Rethinking writing and could use some input

[HollyDay]

7th grade. IT is a big jump in work and what is expected of the student.

Dd is not a great writer. She has always struggled and I know this is an area of weakness. In the past we have used BJU, Wordsmith Apprentice and CW Homer A. She responded best to CW Homer and I intended to continue with CW this year.

Now, I am finding a couple concerns for the coming year.
1. We have, what I think, is a heavy workload next year. I am concerned about the time CW takes on a daily and weekly basis.

2. I am very concerned that I have a 7th grader who still struggles with essays, reports, book reviews, compare/contrast papers. Her history (BF) will require this type of writing this coming year. It does not include instruction in how to write it (as it is a history program, not a writing program) and she is not sure of what to do. So, she must be taught. Fine, that is my job and I am glad to teach her. But, how and what to use?? CW will not address this issue yet.

So, do I stay the course with CW and add "practical" writing? Sounds great but where in the day can I fit it?

Do I drop CW (which she does like) and use something else? What?

Do I drop something else in her program to make room? What?

This is the curriculum I have and plan to use - PLEASE advise:
7th:
Spelling: MegaWords, Vocab from Classical Roots
Lit: LL 7
History: BF US and World History
Science: BJU Science 7
Grammar: Winston Advanced to start - if I stay with CW, then Harveys
Writing: CW Homer and CW Beginning Poetry (1 semester of each)
Latin: Latin's Not so Tough level 3 followed by 4 when 3 complete
Math: TT pre-algebra

I've already decided to drop Greek after the summer due to schedule constraints (:

By the way, I also have a 4th grader:
Spelling: SWR
Lit: DITHOR
History: BF Intermediate
Grammar: GWG 4
Writing: CW Aesop B and Poetry
LAtin: Latin's not so tough
Math: TT 5
Science: Noeo Chem 2

Pass the chocolate - I'm already in a panic just typing!!!!! :)

[Adrianne]

My thought is this: Writing is so important for the college bound, that you should spend as much time on it as needed before other subjects like history and science.

I also am reading Evaluating writing by the Writing Strands people and I find it very interesting and helpful.

Sorry! I could not offer you more. Writing is such a stressful subject!!

[homeschoolmomof6]

I agree that writing is super important, not only for a college bound student, but also for a high school student. Have you checked into something like Write Shop? It doesn't take a lot of time and teaches all the necessary skills for high school writing.
Blessings,
Amanda

[HollyDay]

Yes, we did look at WriteShop. I tried it briefly last year and it drove dd nuts. I really need a basic, nuts and bolts of "how to"

[OhElizabeth]

Well take this with a grain of salt, since only have a 4th grader, but looking at your 7th grader's schedule and where she's at, I would pause on the grammar till 2nd semester. You can push CW Homer to 2nd semester as well, totally skipping the poetry. I'd get something like IEW or Jensen's Format Writing and do that this summer and all of 1st semester with both the 4th and 7th graders. (different pacing obviously) The 7th grader could do an entire model, both the rough and final, of IEW in a week quite easily, where the 4th grader could spread it out. So that would push back the CW Aesop B on your 4th grader to 2nd semester. That way both are getting into paragraphs and essays and both are waiting on CW Poetry till the next year. You could complete enough of an IEW SWI level by the end of this summer to have your 7th grader basically ready to do her work for fall. Continuing it into first semester with a CC course would build her skills. Then put that aside and do CW 2nd semester. That way she's not giving up what she enjoys, just pausing it. And I think you're going to find you can take some of your terminology and approaches of CW and carry them over to IEW. You're right there's a disparity between their writing skills conceptually and getting them applied to non-fiction writing (essays, book reviews, etc.). I did WT2 with my dd last year and grew very concerned about this, that continuing on a progymnasta approach wouldn't get her into the non-fiction/paragraph writing as soon as you'd expect it for academic subjects. I think there has to be some balance there, and alternating is a good way to get it, seems to me.

[Sophia]

It sounds like you have established some writing goals through your history program.
The writing program you have selected is not going to help you meet those goals.
You either have to change the goals or the writing program you're using.

OR:

The Write Source handbooks are very practical and cover the type of writing BF is expecting. You could incorporate that into your history program~let each section take longer~if you really don't want to give up CW.
Btw, I thought BF incorporated literature into their readings? Is LL7 necessary?
We dropped LL7 because we found it redundant with our history program (TOG).
We also do not do spelling in 7th grade; I use a bright red pen to remind them they forgot a spelling rule :D and keep a dictionary handy.

[HollyDay]

Sophia, you hit the nail on the head with my writing goals and issues!

I too am concerned that LL 7 will be too much with BF History. A lot will depend on the daily workload and dd's interest. She wants to read the books in the program anyway, so it might turn into her pleasure reading time. It doesnt appear to be very deep dish.

Spelling is a struggle, so we will continue a curriculum for the time being.

Thanks so much!!!!

[vmsurbat]

NOTE: The actual name of this program is Jump In (published by Apologia)--my mistake in the subject line.

This program covers exactly the kinds of writing you mentioned in your post--essays, book reports, compare and contrast. There is more to Jump In than that, but it does cover those things in a very step-by-step manner in an easy-to-use workbook form targeted for late elementary to junior-high students.

