Does WWE give very clear instructions....

[Michelle T]

on to improve narration skills? My DS is 12, but due to severe ADHD and LD's, he is quite immature and academically "behind". He is not good at narration, as it is hard for him to put his ideas into words. Plus, he tends to forget what he just heard!

Anyway, I would like to work with him on improving his narration ability. Would WWE be good for this? I realize it is for kids grades 1-4, but my DS is probably only on a 2 or 3rd grade level in this area. And I need the instruction myself in how to teach narration, as it's not something I'm that comfortable with.

I already use Jump In! for writing, which is okay, but does not teach the specific skill of oral/written narration.
Michelle T

[Cadam]

I think it would. The skills are increased very gradually and there are detailed descriptions and examples of what you are suppose to do for every few weeks.

There are end of level tests so you can figure out where to place him in the program. I will be using it with my rising 6th grader to get him up to speed and then I will use the suggestions from the overview of Writing with Skill to move on from there.

[Colleen in NS]

There are end of level tests so you can figure out where to place him in the program. I will be using it with my rising 6th grader to get him up to speed and then I will use the suggestions from the overview of Writing with Skill to move on from there.

What types of things are tested at the end of level 4? How are they tested?

And what is the overview of Writing with Skill - is it some kind of introduction to what will be in the logic stage book in the Complete Writer series?

I'm trying to decide if WWE would be useful for ds10 right now. I can't get my hands on a copy of it.

Thanks!

[Cadam]

The first part of the book is

"Why writing programs fail"
"the three stages" (WWE, WW skill and WW style) There is a 6 page summary of writing with skill for the middle grades which I found very helpful in evaluating where my ds should be and what our goals need to be.

"Using this book"
"Where do I start"

Then it goes into the week by week plan in the second section of the book.

The evaluation at the end of level 4 is 1. having the child read 2 chapters of a classic children's novel, summarize (narrate to themselves) each chapter and then write down the 2-3 sentence summary with proper structure, grammar and spelling.

The dictation is 25-30 words long with 3-4 repetitions, reminding the student about quotation marks and other grammatical stuff.

My ds is really lacking in narration and dictation skills so even though he just turned 11 yo I will be using a lot of WWE with him until he is caught up. He couldn't do the level evaluation. I was planning on testing him today but he is sick so I will have to wait on that.

[Michelle T]

The evaluation at the end of level 4 is 1. having the child read 2 chapters of a classic children's novel, summarize (narrate to themselves) each chapter and then write down the 2-3 sentence summary with proper structure, grammar and spelling.

The dictation is 25-30 words long with 3-4 repetitions, reminding the student about quotation marks and other grammatical stuff.

My DS definitely would NOT be able to do that evaluation, at least not without so much prompting from me that it would basically be my writing.

I think I will go ahead and get WWE, although I will combine it with Jump In.
Michelle T

[Colleen in NS]

The first part of the book is

"Why writing programs fail"
"the three stages" (WWE, WW skill and WW style) There is a 6 page summary of writing with skill for the middle grades which I found very helpful in evaluating where my ds should be and what our goals need to be.

"Using this book"
"Where do I start"

Then it goes into the week by week plan in the second section of the book.

The evaluation at the end of level 4 is 1. having the child read 2 chapters of a classic children's novel, summarize (narrate to themselves) each chapter and then write down the 2-3 sentence summary with proper structure, grammar and spelling.

The dictation is 25-30 words long with 3-4 repetitions, reminding the student about quotation marks and other grammatical stuff.

My ds is really lacking in narration and dictation skills so even though he just turned 11 yo I will be using a lot of WWE with him until he is caught up. He couldn't do the level evaluation. I was planning on testing him today but he is sick so I will have to wait on that.

Thank you! That was very helpful.

[Meljoy]

There are end of level tests so you can figure out where to place him in the program..

Where can you get the level tests? I am thinking 'placement test' -am I right?

[Cadam]

Where can you get the level tests? I am thinking 'placement test' -am I right?

Each year has an "evaluation" at the end. These are the tests and they are included in the book.

With a young child you would jsut begin at the beginning but with an older one you can do one of the tests to get an idea of where to place them in the program.

For example: Today my rising 6th grader did the year end eval for the third year. He did pretty well, but not good enough to go on to fourth year material. I will go through the third year material with him. because he is older I will do it more quickly than I would a 3rd grader but that is where we will start because that test was quite a challenge for him. if he had done the third year test easily I would have tested him at the fourth year level to get an idea of where to place him.

[Meljoy]

Each year has an "evaluation" at the end. These are the tests and they are included in the book.

.

This 'Book' is the Text that goes with the 4 differednt workbooks for each level?

Also- AM I correct that only level one is done and level 2 will be out soon? Is level 3 &/or 4 available?

[nukeswife]

Yes the "book" is actually the text with the 4 years in it.
Only workbooks for level 1 and 2 will be out this year. Level 1 is available now and level 2 should be out later this summer. I believe in Aug sometime.

There are no workbooks yet for year 3 or 4, there will be, but not until next year sometime.

[Meljoy]

For example: Today my rising 6th grader did the year end eval for the third year. He did pretty well, but not good enough to go on to fourth year material. I will go through the third year material with him. because he is older I will do it more quickly than I would a 3rd grader but that is where we will start because that test was quite a challenge for him. if he had done the third year test easily I would have tested him at the fourth year level to get an idea of where to place him.

So since the level 3 & 4 workbooks are not ready you will go over the material with him from the Textbook?

[Staci in MO]

The workbooks are just for convenience.

So, while the text will tell you on what day to do copywork or dictation, you still have to come up with text for them to copy or take dictation from. The workbook just supplies the sample text for you.

Does that make sense?

[Meljoy]

Yes! I understand now. I actually think I would like that better -coming up with copywork &/or dictation from my own resourses.

[Cadam]

Yes! I understand now. I actually think I would like that better -coming up with copywork &/or dictation from my own resourses.

Yep, I am matching up his narration and dictation with his science, history and Bible as we type. It is more work than having the workbook all set for you but I like that his writing will be reinforcing our content subjects.

[LanaTron]

I keep saying it's like having SWB here holding my hand, helping me teach writing. I finally don't feel like I am grasping at something intangible in the dark.

I just began using this with my rising 7th grader--he has no diagnosed LD's, but I suspect some minor ones.

Anyway, WWE helped me pinpoint exactly which part of the writing process my ds has a hard time with--being able to formulate his thoughts into words. I am working on level 3 with him, and already after a couple of lessons, he is showing improvement! Doing a happy dance!

I gave my rising 6th grader the level 3 diagnostic, and I'm going to give her the level 2 diagnostic to decide whether to put her in level 2 or 3. Her issue is totally different than the elder dc, but WWE is helping me see exactly which skills she needs to work on as well.

I do expect to work through these levels more quickly with these dc, since they are older.

Good luck!

[Meljoy]

I cant wait to try this book- it sounds great.