Writing Program to supplement R&S grammer?

[TMarie]

Is there any program that fits well with the writing taught in R&S grammar? We started R&S in 3rd grade and plan to continue with it through High School. My oldest just finished 6th grade.

SWB states in TWTM that no other writing program is needed. But, my children need a little more. Or, maybe *I* need a little more help in knowing how to grade their work. :rolleyes: IEW History Based Writing Lessons look great & easy to implement, but that would mean doing one of their DVD programs first. I don't want to spend a lot of unnecessary money. But, I am beginning to doubt that we can use R&S alone. Should I just wait and have more faith in R&S?

Any thoughts?

[Sue G in PA]

w/out using the DVD's first. That's just my experience. Perhaps I would have gotten more out of it (and dd, too) if I had invested in the DVD's, but I just didn't have the extra money. These would be perfect for your 6th grader. Each lesson in the book covers one of the 9 units taught on the DVD's and is explained very well. IMO, you could figure it out w/out using the DVD's. Another good choice for 6th grade is Jump In! from Apologia...it's gotten good reviews here. For the 3rd grader...if you feel you really need a separate writing program, how about SWB's WWE or Writing Tales 1? Both would be excellent additions, IMHO. Now, they wouldn't necessarily "jive" w/ the writing in R&S, but I never used all of those writing exercises anyway. I picked which I felt would best serve my dc, KWIM? Good luck...hope you get more suggestions!

[MIch elle]

R&S writing is very good, but I didn't have the energy to pull together a schedule and sources to add to the R&S English writing lessons in history or science. Thus, we use IEW with R&S English. I don't think you need to buy the dvd's to use the theme based writing lessons.

Our dc currently using:
14yob - IEW U.S. History Based Writing Lessons
11yob - IEW SWI A (will probaby use Ancient Writing in the fall)

[stephanie]

Is there any program that fits well with the writing taught in R&S grammar? We started R&S in 3rd grade and plan to continue with it through High School. My oldest just finished 6th grade.

SWB states in TWTM that no other writing program is needed. But, my children need a little more. Or, maybe *I* need a little more help in knowing how to grade their work. :rolleyes: IEW History Based Writing Lessons look great & easy to implement, but that would mean doing one of their DVD programs first. I don't want to spend a lot of unnecessary money. But, I am beginning to doubt that we can use R&S alone. Should I just wait and have more faith in R&S?

Any thoughts?

For my ds9, who is now doing R&S 3, he does Writing Tales 1. He is very creative so writing comes easy for him. It's just a matter of mechanics for him and I think WT is fabulous! For my ds13, who is not creative, we use wordsmith apprentice. This is really fun for him and it takes him very smoothly into writing. He has ADHD/SPD so he really needs step-by-step instruction which this provides. HTh!

[happykids]

The ideal would be to get the TWSS dvds and either SWI or a theme based lesson to get you started.
If getting the dvds is not an option, you can still get an excellent writing program with just a theme based book from IEW.

~Sabrina in NY

[Beth in Central TX]

I'm a BIG fan of Classical Writing and a BIGGER fan of R&S Grammar. I have used R&S Grammar 3, 4, 5, & 6 along with CW Aesop B, Homer A, & Beginning Poetry A. I am very pleased with the grammar and writing concepts that my boys know, and how they apply what they know. I think both of the programs work well together, although R&S teaches a modern approach to writing, and CW follows the progymnasmata (preliminary rhetorical exercises).

[dalynnrmc]

I'll go look in case it's posted somewhere, but will someone please clue me in as to what IEW stands for?

I have a 9yo (beginning 4th grade work in most subjects) with a language processing disorder. His grammar and spelling are incredibly high, but comprehenion is lower. We've begun a vocab program to help with this... but soon I'd like to start him doing some simple writing things (journals?) and hopefully by next year move into some sort of writing program. R&S has been a godsend for us in all related areas!

Thanks to the OP for this thread; I'll be keeping an eye on it as well!

[Beth in Central TX]

IEW=Institute for Excellence in Writing

Here is their website: http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/

[dalynnrmc]

Thank you! And, er, where in central TX are you?? (Just curious. I'm in Austin, from near Waco.)

[Beth in Central TX]

I'm "from near Waco" too. We moved from Austin in 1993; DH and I are both UT grads.

[pixelroper]

Another CW user(Aesop A&B), we love it. Several of my hs mom friends are fans of WS which is in WTM, they also use R&S.

[TMarie]

R&S writing is very good, but I didn't have the energy to pull together a schedule and sources to add to the R&S English writing lessons in history or science.

Yes! I adore R&S grammar but, want my dc writing more often. This thread has given me some new options. Now I have to research them! ;)