What do you recommend for a Writing program for grades 5-8?

[MJN]

It needs to be user friendly and FUN for the children. They hate it as bad as I hate trying to teach it to them! So, we need something REALLY good!

Your suggestions for a desperate homeschool mom are appreciated!

Thanks,

Molly

[Hoggirl]

Ds has worked through SWI-B and has just started SICC-B. If you purchase these, "you" won't be doing much of the instructing, Andrew Pudewa will. I find this program very straight forward. My ds is not really a reluctant writer, but he does enjoy it. A grading rubric is provided for each assignment so as long as all the items are present, the assignment is complete. The checklists which go along with each assignment remove a lot of subjectivity from grading writing which often caused friction in our home school.
HTH
Cynthia

[mcconnellboys]

Well, my older son did well with Writing Strands. But I think maybe the Editor in Chief series or something like it might be better for those who are not that into writing.

Regena

[Tina in WA]

Try Writing Tales (http://writing-tales.com/). We love it here.

My 7th grader takes an online class: Home2Teach (http://www.home2teach.com). I love that they do all the instructing, correcting, lesson planning, etc. They work wonderfully with my dd and really help to guide her in her writing.

Another suggestion is Writing Trails (http://www.logosschool.com/materials/shop/search.asp). I haven't used them myself, but have thought about it. They have many different subjects/topics for a lot of different grade levels.

HTH's~Tina

[GreenKitty]

We really liked Wordsmith Apprentice.

:)

[threetreasurs]

Writesource is quite good and student friendly.

[Caia]

Jump In is a fairly fun writing program we have used. I have also used a writing instructor from WriteGuide for a month to give my oldest child (and myself) a break from having me as the one always grading her writing.

[deeinfl]

I really enjoyed Wordsmith Apprentice for this age...and my son has done really well with the All About Me journal from Love to Learn.

HTH, Dee in FL :D

[awanama]

We are enjoying Wordsmith Apprentice for a kid that hates to write. I plan to use it with my dd at some point too.

[ArwenA]

DD (9) loves writing and is doing great with Writing Strands. Sometime we might try some Jump In which I've heard lots of good stuff about.
I think Jump In would work well for you, many reluctant writers enjoy it.