Mommieeeee Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Hi, I am debating about teaching the 5th/6th grade Language Arts class next school year for my son's co-op. The co-op class would meet three times a week for 1 hour each time. Currently, I am looking around at all the curriculums, but have no idea what would work best. Any suggestions? Thanks, Mommieeeee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in VA Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Well first I'd recommend you decide what you want "Language Arts" to include. Are you thinking grammar, writing, literature, literature analysis? All of these? Just some of these? Narrow the subject down first, then we can help you pick a program. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommieeeee Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 I believe that it should cover a little of everything. A little writing, grammar, spelling, etc., is my thought. Spelling is easy enough to do on its own. A few book reports. But everything else? It can be two curriculum if needed. To be honest, it is really up to the teacher. The class is just entitled Language Arts with no definite course description. I can also add that students generally go onto IEW next year, so I don't need to cover that one. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Bravewriter has some nice language arts studies available: http://www.bravewriter.com/program/language-arts-programs/the-arrow/already-published-issues and http://www.bravewriter.com/program/language-arts-programs/the-boomerang/already-published-issues show some studies that are already published for lit studies. It would be easy to add in vocab/spelling to these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in VA Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 I'd recommend Writing Tales 2. It includes all of those things except literature studies which I think would be the easiest thing to add in the form of Progeny Press guides or other such studies. WT2 has writing, grammar, narration, outlining etc and you don't have to have done WT1 in order to do it. For that age group WT2 would be appropriate. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Well first I'd recommend you decide what you want "Language Arts" to include. Are you thinking grammar, writing, literature, literature analysis? All of these? Just some of these? Narrow the subject down first, then we can help you pick a program. Heather :iagree: "Language arts" doesn't really mean much, as people mean different things when they say it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 I'd do Shurley Grammar and IEW:-) Carrie:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommieeeee Posted May 1, 2009 Author Share Posted May 1, 2009 I like the look of Writing Tales 2. But I wonder if it is enough to have 3 hours of work in class plus about 1 hour of "homework" a week. I don't think I want something as rigorous as Abeka. I don't want to do IEW as that is what the kids will do next year and there are already two IEW teachers there. So, really it is up to what I want to teach and I guess I haven't quite settled it myself. How about this, 1/4 writing, 1/4 grammar, 1/4 reading for literature and analysis, 1/4 everything else "language arts." For most of these kiddos in the class, this is their first or second year of sitting in a classroom setting, so I don't want to make it painful, but fun and educational. Does that make it as clear as mud? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 I'd do a mini-unit on poetry and studying literary devices. I'd then move on to a book report or book review (book should have min. 100 pages) complete with creative project where they create a skit about the book, a comic strip or a billboard using a cereal box. They would need to present these to the class. I'd also look at our community and local newspaper to see if there is someone we can write business letters to regarding the current state of affairs. ie: to complain to the city about the poor playground equipment, to request cycling maps from a tourism or recreations office, to critique a local library and suggest they offer certain perks to homeschoolers, to encourage funding for a low-income neighborhood's baseball team, etc. You can always start the co-op off by explaining that spelling and grammar count on all assignments. Sounds like fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in VA Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 I like the look of Writing Tales 2. But I wonder if it is enough to have 3 hours of work in class plus about 1 hour of "homework" a week. I don't think I want something as rigorous as Abeka. I don't want to do IEW as that is what the kids will do next year and there are already two IEW teachers there. So, really it is up to what I want to teach and I guess I haven't quite settled it myself. How about this, 1/4 writing, 1/4 grammar, 1/4 reading for literature and analysis, 1/4 everything else "language arts." For most of these kiddos in the class, this is their first or second year of sitting in a classroom setting, so I don't want to make it painful, but fun and educational. Does that make it as clear as mud? Oh I definately think so. If I'm reading this right you have 3 1-hour session per week with homework in between. I'd guess you might be tight on time even. First of all 1 hour in a group setting isn't nearly as long as you think. You have a grammar lesson, a writing lesson, sharing your writings, recommending changes, explaning the expanding of the story, vocabulary, copywork, narration, grammar games etc. The program comes with lessons for using it in a co-op with ways to use the games etc. I think it would be very good for that age and that amount of time. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 I have a question about Writing Tales. It looks great and seems to get high reviews. I am wondering if the Teacher Guide covers how to grade their work? I am not strong in this area, so would need hand-holding in that area! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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