If I go with CW...........

[lovemy9kids]

for my 7th grader, should I use WWE for my 3rd and 4th graders or use the CW primer series? Also, do I still need to do A Beka Language with them for grammar or is the CW primer enough?

 

Thank you,

Renee

[Kfamily]

I'm fairly new to CW myself but your 3rd and 4th graders could probably go right into Aesop A. From what I've read about the Primer I don't think there is a lot of grammar built into it. You may want to add to it. Hopefully some of the more experienced moms will add to this.:001_smile:

[Kathie in VA]

I haven't seen WWE or the new CW primer books. I have used the CW Aesop books. These are fine to start with for 3rd and/or 4th graders. You should check the CW boards to see if you 4th grader should start with CW Aesop A or CW Aesop B (not sure if it will be easier for you to keep them together ... or to separate them a bit ;) ).

 

The grammar in CW Aesop is slow and gentle, no previous grammar needed. You can do a separate program if you want, but it's not necessary.

 

We also do a typing program either before starting or in conjunction. It helps to ease the pain of editing the papers :001_smile:

 

hth

[siloam]

for my 7th grader, should I use WWE for my 3rd and 4th graders or use the CW primer series? Also, do I still need to do A Beka Language with them for grammar or is the CW primer enough?

 

Thank you,

Renee

 

Renee,

 

You can start Aesop A if you like. Just move at the child's pace, so if that means taking to weeks to do the analysis and re-write then that is fine. They do need to be able to do narration and dictation through.

 

But if you want to wait a year then I would say it depends on how well they can do narration and dictation now. If they struggle with it I would go with WWE, but if they have the skill down then I would go with the CW primer series.

 

Heather

 

[lovemy9kids]

Now that I have looked at samples of Writing Tales I, I am wondering if I should use that for my 4th grader, WWE for my 3rd grader (young third grader) and CW for Older Beginners for my 7th grader? Or should I put him in Writing Tales II? I am sorry for all the questions. I just don't know what to do and I can't afford to buy something and then have to put it on the shelf. Money is tight.

 

Thank you so much for your time,

 

Renee

 

PS:

I pm'd you a few days ago about all of this :)

[HiddenJewel]

If your 7th grader is strong in grammar, I would go ahead with the Older Beginner. If grammar is weak, I would probably start in Homer A and run through A & B in one year (possibly doing 3 weeks on one step instead of the scheduled 4).

 

I would look closely at the Aesop samples to see if both your 3rd and 4th grader could use it. That would make your life simpler. And they could work at a slower pace if needed. And perhaps your young 3rd grader could do some of the retelling orally instead of written. (Heather, would that work?)

Edited April 17, 2009 by HiddenJewel

[siloam]

Now that I have looked at samples of Writing Tales I, I am wondering if I should use that for my 4th grader, WWE for my 3rd grader (young third grader) and CW for Older Beginners for my 7th grader? Or should I put him in Writing Tales II? I am sorry for all the questions. I just don't know what to do and I can't afford to buy something and then have to put it on the shelf. Money is tight.

 

Thank you so much for your time,

 

Renee

 

PS:

I pm'd you a few days ago about all of this :)

 

Renee,

 

I remember that, sorry I haven't gotten back to you. Always feel free to PM me again if I don't respond in a week. Things sometimes get lost in my in-box, and if I am just really busy right then I will let you know and tell you when I think I can get to it. If I just don't respond nine chances out of ten it got lost in the shuffle.

 

Hmmm, is the 3rd grader OK with narration and dictation? If so I would tend to put both the 3rd and 4th grader into WT1. You would just expect more out of the 4th grader.

 

If your 3rd grader isn't doing well with narration/dictation, then yes WWE would teach that well. I am finding my 3rd grader who has never understood how to summarize is coming along in narration faster than I thought she would with WWE. Then you could consider putting the 4th and 7th graders in WT II together. They would both need to have had the grammar from WT I.

