Linda in NM, a TRISMS question, please..

[rwalizer]

I notice you are using TRISMS with your 8th grader. I would love to know your opinion on it. What do you like and not like? Is the literature instruction enough to replace a separate lit. course? How difficult is it to find the answers to fill out the questionaires? I have been looking at this for a couple of years now and ds will be in 8th grade next year. I have been considering TOG because it stands as a history/writing/literature curriculum. In you opinion, does TRISMS do a good job with writing(I notice they use IEW) and literature? Anything you can tell me about it would be much appreciated. Ds also tested as gifted in ps but he is easily distracted and I am constantly trying to find materials that will challange him and keep him interested. Honestly, I don't see where he is academicaly above average, though. Thanks for any help you can give!

[Linda in NM]

I love Trisms...my son likes the research aspects of the program, and not having mom hovering while he does his questionnaires...he likes the Inventions questionnaires best. He uses the World Book Encyclopedia online and does Google searches (he likes Wikipedia, which I can't stand for my college students, but it's not bad for a 13-year-old boy...)

I like the integration of the timeline, the map work related to the explorers, and the use of IEW for writing (yes, they do a great job integrating it, and you can also use the additional materials they have for writing). Literature is informal (no literary analysis, so you'd need to use something like Teaching the Classics if you want to get into detail...we just talk about the books). I figure we'll use Lightning Lit Shakespeare next year (if I'm lazy) or Teaching the Classics (if I'm inspired). I'm betting on lazy :-)..

Thanks for asking!
'

[rwalizer]

I will have to check out the website again. I do wish the lit. was a full lit. course. I really appreciate your input.

[Linda in NM]

I know; I wish it was, too...you'd have to add in the literary analysis questions...