If you do CW (Homer) what other writing do you require?

[Alana in Canada]

I'm wrestling (again) with our Language Arts program/English/whatever.

 

We use SWR for spelling.

We use Rod and Staff English for grammar.

I've just started using CW Homer with the eldest and will continue doing CW Aesop with the younger.

 

But we also try to do narrations every time we read a chapter in SoTW. When I can, I have the kids do a key word outline (following TWSS) of paragraphs from non-fiction works correlated with our history.

 

Unfortunately, we haven't been doing any copywork (and their handwriting is atrocious) nor dictation (and thus we're struggling like mad with our narrations) both of which are recommended by CW (though only once a week insted of more often a la WTM).

 

However, it occurred to me today that doing CW Homer with the older, (and CW Aesop with the younger) AND the narrations for History 3x a week may be a bit much.

 

Or am I just trying to make something difficult easier in the wrong way, lol?

 

Advice welcome, please.

Edited March 22, 2009 by Alana in Canada

[cajun.classical]

Alana,

 

Great question and one I've been wrestling with. The truth is Homer is intense so I didn't require any other writing. However, Homer doesn't last an entire school year, so that gives you other options. I have noticed that the lessons in CW Poetry don't take long at all, so I am introducing written narrations this term.

 

Again, what is happening in Homer is essentially narration anyway. So, it's oral narrations in our content subjects during the Homer Weeks,and written narrations during Poetry. At least that is the plan for now.

[Alana in Canada]

Thanks Angelina.

[siloam]

Alana,

 

For my oldest I dropped dictation in her 4th grade year. I just came to this realization that she had it down and she needed more work in other areas. Narrations she did through 4th grade and again she pretty much had it mastered. Given Homer does retelling and summarization, I am not having her do narration anymore either. Outlining she started in Aesop, and I haven't had her do it elsewhere. I am considering having her start outlining Apologia when she starts it, but history I don't worry about it with. When she starts Apologia that will include some writing in their thinking questions, but not a lot.

 

I think I will keep most things in an oral discussion format till 9th, then I will transition it over and have her learn how to write it out.

 

Heather

Edited March 22, 2009 by siloam

[Alana in Canada]

Hmm, interesting.

 

I'm going to give a great deal of thought then to perhaps NOT flagellating myself for not doing it "all," lol!

 

Does that make sense?

 

Ant then maybe I'll be able to think clearly about what we need to do and can do.

[siloam]

Hmm, interesting.

 

I'm going to give a great deal of thought then to perhaps NOT flagellating myself for not doing it "all," lol!

 

Does that make sense?

 

Ant then maybe I'll be able to think clearly about what we need to do and can do.

 

Yes I know exactly what you mean. Just earlier today I was drooling over Winter Promise Science. It would be a better fit for my kiddos learning style with all the activities. But after a talk with DH about priorities I realized we just don't have the time for it. I need simple, quick and doable for now, so while it is a good thing I still have to say no for sanity's sake.

 

Heather

 

[Suzannah]

Well, we've used Homer this year and quit doing regular narrations for history (not necesarily on purpose though). I did begin having DS do copywork for the first time to correct sloppy handwriting and also supplement our history readings. We chose to use Julie Shields' (Julie in GA) Medieval Copybook which is copywork taken from Medieval documents, prayers and stories.

 

I have been disappointed with my own ability to ensure history writing this year and plan to make use of IEW's US History Themed writing next year.

 

By and large I'm happy with DS' writing. In fact, I'm thinking we probably should have started with CW for Older Beginners or gone straight into Homer (we started in between the recommended ages for beginners and older beginners so began with Aesop B). I'm considering getting CW for OB for the remainder of the year so we'll finish Homer sooner, then do IEW's History-Themed Writing as part of our history lesson. Then I think we'll also try to do CW Poetry, saving Diogenes for the following year. This is a fairly new plan though and still subject to change.

 

I am also looking to streamline our language arts. We do Latin, Spelling Workout, CW Homer, Abeka Grammar and Copywork. I used to like all the overlap because it reinforces what we're learning in other areas. But now so much of it is feeling like busy work and we don't even do all of everything (minimal grammar and spelling from CW, no writing from Abeka, etc.) I'm now wondering if we could replace Abeka with Daily Grams and maybe drop spelling? But that scares me. :S

[Alana in Canada]

Part of the difficulty comes, I think, with the fact that in WTM, narration, dictations, and outlines etc. are recommended in addition to a writing program. It really does add up to a lot when using CW--which is designed to be a complete Language Arts course, including spelling, grammar, writing, and arguably, even "literature."