English/writing

[Myhandsfull]

Hello again, ladies.

Right now, I am using Primary Language Lessons for my 2nd grade boy. I'm totally not loving it, to be honest, and neither is he. I don't feel like he's writing enough. We are using My Father's World, and I really like the other parts of the program. My friend Wendy is big into CQLA (not sure what that stands for), but I don't know.

Any thoughts? Because we do a unit study approach, I'm okay with a writing workbook, and I think my son would be, too. We use Rod and Staff spelling. It's too easy, but since math is a bit of a struggle for him, I don't mind that one subject being a bit of review.

Any thoughts? He's a pretty good reader, but not a great writer.

Dana

[rmcx5]

Is PLL the follow-up to First Lang lessons? I have FLL and I know there is a new book.....I've heard of CQLA and checked into it. I like the idea of it but I know that my implementation of it wouldn't be the best for my kids so we're going with Rod & Staff English next year for my 2 oldest (3rd grade & 5th next year)....switching from Abeka Lang A and Spectrum LA 2.

I bought Writing Strands but have yet to break it out :)

Sorry...can't offer a lot of specific help.

Rhonda C.
Ft. Monroe, VA

[Emma's#1fan]

We use every assignment that requires writing as a writing experience. I correct her writing for all subjects; teaching punctuation, spelling, and so on. The only thing I do not correct is Em's journal because this is for her pleasure and it is considered free writing.
From simple sentences to summaries, we use it to teach writing skills, no matter what the subject. When I think about it, all subjects require her to write a little or a lot of something.
This might be an option.
Patty

[KathleenS]

I highly recommend checking out The Institute for Excellence in Writing. I tried several different workbooks and programs and felt like my son wasn't learning enough in the writing dept., and he completely disliked writing. He went to a public magnet school K-4, and all he learned was the same essay format, plunking in a different topic - no quality. "And these are my favorite three things about summer...."

I heard Andrew Pudewa (author of the program) speak at our local homeschool convention - and wished that this program was around when I was a kid. I have a college degree, but I have learned so much from viewing the DVDs with my son!

There are 3 levels to the "Student Writing Intensive"
Group A (generally 3rd - 5th grade, but younger or older could use it)
Group B (this is the one we started with this year for 6th - 8th)
Group C (high school)

They are lessons on DVD, and there are additional lessons plans FREE on his website -for additional practice

Also, as a companion there is a DVD program for the parents "Teaching Writing: Structure and Style" Which goes over everything he teaches in all 3 levels, the "why" for his methods, and how to guide your child. It is based on a checklist, which eliminates your child feeling like he/she is being criticized. They either have the listed components in their writing, or they need to go back and add them....

There are also "Continuation Course" s for each level -

Anyway...in the past 5 months, my son's writing has improved dramatically. This isn't a cheap program, but if I had all the money from the other cheap stuff I bought....I think learning to write well is an important life skill, and worth the money.
The student dvd sets are $99
The parent set is $159
but, if you purchase them together they give you a discount $229

Oh, best of all, my son enjoys the DVDs and actually enjoys writing now!! Can't put a price on that!! :)

writing-edu.com

[KathleenS]

We used writing strands for a few months - 2 years ago - but my son became bored with it, and I just didn't feel like he was making much progress. Just our experience!

[bunnytracks]

I am using MFW also and when we did PLL I skipped around in the book alot to cover the topics I thought they needed. I didnt' love it either but it was my frist year homeschooling and my DH said to do it anyway *sigh*
I am hearing alot of good things about Shurley English.

[Myhandsfull]

You know, I'm thinking about skipping around in PLL too, since I'm out of curriculum $$ for the year. Then next year, I'll look at some of these others.

Thanks so much for the advice, ladies!!

Dana

[laurie]

Oh, best of all, my son enjoys the DVDs and actually enjoys writing now!! Can't put a price on that!! :)

writing-edu.com
Wow, I will look into this dd hates writing. Do you consider the parent and student sets both necessary?
Laurie

[jacqlyn00]

I just ordered Shurley english, I cant take another minute of abeka 2nd grade at this point lol. I also looked into that dvd program and I'll order that too (is the teachers dvd course nessary?) after we get our taxes back. My ds hates writing and Abeka hasnt even covered verbs, nouns etc at this point. Let alone a proper sentence, or a paragraph. Today he's supposed to write a strory...umm they havent even covered a proper sentence. How do they think he's going to just write a story?
I hope we like these two programs, they're pricy but they both look good.

[Deena]

Shurley Grammar is rote memory stuff. Kind of cool to hear your kids repeat the little "diddy's", and we had fun for awhile....but my kids got tired of it quick!

It was quite a bit of work on my part too, which at that time overwhelmed me. So we went to other things.

[jacqlyn00]

Well shoot Deena, what are you using now? I dont want my day taken up with teaching English. I despise English lol. I might just have to send this shurley english back once we get it in.

[Deena]

Well shoot Deena, what are you using now? I dont want my day taken up with teaching English. I despise English lol. I might just have to send this shurley english back once we get it in.Boy I sounded negative, eh? :lol: Sorry, didn't mean to. You know, I haven't looked at it since then, and that was still in the late 90's, so who knows what it's like now! So it could be JUST the thing for you! I THINK you'd have to add a writing program in for it though. But see, they may have revamped it to include that now.

Now we're using Rod & Staff English, and it's something that we all like! But I know it's not for everybody! I just like it cuz we can do lessons orally, and if they get it we can move on. If they are struggling some with it, we can do some of the assignments on paper, which seems to help them learn it better. And/or do the worksheets for that lesson. My kids are 10 and 14 though, so are doing more independent work than they were before......

[jacqlyn00]

I was trying to decide between R&S and Shurley. I believe it comes with a writing program now, at least it said it did. It doesnt come with phonics, or spelling.
I dont want to spend a lot of time on lessons though. My ds wont sit still for me gabbing away for an hour. Heck, I dont want to gab away for an hour either lol.
I guess I can look it over and send it back if it looks to be too much.

[Deena]

I was trying to decide between R&S and Shurley. I believe it comes with a writing program now, at least it said it did. It doesnt come with phonics, or spelling.
I dont want to spend a lot of time on lessons though. My ds wont sit still for me gabbing away for an hour. Heck, I dont want to gab away for an hour either lol.
I guess I can look it over and send it back if it looks to be too much.Oh but this one is very participatory! He'll be involved with it a lot! So see, it may be just the thing for ya'll! :D

[She]

IEW (Inst. Excel. Writing) is real good and especially boys like it. It is a guy that teaches it on the dvd and he is pretty "goofy" to the girls but...boys love that stuff.

You can buy IEW without getting the dvd's and figure it out on your own but...we went with the dvds.

Classical Writing is real good, too. It takes a bit to get into the swing of all you have to but...we used that before we switched to IEW.

We use R&S for English/Grammar and it is serious no frills but...it works for us. We use Spelling Workout for spelling.

I do a lot of my own stuff for reading. I have a high level reader so...I have to have a broad range for level work depending on what I'm working. Veritas Press makes some neat comprehension guides for several books.

HTH

[Emma's#1fan]

I am glad to read about Shurley Grammar. My SIL gave me one of the books from her class. I never really got into it. Perhaps I need to look it over again.
Patty

[Myhandsfull]

Wow, this discussion has been really helpful! I'll definitely check into all of these.

Dana