Beth in Central Texas (question about writing programs)

[cherryblossom]

Thank you for your response to my search for my ideal writing program. I saw on a different post that you also use R&S for grammar. I do as well. Do you have your children complete the writing lessons in R&S in addition to assignments in Classical Writing or just skip R&S's? Thanks for your help.

[Beth in Central TX]

Up to this year, I have been doing the writing lessons in R&S grammar. I don't always make them write out the assignment though, but we do go over the lesson. My boys do a lot of writing with CW, so when a writing project comes up in grammar, I let them make note cards and give my an oral report/story instead. They really like this option, and I think it's helping them improve their oral presentation skills. We talk about things like eye contact, posture, volume, etc., so it's really more learning in the long run, but if it doesn't involve the physical act of writing, they are all for it.

Next year my oldest will start R&S 7. I've been looking through the book and planning out his grammar schedule. R&S 7 grammar is very dense; it's packed full and looks more rigorous than the other levels (I know that's probably unbelievable). I'm thinking of either stretching this out over 7th & 8th grade, or dropping the writing assignments altogether. This is the first time I've serioulsy considered reducing the R&S grammar workload. Generally, I think it's a good idea to require writing from many different subjects and different programs, but I'm trying not to completely overwhelm my soon-to-be 7th grader.