 

If that would irritate your 7th grader then I would consider putting your 4th grader in WTI and the 7th grader in WTII, or putting your 4th grader in WT II and the 7th grader in CW Homer A. To do the 2nd your 7th grader would need to have parts of speech down, and preferably be able to diagram sentences. A child can learn it as they go, it just might take a bit longer to finish the program that way. I prefer to have the skills in place then bring them together for the program.

 

The goal would be to avoid the Older Beginners book simply because you won't re-use it with the younger kids. The other books you would re-use.

 

Does that help?

 

Heather

 

[Melissa in CA]

If your 7th grader is strong in grammar, I would go ahead with the Older Beginner. If grammar is weak, I would probably start in Homer A and run through A & B in one year (possibly doing 3 weeks on one step instead of the scheduled 4).

 

I would look closely at the Aesop samples to see if both your 3rd and 4th grader could use it. That would make your life simpler. And they could work at a slower pace if needed. And perhaps your young 3rd grader could do some of the retelling orally instead of written. (Heather, would that work?)

 

I'm going to throw in my two cents and agree with Cynthia. I think I would look at CW Aesop for my younger two, and either CW Older Beginner, or Homer A depending on ability.

 

I really like Writing Tales, but because there isn't a WT3, I truly wish I had started with CW from the very get-go. I am currently undecided about what my son should do next because we are not familiar with CW. I hesitate going into Older Beginner because I feel like we should begin in Homer A...yet, I don't want to be holding him back so much!! So it's either we bite the bullet and go with OB, or we go an entirely different route with IEW and forget CW even exists. ;) But, I canNOT seem to make a decision!

 

Now, if there were a WT3, the decision would be made...we would use that.

 

SO...all that to say, if your older child is using CW, it just seems advantageous all-around to begin the younger two with CW as well. Of course, WT is very well put together also. Ugh! :lol:

[siloam]

And perhaps your young 3rd grader could do some of the retelling orally instead of written. (Heather, would that work?)

 

Good idea!

 

Yes you could take that approach and just write it out for them (or type as I do). With the longer models have them just re-tell the portion used for dictation/copywork/grammar vs. the whole thing. That way you could still add their quotations that they will work on in the grammar day.

 

You probalby could do just a straight oral narration too, but then you would have to find a strategic plan for helping them learn to do the quotations work later on. I am sure it could be done, I am just not in top thinking form this week. :blink:

 

Heather

 

 

 

[lovemy9kids]

After A LOT of reading and researching all three programs, listening to great advice, and praying, I think I have plan but would love to have your feed back.

 

For my third grader, I will use WWE level 2 or 3. I don't really know. He is excellent at retelling the story, remembering the facts etc. but a little slow with dictation. Copy work he would be fine with.

 

For my 4th grader, I am thinking WTI along with her A beka language/grammar book and spelling.

 

For my 7th grader, I am thinking IEW. He is very academic and I really feel like he needs to learn all those different forms of writing. I don't think he will struggle because he can narrate and dictate fairly well.

 

A big factor in my decision was me being realistic with myself. I have seven children and in July I will have a newborn. I am not confident that I will be able to do CW justice. It won't get done, and then I will feel guilty, and then a whole year will have been wasted. At least that is what I foresee. So, as much as I want to do CW, because I think it probably is the best choice, I honestly don't think I could handle it. If I had less children and they were older etc. then I think I would attempt it. I just know myself too well. I get overwhelmed with all there is to do around here and adding a baby to the mix.....well, it'll just be harder.

 

So, what do you think? Please be brutally honest with me. :001_smile:

 

Thank you all for your help, it is very much appreciated.

 

Renee

Edited April 21, 2009 by quiverfull

[Melissa in CA]

I think you know yourself best! ;) Your plan sounds fine to me. I don't know if I would attempt CW with 3rd, 4th and 7th graders as well as a baby on the way either. Shoot, I am afraid I won't be able to stick with it and I only have one child left at home to teach! I just really struggle with making writing a priority. Writing is the one subject I feel very inept at teaching and therefore the easiest to let myself drop on a busy day. I'm pathetic.

 

I would go with what you are comfortable using. All the programs you have chosen are great choices...not a bad apple in the bunch.:D