Writing Aids, IEW, TOG failure...help!

[*anj*]

Okay.
We started using TOG last fall.
Disastrous.
Bad timing...too much "life" stuff going on to take on such a big transition...not good...gave up.

I am not giving it up forever, though.
I am planning to start again in the late summer/fall.
I just want to be more prepared this time.

Okay, so I realize that my kids are desperately in need of a real writing curriculum. I own Writing Aids, so I'd like to start using it right now, but I'm not sure I can do that since I'm not doing the history component at present. And how do you just jump in and start with this?

Oh, and I had intended to wait and use IEW when oldest is in 9th grade (he's in 5th now) but I have a friend who just started using IEW and wants me to do it with her. But I already own WA. Aren't they similar?

Why am I so confused? This is probably the wrong time of the month to even be trying to process all of this.

Any ideas? Bueler? Anyone? Anyone?

[Trivium Academy]

You can use WA without TOG. In WA there is a table which shows you what levels focus on what topics, determine where your children's skill levels are. Read the pages for whatever levels you determine and I'm sure you can find a way to use WA without TOG until you're ready to transition to TOG.

For example: Level 1
Fiction/Creative Writing
- Story About Me (p. 169)
You could start this now and have them finish it by summer's end, using the suggestions in WA.

Presentations
-Making Books
Have they been notebooking in history this year? They could make a book about what they studies this year, using their notebooks.

Building Writing Skills
-Dictation
-Parts of Speech
-Word Banks
-Friendly Notes and Letters
-Writing Sentences
-Draw and Caption
- Cluster and Describe
- Sentence Pockets

1. Read pg. 63 about creating a Grammar & Composition Notebook and determine whether you want to do this

2. Identify what levels your children are and what you might need to address with them. Use the table to determine this, then look at the levels that do apply and figure out what you want to start with.

It's hard to help anymore w/o knowing your kids' ages. I hope what I have written does help.

[*anj*]

2. Identify what levels your children are and what you might need to address with them. Use the table to determine this, then look at the levels that do apply and figure out what you want to start with.

It's hard to help anymore w/o knowing your kids' ages. I hope what I have written does help.

Yes, this is helpful. They are 11, 9, 7, and 6. I'm most concerned with the older two right now.

I think I just need to take a deep breath and try not to overthink this, which I have a habit of doing. I overthink and then I get all flustered and overwhelmed so then I wait.

If you think of anything else that would help, I'm all ears! :001_smile:

[HeatherH]

All right Anj - say it with me -

In and out. Breathe in and out.

Didn't we all learn Lamaze techniques to get us through homeschool days?

I "started" TOG by doing just their writing for 6 months. This was before Writing Aids, but it was a great way to get the flow and feel less intimidated. You can do it, girl! I can't be more help than this, but maybe get some chocolate, go for a walk, and breathe deeply.

You'll be fine!
:grouphug:

(Don't make me sing Starlight Express, now)

[*anj*]

All right Anj - say it with me -

In and out. Breathe in and out.

Didn't we all learn Lamaze techniques to get us through homeschool days?

I "started" TOG by doing just their writing for 6 months. This was before Writing Aids, but it was a great way to get the flow and feel less intimidated. You can do it, girl! I can't be more help than this, but maybe get some chocolate, go for a walk, and breathe deeply.

You'll be fine!
:grouphug:

(Don't make me sing Starlight Express, now)

Oh my gosh!! Relaxation and Starlight Express do not belong in the same post!!!

Seriously, thanks Heather. I needed to hear that. Chocolate, sunshine, deep breathing...sounds good. :)