For example:

The section covering "Book Report" has 5 days of lessons that detail what a book report consists of, samples, and answering questions. The student is encouraged to copy the 5 page book report form (designed to generate ideas). The last day covers taking your book report form notes and turning it into a 5 paragraph essay. Then comes "The Assignment" broken down into 7 steps (for Mom to assign a due date): get books, finish books, fill out book report form, finish first draft, reread/revise, finished paper. The student has already been led (via the 5 days of lessons) on what they are generally looking for, in terms of characters, plot, conflicts, themes, symbols.

The bulk of the book covers expository writing with sections titled: The Basics, A Biography, A Book Report, A Book Response, A Newspaper Article, A How-to, and Compare and Contrast.

There are sections covering Opinions, Persuasion, Description, Narration (story-telling), and Poetry as well.

For an easy-to-teach resource of "modern" writing assignments, I've been very satisfied with Jump Write In.

HTH,

[jonesloonybin]

This program covers exactly the kinds of writing you mentioned in your post--essays, book reports, compare and contrast. There is more to Jump Write In than that, but it does cover those things in a very step-by-step manner in an easy-to-use workbook form targeted for late elementary to junior-high students.

For example:

The section covering "Book Report" has 5 days of lessons that detail what a book report consists of, samples, and answering questions. The student is encouraged to copy the 5 page book report form (designed to generate ideas). The last day covers taking your book report form notes and turning it into a 5 paragraph essay. Then comes "The Assignment" broken down into 7 steps (for Mom to assign a due date): get books, finish books, fill out book report form, finish first draft, reread/revise, finished paper. The student has already been led (via the 5 days of lessons) on what they are generally looking for, in terms of characters, plot, conflicts, themes, symbols.

The bulk of the book covers expository writing with sections titled: The Basics, A Biography, A Book Report, A Book Response, A Newspaper Article, A How-to, and Compare and Contrast.

There are sections covering Opinions, Persuasion, Description, Narration (story-telling), and Poetry as well.

For an easy-to-teach resource of "modern" writing assignments, I've been very satisfied with Jump Write In.

HTH,

I tried to look at the samples online and it had a lot of "class" activities. Is the whole book like that? I guess I am wondering how easy it is to implement in a homeschool?

[Cadam]

I just purchased Jensen's format writing. It will take us quite a few years to get through but it covers everything from a basic business letter to a major research report. It is a book I am using to teach and assign writing but not something you can just hand to a student, at least not my student. I will be integrating ds's writing assignments into his history work. It also includes reproducible evaluation forms for the different writing styles. I am quite please with it and excited about designing the writing assignments.

I also found some graphic organizers that I am going to use to help get ds's thoughts on paper. He is a ver visual kid so I think a compare/contrast essay will be easier once he plots it out on the GO.

[clementine]

If you're looking at teaching the 'how-to's' take a look at Apologia's Jump In! curric.
We used it last year & will continue with it this year. I think it does a great job of explaining the nuts & bolts of different types of writing assignments.

[HollyinNNV]

Hi Holly,
Here's my opinion. I've organized a writing co-op for five years now. You've touched on a big reason that I have not chosen CW as my curriculum. I've always used IEW because I can easily assign writing across the curriculum spectrum: science, art, music, history, philosophy etc. When the students were younger it wasn't such a big deal to add another subject to the day (at least in my family). However, the older the kids get the more of a time crunch they are under and there is a pressing need to consolidate. With my high school class last year, I split the writing assignments into four categories: science, history, literature and teachers choice. Therefore the parents knew that their kids would spend ample time in those subject areas writing.

I know that you probably do not want to drop CW because you've invested time in the program.

Is it possible to spend the first 10 weeks learning how to write a standard essay, then switch to CW for the rest of the year? Continue to practice one essay a month to keep up the fluency of how to write an essay?

Can you enjoy the best of both worlds?
Holly

[TFJ]

My daughter worked with teachers being trained for work in special education and tutoring this summer. There were many very experienced ladies who have taught for many years. They recommended Diana Hanbury King's books. http://www.epsbooks.com/dynamic/catalog/subject.asp?subject=66S

EPSbooks. The books are called Writing Skills. They "chunk" out the material and provide graphic organizers and ways of "framing" writing. We have ordered ours, so don't know totally how I feel about the books yet, but I can say my dd said it made writing easier during the week she worked with these ladies. I liked the teacher manual and suggestions. It is also a LOT cheaper than IEW, which I was trying to save for.

HTH.

TFJ

[quote=HollyDay;365085]7th grade. IT is a big jump in work and what is expected of the student.

Dd is not a great writer. She has always struggled and I know this is an area of weakness. In the past we have used BJU, Wordsmith Apprentice and CW Homer A. She responded best to CW Homer and I intended to continue with CW this year.

[vmsurbat]

I tried to look at the samples online and it had a lot of "class" activities. Is the whole book like that? I guess I am wondering how easy it is to implement in a homeschool?

The actual name of the book is "Jump In" (published by Apologia). I don't know why that other title popped out of my head--I had the book right in front of me, too.....

Sorry for leading you astray. Do take a look at Jump In. It is not at all classroom-driven but ideally suited for the homeschool environment.

(Note: I've gone back to my original post to correct the title given....)

HTH,