Too many writing choices

[swellmomma]

I have been following all the threads about writing choices with great interst because I still have to chose one for next year. I am struggling with a decision though. I do not know enough about writing to do it on my own, I need my hand held at least for the first yer(I have not taught writing yet). Ds is extremely writing phobic, dd to a lesser degree. We have tried WS and he would wind up on the floor in a melt down over writing 1 sentence. So last month I bought WWE and that is working for right now. The problem is next year both kids are being registered as blended in Language arts which means they have to meet the provincial outcomes for grade 5 language arts, the outcomes are pretty basic but they have to write a variety of things like letters, reports, stories, poems and newspaper articles.

 

Is there a program out there that teaches writing gently, incrementally, but also with a variety of styles not just creative writing? Or is there something that will teach me how to teach them and grade them so that I can peice together my own writing program?

[Sunshine State Sue]

WS = Writing Strands

WS = Write Shop

 

which did you try?

[noah&emmasmommy]

Two things you might want to consider are Institute for Excellence in Writing, or IEW, which is www.excellenceinwriting.com or WriteShop which is www.writeshop.com

I used Writing Strands with my writing phobic son as well. He's almost 12. It was not that great of a program, in my opinion, as I felt uninformed as to what to look for in his writing. I like the step by step instructions for the child, but it still seemed like so much of a chore for him. I have looked into IEW because as you mentioned, I also do not know how to teach writing. IEW is a DVD seminar on how you, the parent, can teach writing to your children. I have not purchased it, however, simply because of the price. I am extremely interested in it, however. A friend of mine uses WriteShop, and she LOVES it. I have taken a look at it, and it looks fairly user-friendly, with step by step instructions, and what to look for in your child's writing. I am also in the midst of searching for writing curriculum, so I just thought I'd share these two finds with you. hope this helps.

[swellmomma]

WS = Writing Strands

WS = Write Shop

 

which did you try?

 

Writing strands

[Sunshine State Sue]

Two things you might want to consider are Institute for Excellence in Writing, or IEW, which is www.excellenceinwriting.com or WriteShop which is www.writeshop.com

 

:iagree:

 

IEW has a great reputation. I did not choose it because I knew I wouldn't sit and watch DVDs. We are using Write Shop for 6th-7th-8th, and it is working very well. It gives me all the hand-holding I need and gives my reluctant writer all the instruction he needs. Most of the assignments in Write Shop 1 are 1 paragraph long. You may read my review in this thread.

 

If I read your post correctly, your oldest will be in 5th grade next year? Write Shop is meant for 6th and up. They recommend Wordsmith Apprentice for 5th grade. We used Shurley and Writing Strands in 5th. Both were not helpful.

[swellmomma]

:iagree:

 

IEW has a great reputation. I did not choose it because I knew I wouldn't sit and watch DVDs. We are using Write Shop for 6th-7th-8th, and it is working very well. It gives me all the hand-holding I need and gives my reluctant writer all the instruction he needs. Most of the assignments in Write Shop 1 are 1 paragraph long. You may read my review in this thread.

 

If I read your post correctly, your oldest will be in 5th grade next year? Write Shop is meant for 6th and up. They recommend Wordsmith Apprentice for 5th grade. We used Shurley and Writing Strands in 5th. Both were not helpful.

 

Yes, both big kids will be doing grade 5 next year. Does IEW or wordsmith apprentice teach a variety of writing styles like poetry, letters, etc or just the basic paragraph and then short story? See this is my dilemma I have to teach them a variety of styles to meet provincial requirements but all the programs that seem geared towards reluctant writers only focus on the creative writing style not everything else as well. I looked at Sonlight LA because it has variety but I have heard it does not teach it incrementally, just a writing assignment given each week, which doesn't work for me either.

 

If I used something like IEW or wordsmith apprentice, are those skills easily transferable into other writing styles? Or is there other items that would work as a supplement to teach things like poetry to them?

[HockeyMom]

Whether Write Shop will give you the framework to fulfill LA learning outcomes I can't say - I've not seen or used the program. Wordsmith Apprentice, however, is a resource I used and we liked it very much. The program (for grades 4 - 6) is paced gently and it's incremental. My capable, yet reluctant writer, took to it well and enjoyed Ms. Cheaney's engaging prose (the book is written to the student). It's likely to provide most of the writing forms your learning outcomes require. Any that it doesn't, I think you could easily come up with on your own, or with the help of your DL advisor. It doesn't contain a whole lot for the teaching parent, but this didn't end up being a negative for me. What you should look for in the student's writing will come to you once you see what Ms. Cheaney has the student do. Looking back, for the money I spent on this resource, I considered it a gem.

 

IEW - which I now use - is a different kettle of fish insofar as direct correlation with a list of LA learning outcomes. We are getting a lot out of the program, but by itself, the program won't look like a traditional writing progression you'd see in a public DL program. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just different. You might want to check with your DL adviser to see if she is familiar with IEW and whether she'd accept it. Here in B.C. many independent DL's endorse IEW. Also, some public school teachers have seen the program and use chunks of it themselves in their classrooms. The program is distributed in Canada and material within the Student Writing Intensives has been modified for Canadian content. I haven't seen the Canadianized version - ordering from the US was cheaper for me at the time ;).

 

Hope the helps you some.

 

Cheers,

[3byzaz]

We have absolutely LOVED Meaningful Composition. I have used it for my 6th and 4th graders this year. It is a Christian program. Very much like IEW, but very step by step and in a workbook format. It is also able to be self-instructional, but you can help if you want.

 

They are coming out with a ton more books also and they really look great at the high school level!

[DarlaS]

Does IEW or wordsmith apprentice teach a variety of writing styles like poetry, letters, etc or just the basic paragraph and then short story? See this is my dilemma I have to teach them a variety of styles to meet provincial requirements but all the programs that seem geared towards reluctant writers only focus on the creative writing style not everything else as well.

 

I would look at Evan-Moor products. You can see much of it online (sadly, not all of it anymore) and it's nice bite sized colorful writing instruction and aligned with state standards.

 

For sentences and paragraphs:

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/Series.aspx?CurriculumID=26&WT.svl=1&P=2&SeriesID=148

 

Poetry (Start with the bottom one first):

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/Writing/Poetry/Catalog.aspx?CurriculumID=26&ClassID=172

 

Stories:

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/Series.aspx?CurriculumID=26&ClassID=250&SeriesID=77

 

Everything in one long overwhelming list:

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/Writing/Writing_Skills/Catalog.aspx?CurriculumID=26&ClassID=186

 

Writing friendly letters etc is usually covered in grammar. Try getting your hands (borrow etc) on a 3/4th grade Rod and Staff book. They explain it quite nicely. They cover a lot of writing actually but I find anything beyond the basics (poetry etc) to be done in a rather uninspiring (to me) way.

 

I *adore* Evan-Moor and I love e-books!

[swellmomma]

I would look at Evan-Moor products. You can see much of it online (sadly, not all of it anymore) and it's nice bite sized colorful writing instruction and aligned with state standards.

 

For sentences and paragraphs:

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/Series.aspx?CurriculumID=26&WT.svl=1&P=2&SeriesID=148

 

Poetry (Start with the bottom one first):

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/Writing/Poetry/Catalog.aspx?CurriculumID=26&ClassID=172

 

Stories:

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/Series.aspx?CurriculumID=26&ClassID=250&SeriesID=77

 

Everything in one long overwhelming list:

 

http://www.evan-moor.com/Writing/Writing_Skills/Catalog.aspx?CurriculumID=26&ClassID=186

 

Writing friendly letters etc is usually covered in grammar. Try getting your hands (borrow etc) on a 3/4th grade Rod and Staff book. They explain it quite nicely. They cover a lot of writing actually but I find anything beyond the basics (poetry etc) to be done in a rather uninspiring (to me) way.

 

I *adore* Evan-Moor and I love e-books!

 

Actually I am using R&S grammar, I didn't realize it had letter writing etc in it, we haven't gotten to that point yet obviously. I will look into those evan moor products. I do have the take to your seat writing centers but they don't actively explain the How they just tell the student WHat to write and that doesn't work for them

[Colleen in NS]

they have to write a variety of things like letters, reports, stories, poems and newspaper articles.

 

R&S will help you with all of this except newspaper articles (at least, I haven't seen newspaper articles so far, and we're finished book 5). I'd imagine you could get a kids book from the library about writing newspaper articles.

[Tami in CA]

I second Meaningful Composition! I have tried every program out there - including IEW, Writing Strands, Writeshop, etc... and Meaningful Composition is the best! I am using it with both my son and daughter. Lots of hand-holding and it is step by step in the instruction to the student. :thumbup:

[Brindee]

 

I second Meaningful Composition! I have tried every program out there - including IEW, Writing Strands, Writeshop, etc... and Meaningful Composition is the best! I am using it with both my son and daughter. Lots of hand-holding and it is step by step in the instruction to the student. :thumbup:

So, do you pay about $64 a year for these books (1st & 2nd semester) per student?

[Tami in CA]

Meaningful Composition is $32 a book I believe, so yes, it is $64 a year since each book is for one semester. I truly think it is worth it since I needed this kind of in-depth instruction. :)

[Brindee]

I need in-depth instruction/guidance for myself as well! I purchased Write Shop from someone here on WTM, but haven't received it yet, to compare what I see with it and with this one. I need to keep this one in mind, just in case... :D

[hferguson10]

Have you looked into Susan Wise Bauer's new Complete Writer curriculum? I am going to start my youngest two on it from level 1, but the handbook has a great chapter on writing instruction through the stages that is very purposefully not overwhelming and couched in basics to get a good foundation laid. I think it's worth looking into. I will use the principles to play catch-up with my other three kids.

 

Stage 1 - K-4 or 5 - copywork, narration, dictation

Stage 2 - 5 or 6 - 8 - outlining, summarizing

Stage 3 - 9+ - compositions

 

I'm pumped because writing is the subject that has fallen the deepest through the cracks for us. And my husband, is very particulaar about writing and grammar, really likes the process of this curriculum.

[swellmomma]

Have you looked into Susan Wise Bauer's new Complete Writer curriculum? I am going to start my youngest two on it from level 1, but the handbook has a great chapter on writing instruction through the stages that is very purposefully not overwhelming and couched in basics to get a good foundation laid. I think it's worth looking into. I will use the principles to play catch-up with my other three kids.

 

Stage 1 - K-4 or 5 - copywork, narration, dictation

Stage 2 - 5 or 6 - 8 - outlining, summarizing

Stage 3 - 9+ - compositions

 

I'm pumped because writing is the subject that has fallen the deepest through the cracks for us. And my husband, is very particulaar about writing and grammar, really likes the process of this curriculum.

 

I have WWE and the kids are doing well, we had to go all the way back to level 1 just to prove they could do it, I am jumping them up to level 2 in June. The problem though with the stages like that is composition doesn't start until high school but by registering the way I am next year they have to doing composition in grade 5.