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Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wanted--A good writing program
I'd like to start my 4th grader on a writing program to give him more practice with all writing skills including creativity, grammar, reasoning, clarity, usage, persuasion and so on. In other words, everything about writing.
He also needs some help with analyzing text, but his other reading skills are good.
I'm happy to consider all recommendations. So far in my research, the one that has jumped out at me is Igniting Your Writing. I'd like not to spend a lot of money.
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Well, I'll just tell you what I'm using for my 6th grader this summer. Some stuff may be appropriate for your child, but you would have to make the call.
The first thing I ordered this summer that I really like a lot is The Paragraph Book by Dianne Tucker-LaPlount. I got Book 1. It targets structure, but in a clear way (compared to the writing program he has been subjected to over the last couple of years.)
Another book I have been using is Writing Skills by Diana Hanbury King, book 2. It also does a good, quick job of targeting structural problems, but in a creative way.
Both books lend themselves to the after-schooler better than others. I am thrilled that I've found them.
2 big comprehensive ones that I have are the Shurley Method English Made Easy series (I have level 7.) This is a popular homeschooler text. I like it alot, but my son is actually quite good at grammar so those sections are too redundant for us right now. What I do like at this point (we're only at the beginning) is the number of little paragraphs that he has to edit. It has that "sheet a day" format that is easier for me to assign as a parent.
Another big comprehensive curriculum is the Hake Grammar and Writing Series. I think it starts at grade 6, but a bright 4th or 5th grader would probably do okay.
These are the Saxon people, so if you're familiar with Saxon you know how to skip things that are mastered. The curriculum (homeschool version) also covers journal writing (in a way that makes sense)paragraph/essay structure, and the preparation a kid needs to write bigger assignments like, gulp, research papers. Typical of Saxon, it makes it all so easy. I love those people. They have saved my life.
I love the Grammar and Writing 7 that I'm using right now. It's clearing up a lot of confusion with my one son.
For stict grammar teaching, you can't beat Steps to Good Grammar by Genevieve Walberg Schaefer. Coherent and to-the-point, this book covers diagramming (as does the Hake) and has the answers on the opposite page. Even though the book is pointed towards middle school or older, I've used it with my grade schooler from the beginning. This book is why he is so good with grammar.
For spelling, I highly recommend Megawords. Catherine uses this series also. Megawords teaches kids the rules that your school won't teach. It's also a great after-school book.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Hope some of it helps.
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http://loyolaeducationgroup.org/levelviewer.asp?sectiondesc=V06
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http://www.epsbooks.com/dynamic/catalog/series.asp?subject=66S&subjectdesc=Process+%26+Skills&series=2561M
SusanS --
Wow. The Hake Grammar and Writing looks perfect! We already like the Saxon math, and this looks like the structure we need.
Is there a cheap place to buy it that you know of?
The publisher's web site sells the student text for $40 and the teacher packet for $20.
When I google, I don't see anything else. If I have to, I'll spend the 60 bucks, but I thought I'd check first.
I remember that I thought it was pricey, too, but I will say you get a lot for it. The package has the book (which is huge), along with extras for the writing practice. There is the teacher's packet and one with quizzes. They're big because the print isn't too small and they look alot like Saxon math. The examples are very clear and coherent and take up a lot of the page so too many concepts aren't crammed onto one page.
I remember for Hake 6 there was a lot on just basic grammar. In Hake 7 we're getting into gerunds, infinitives and other fun stuff. Also, I'm appreciating the fact that it covers all of the tenses thoroughly and how you "make" them. It's the first time some of that stuff has actually made sense to me.
My son is taking Spanish next year, so a lot of what is covered will be of great help.
I've wasted a lot of money on various things that I couldn't use. These books were definitely worth it.
Originally, I had bought the books for my special ed son, but I realized after this year that my other son was having a writing problem.
Naturally, I didn't pay much attention to all of the writing posts Catherine had written over the last year or so. I thought we were just dandy. Then I went through all of his papers and notebooks at the end of the year and was horrified.
SusanS --
Thanks. I'm in luck because they have a Hake 5.
My son is going into fourth grade this year but he's my "GK" so I think he'll do fine with the Hake 5.
I couldn't tell--do they teach creative writing too?
Also a broader question for anybody--at what point do you realize you may as well home school? I ask this in all seriousness.
I vote for John Warriner's Grammar and Composition books. They are no fluff strictly business grammar and comoposition books with some of the best exercises I have seen. There are 5 courses so you can easily find the right level. they are out of print so you got to find one on ebay or something. not too hard.
chris
ec,
I'm not sure about creative writing because I'm just trying to get my son to write a well-crafted paragraph without having a meltdown.
I didn't homeschool because I have a special ed kid and a gifted kid and my own education was very spotty. The gifted kid also happens to be gifted in math, the one subject that I could never teach him.
Most of the time the schools have done alright by them. My one son has been accelerated by a couple of years in math and is often in special classes that the school pulls together.
He is very logical and is able to understand things in the abstract well beyond his age, but he hates the touchy-feely stuff that a lot of writing has become. He's lost a lot of confidence this year in his writing, so I'm mostly just trying to make sure he writes everyday.
Looking back, I think I could have homeschooled my special ed child, but I needed too much help with the other one.
Here's what wows me about Hake:
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Comprehensive English language curriculum
Grammar, writing, spelling, and vocabulary development
Core-knowledge content of other subject areas including history, geography, science, and literature, as recommended by E. D. Hirsch, embedded in the curriculum
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CORE KNOWLEDGE! I COULD USE SOME OF THAT!
Yes, I think the core knowledge will be my tipping point.
CONTENT! They want ideology? I'll give 'em ideology!
I now BOW to the god of content.
(Sorry, I had too much coca cola today.)
I love Warriner's (I have the "Complete Course" - and if you just click on the ISBN thread you can find the ISBN numbers) - but I haven't used it for afterschooling as yet.
Can't tell about Hake; I ordered 6th grade (I think it's 6th) and it was "too much."
(Too much to get a middle schooler to do, in my own case.)
I'm going to check the rest of these resources.
I am now absolutely convinced that sentence combining and "text reconstruction" are important, mainly because Morningside does both.
So I'm trying to track down resources and/or create my own.
(Too much to get a middle schooler to do, in my own case.)
Yeah, I had the same problem with Hake 6. I started Hake 7 in the summer, though, and that's been much better. He has nothing much going on so doing a little of that weekly is not going to kill him. I am also a little more focused about how I'm going to use it and what is realistic time-wise.
Grade school is such a good time because they are more willing and have more time. Middle schoolers are running off and you feel horribly guilty if you interfere with their need to roam.
I usually do better if he knows in advance that he will be spending 15 minutes before he leaves for camp or after dinner or something. I try hard not to surprise him. The whining then is kept down to a minimum.
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