Classical Writing Poetry? Anyone?

[Tarheel Heather]

Can this be used without having used the other programs? I wanted to use this with my 5th grader for the remainder of the year and start with Homer in the fall.

Thanks!

[Beth in Central TX]

What ages are we talking about?

Poetry for Beginners A is scheduled on the CW website in the middle of Homer A in 5th grade. I found the program extremely well done, but it was a challenge for my 5th grader at times. My 6th grader definitely did better with all of the poetry terms; he was also able to imitate the models better.

Just to give you an example of where the program is headed, one of the final assignments is to imitate terza rima (iambic meter with an interlocking rhyme) base on the model, Ode to the West Wind by Shelley.

I was very intimidated with CW Poetry for Beginners at first. The IG does not give as much guidance as I found in the Aesop and Homer IGs. However, it has been our favorite part of CW so far. My boys are actually looking forward to doing Poetry for Beg B next year.

[Tarheel Heather]

What ages are we talking about?

.


This would be for my 5th grade ds. I thought the poetry would be something interesting to do until we jumped into CW. However if it's best suited in the middle we can start with A.

[Beth in Central TX]

I wouldn't say you have to do it in the middle, but it does work out well. By the time you hit Homer A week 10, you are ready for a break. I think a 5th grader could do it before, during, or after Homer A. I just didn't want to recommend it for any grade lower than 5th.

[Tarheel Heather]

it would best if we started with Homer A, so I would be familar with the curriculum?

Thanks for your help!

[Zee]

Hi Beth,
Hijacking a bit here....do you recommend reading all of the poetry core book before tackling this course, or will I be able to get away with just reading the pages the IG directs me to for each lesson? I'm not trying to shortcut things, but the core book has me very intimidated, just from the size alone, and that doesn't even speak to the fact that technical poetry talk makes me quake in my boots. What is the best way to eat this elephant?

[Beth in Central TX]

I think you could go either way on this one. The earlier models in Homer A are short, so it's not overwhelming right off the bat. I think there are more teacher helps in Homer than in the Poetry, but I actually found the Poetry easier to teach even though I didn't know most of the terms.

The only advantage with starting Homer 1st is that you can break it up at lesson 10 and do the Poetry workbook, then finish out Homer to close out your year. After the 14-scene narrative of The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck in CW Homer A Lesson 10, my boys were ready to do something else...

[Beth in Central TX]

I read all of the Poetry core book last summer before school started. I'm not a big fan of poetry, so it didn't really "speak" to me. I think I did better by reviewing the IG for the next week's lesson on Sunday night and reading the corresponding core book pages. Now that we've gone through Poetry for Beg A, I have gained a better understanding of poetry. I plan to read it again this summer in preparation for Poetry for Beg B next year. I'll definitely understand more of it the second time through.

I just finished outlining the Homer Core by skill level which has helped me see more of the big picture of what we are doing (the book is organized by day rather than skill level). When I read the Poetry for Beg Core this summer, I think I'll do the same thing.

I'm learning so much through this whole process. I should know what I'm doing by the time my youngest is ready for the CW program.

[Zee]

O.k. sounds like I need to read it up front and then when the IG refers me to core readings, I should read it again and it will make more sense. Sounds like taking notes would be helpful, too. I wish it were going to be easier, but I guess it's not going to be. :( I had hoped to get to Poetry A this year, but it looks like it's going to be next year. O.k., I am going to try REALLY hard to make time to read the core book this summer. Wish me luck! :)

[pixelroper]

I got CW Beg Poetry extra early b/c I'm not a big fan either. I'm really glad I did, still going through the core. Initially I felt overwhelmed when it arrived (it is BIG). Been looking through it for awhile and feel much more confident and excited to teach. It does seem pretty intense (is it my lack of poetry? maybe). I'm hoping dd will enjoy it.

I'm planning for next year. Good to know it will make a nice break in between.

[Beth in Central TX]

Yeah, my boys were complaining about how big the poetry student workbooks were, but no one wanted to trade with me when I showed them the core book that I had to read. Perspective makes all the difference sometimes.

[Kate in Arabia]

My 4th grader (10 yrs, Dec birthday) just finished week 5 of Beginners Poetry. I can't tell you how surprised I am by how much he enjoys this program, my non-creative writing-phobic child, lol. I am really optimistic, because I personally never "liked" poetry much, and I was an English major, lol! I think a lot of that was that I never had a good introduction to it.

The core book talks about levels, I think you can tailor the program for whatever level/capability you need for your child. This week the poem selection for analyzing was a bit tougher than usual (Prologue from the Canterbury Tales), but the writing/imitation exercises were not as difficult, and they really take you step by step (first understand the couplet; think of synonyms for the end word; think of rhymes for the synonyms; write a couplet).

I have not focused as much on memorizing the terms as I did in Aesop. We finished Aesop B a little over a month ago, and for that we did a variation on flashcards to learn the parts of speech. In poetry, I am having ds write the definitions in a notebook, but no drill or anything I just bring up the vocab in the course of our studies.

Kate

[pixelroper]

Funny how that works---