion as we read (helps them retain the words hearing in context) Literature - read alouds and solo read great books -- many titles from Sonlight and 1000 Good Books - Figuratively Speaking (gr. 5-8) -- did it aloud together; fun way to learn literary elements - Garlic Press publishers literature guides - Lightning Lit. & Comp. 7 (gr. 6-8) - Lightning Lit. & Comp. 8 (gr. 7-9) - Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings (gr. 7-10) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annabel Lee Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 At our house, my boys don't mind phonics or grammar b/c they are climbing up the back of the couch and draping themselves upside down across me during the lessons, lol. It gets done, they learn it and they know thier stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtolgd Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 My 8yo ds never complains about doing Growing with Grammar. He will sometimes offer to do more lessons of it in exchange for less math lessons! Needless to say I don't go for that one. :lol: Both of my kids like GWG. They also both really like Explode the Code for Phonics. Writing With Ease doesn't get many complaints either. We have not started spelling yet, so I can't comment there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowWhite Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Most parts of our WinterPromise LA1 and LA2 were "no complainers". Here they are: Explode the Code Right Into Reading 2 SpellWell A/AA Wordly Wise Success With Grammar Grammar Rock software (of COURSE!) Lots of interesting readers at the right reading level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 My ds likes IEW THeme-Based Writing (Ancients this year). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxMama Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 My 6yo- WWE/FLL/AAS My older- LLATL, Format writing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann@thebeach Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Programs he doesn't cringe at and rarely complains about: For phonics/beginning reading: Explode the Code Now I'm Reading series by Nora Gaydos Handwriting Practice: Draw Write Now Others: Sequential Spelling (he actually likes this!) My Little Red Writing Book (journal writing) If I could find a writing program he liked I'd be in heaven ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusPair Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 My 9yo 3rd grader loves McRuffy Phonics & Reading 3rd grade program. McRuffy has always worked with him. They just click together. We also do WWE2, which he thinks is ok, but sneaks in a complaint about here and there. ETC 1-8 he usually complained about, but whizzed along in. I could tell he was enjoying himself when doing the pages. In 1st, he really liked SSRW. He actually loved doing those readers. This is a great thread idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 My 2nd grade boy enjoys (gasp!) Growing with Grammar. Handwriting is always a chore, but he seems to find it mildly tolerable when I create copywork from him using quotes from some of his favorite books. He loves doing Vocabulary Cartoons w/ his older sis. Both kids also love IEW's Poetry Memorization program. Not using a writing or spelling program yet. I will probably start him on IEW's writing program in another year or two. Not sure about spelling -- I'll have to look at other responses to find some ideas. We do tons of reading (out loud & him on his own) & discussion. He loves reading & is an extremely advanced reader. (FYI, duds for him have been FLL, Explode the Code, any handwriting program.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland_Mom Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 My son does not complain about FLL. He did not enjoy Shurley Grammar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Alfred Academy Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Another vote for Growing With Grammar here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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