CW HOmer - paraphrasing???

[HollyDay]

I have been doing Homer for over 2 months (after spending a month with the Core and a significant amount of time over Christmas break) and I still feel shaky with it. Dh looked at dd's writing assignment (Homer week 8) today and thought she was copying too much from the model. I dont think so. She is using synomyms, grammatical changes and paraphrasing. She has the model open when she does her writing assignment - along with her notes and outline (if we made one for the assignment). Any comments on this. Dd's version is very similar to the model, but isnt that the point at this stage of the game? Am I missing something here?

Oh by they way, Aesop arrived today for my 3rd grader. The books are so much thinner than HOmer!!!!!! :D

[Jackie in AR]

If she's using synonyms, grammatical changes, and paraphrasing, then she's doing just what she is supposed to at that point.

Later in Homer, she'll get to the point where she'll be writing summary sentences for paragraphs and using other techniques, but it sounds to me like she's right on track for Week 8.

[cajun.classical]

I've never let my son keep the model open when he writes his drafts. He writes them only using Theon's Components Chart. It is my understanding that the child should not consult the model when writing. Our process is Read, Narrate, Analyze, Complete Theon's Chart, (later we divided into scenes and wrote summary sentences), then write the draft from the Chart.

I would suggest trying an oral narration to hear what it sounds like in her own words. She may have an exceptional memory and that could be why it sounds so similar to the model. That's fine, but I wouldn't let her use the model when writing.

hope that helps.

[frogpond1]

stories? If you have your child take the story and change the characters and setting it will be good practice freeing up from the model also.

[Patricia in WA]

I have to agree with no looking at the model while writing her rewrite. I also think she is doing fine. The one thing I would suggest is to post one of her stories on the CW message boards (http://lene.proboards15.com/)with your question. The authors can give you some great advice.

HTHs,

[Pam in MA]

I think it's inevitable that alot of the wording will be similar to the model, given how much time they spend picking it apart with the exercises. My younger dd has a good memory and remembers poems verbatim after 1-2 times (must be why she likes acting and lines!) and her models always sound more like the model than my older daughter. On the other hand, my younger is the better writer, by far. I think you're doing fine; just take the model away!

[Jenny in Atl]

stories? If you have your child take the story and change the characters and setting it will be good practice freeing up from the model also.

When my dd 12 does this, I think her writing really shines. She did one a couple weeks ago where Paris and Menelaus were members of rival gangs for near by schools.