9th grade English ideas

[True Blue]

I am planning on using Lightning Lit American Literature, both semesters and also Write@home. This may be 1 1/2-2 hours of work a day. It seems like this will be a lot but thorough.

We did 8th grade LL & Write@home this year and his writing really improved. I'm having to cut some of the worksheets out of LL because its just too much to do in a day and get everything else done.

Does this look like a reasonable course load? Any other ideas out there for English composition and literature? I'm very open to other's experiences and opinions. Is there a better option for literature out there that is more analysis and reading and less worksheet-like?

I'm trying really hard to educate this incredible kid that is a very motivated student without burning him out. He's more a math and science kid, too, if that helps.

[periwinkle]

which isn't much;)

I have not found a lit program I have liked better than Hewitt's LL (and I have tried Stobaugh, LLATL, and other bits and pieces); most years I have piece-mealed together my lit program using online guides. Although I have not specifically seen/used the American Lit courses, I believe Hewitt's high school guides are not set up the same way as the 7th/8th grade programs. They are not as workbooky-they are simply reading, comprehension, literature lessons, and writing assignments. Teaming LL up with writing instruction sounds like a good idea to me (although, again, I have not used Write at Home).

Perhaps my response will at least bump this to the top for you:auto:

[Linda in NM]

We're planning to use the IEW part of Trisms, and I'm thinking of studying Shakespeare (I did in 9th grade, and I really enjoyed the plays--we also saw them at the Beverly Theatre in the Round, which was very cool...) I may use Ambleside Online for the recommended Shakespeare, read them aloud, and use the Classics program from IEW (or I may use LL Shakespeare...haven't decided yet). We'll probably add a daily lesson from Language Lessons for the Secondary Child (short lessons!) and review with Cozy Grammar and Punctuation...

[Kim in Appalachia]

I can't seem to make up my mind about English for 9th grade, but as of today here is my plan:

Lit-will come from Ambleside. I did make some substitutions from the free reading list, but we are going to read the books in the 12 week term, going slowly. I plan to use online study guides for some help, as well as creating book pages for each book (list of characters, setting, summary of plot, etc...) She will do at least one narration a week from Lit. (We are following all of Ambleside next year)

For grammar I'm using a hodge podge of things. I plan on getting Editor-in-Chief. I also am going to get worksheets from Rod and Staff. They are for grades 6-8 from their old series, but their 8th grade grammar goes beyond what I have in my Warriner's Composition and Grammar: A Complete Course. I will use the above text to cover the topics, then give the worksheets. (or I will just go over the worksheets with her)

I'm also going to use Vocabulary from the Roots up on CD. I plan on having her work through the CD's slowly.

Writing: I'm using the Warriner's course. I like R&S, but I think Warriner's has better exercises to help think about writing. I had thought of using IEW's US History VOL I. I still plan to look at that when I go to the curriculum fair in May, but I really like Warriner's.

I plan on making sure I don't overload our schedule. We will work through everything slowly. I really like the CD's for Editing and Vocab because then I don't have to correct them. :001_smile: We will probably have 2 days a week set aside for writing instruction, and 2 for going over the books. One day will be for reviewing grammar, and checking over her CD work.

These are my plans as of today. Of course, in another month I may change my mind.:tongue_smilie:

Kim

[True Blue]

I'm glad to hear about LL not being as workbook-like. I'm including vocabulary & grammar review as well. Maybe I'll feel more comfortable about my plan when I see the high school LL version in person. Thanks.

[Chris in VA]

True Blue--
We are using WAH's essay workshop this quarter--I wish I had found WAH earlier. Can you tell me what you've done there, and what the courses actually covered? It's not much work in Essay 1, but I was desperate to get my ds into something that would begin the writing process. He can't even really write an essay test question--and I'm worried about the SAT. It's only been three weeks (or two?) but there's already progress--they seem very orderly in how they approach things, so we are loving it.
Thanks for the info--feel free to pm me or whatever--I'd really love a first-hand experience answer.

[True Blue]

My ds is just finishing up the 8th grade course. We jumped into that one because he was a reluctant writer and I just wasn't following through with adequate writing instruction. 8th grade is foundational and they covered most of the different types of essays. Most of the essays are revised twice and our teacher is very good at giving detailed critiques of work while also being very encouraging.

I don't know much about the essay workshop. They have goals and objectives as well as well as a complete syllabus on their website. They usually evaluate the student from their first assignment and work from there.

My son started in the fall and it wasn't until January that he started spitting out good essays in a timely manner. I was so tickled. Feel free to contact Don Myhill or even your son's teacher. I was discouraged at first and sent her a message. She was very helpful.

I think Write@home is particularly good for the reluctant writer or mom that can't seem to follow through with writing instruction. That was my weakness as a teacher and so I'm very glad to be using a program that keeps us both accountable and really catches errors I might not have.

If your son needs help with essays I think Write@home will definitely help. Post again when the quarter is up and tell me how its worked out for him.