Wrinting woes

[momofkhm]

I don't know how to teach writing. There I said it. Even more I don't feel confident to grade it. I'll miss some grammar stuff. I know I will. How have I solved that this year? I ignored it. I had the kids write and I read it for content, but no grades were assigned. I can't keep this up. My kids need to know how to write. Well, they know how, but...

Next year I will have a 9th grader. Do I give it one more shot - buy IEW or Bravewriter or another one and actually use it? OR do I get some on-line thing? OR do I send them to the "Homeschool Academic Resource Center"? (not really a co-op, more of a group tutor session)

I guess my real question - is it time to fish or cut bait? OR do I have another year to try and figure out how to do this on my own?

Part of me is so ready to throw in the towel and then another part of me says - you can do this!

[FloridaLisa]

I guess my real question - is it time to fish or cut bait? OR do I have another year to try and figure out how to do this on my own?


Yes, to the first question. :001_smile: I've suffered the same paralysis, different subjects. E.g:I play the piano. I've played as church pianist and played all my life. So, I figured I would give my kids piano lessons. No reason to pay a teacher, right? Wrong. It never, ever got done. The last thing I wanted to do after teaching five children all day and managing our house and outside responsibilities was sit down for another 2 hours of piano lessons. So, after all these years, I wish -- really, really wish -- I had just *cut bait* and hired a piano teacher.

By the time my kids reached high school (actually a bit before), it became very apparent to me that I could not physically teach everything (teaching, grading, keeping up with all reading, etc) nor did I have the capability to teach everything. And my dh doesn't have time to teach. So for us, it's been a lifesaver to be able to outsource certain subjects to experienced co-op teachers, tutors, online classes or the local college.

So, yes, if you are already feeling the frustration and angst that comes from ignoring a subject, I would look to outsourcing. I mean, will anything significantly change next year that would cause a different outcome? If no or probably not, then happily look for an alternative teacher. :001_smile:

HTH,
Lisa

[laughing lioness]

I would get them on a good writing program. IEW has the Student Writing Intensives (SWI) where Andrew Pudewa is actually teaching on DVD. I'd go with that rather than a tutoring situation. Writing is extremely important imo.
IEW also has a fun and efficient grammar program called "Fix It." or you could go with Our Mother Tongue (fool proof even for the grammar illiterate).

[ciyates]

We struggled and struggled through writing and finally came across IEW. It has made a huge difference. It is a great program and the DVDs make it self teaching. Another thing we do is have someone else (a friend) read the papers and make comments. It takes some of the argument out for us. :bigear: