Ok tell me about this, I looked at the website and got lost so I quit trying. But it has been recommend by several people who I think know their stuff. So how do you use it and what would I buy for a 3rd grader and a a 1st grader? Thanks
Frankly, I am not sure this is necessary. My suggestion is to have your child write something every day. Even if it is extremely short and dull. I think writing is not something you can teach. It has to grow on a person. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to teach someone to write. My strategy for teaching writing is to teach the grammar (parts of speech, diagramming, etc.) and then to have them write. Every day. Even if it is just their name! Another idea is to set them up with a blog and have them blog something every day.
I agree that I would not recommend IEW for such a young age. I think IEW is a great program, but I don't think it's intended for kids that young. First graders can barely write (at least my boys weren't writing then) and IEW is not about how to write a sentence, or that a sentence has a subject and a predicate. It is more about how to write with style. In first and third grade, I would just have my kids copy sentences, maybe write a sentence or so that I dictated, and eventually write about their day. I never even did grammar at that young age. But if you want to get a jumpstart on things and look ahead a few year, I would recommend getting the Teaching WRiting with Structure and Style. This is a set of DVDs for the *parent* to watch and is absolutely essential for understanding the whole program. You could watch that now but you won't be able to use the program for a few more years.
I have one binder of IEW the way it is written its definately for a much older grade level, jr or probably SR high levels. I may be doing this for co op this year.
They have the different levels, level A is suppose to be for 3-5th or something like that ? Unless I am missing something.
mine is for the seminar I guess.. so its a bit different. I think for that age level though I would not get too intense in the writing. I guess you could use it for suggestions on what to do, there are a lot of great writing sites if you have a printer too. My favorite things to teach on writing creatively is to use the spoke system.
For 1st I wouldn't bother with a writing curriculum yet. Maybe read some stories and poems and do some memorization and have him/her relate the story back in his/her own words as both will help them get a solid foundation or later. IEW is a classical writing program so if you want something based on the same ideas (narration, imitation of classics) try Writing Tales 1. It's MUCH cheaper, is an easier introduction for your child and you and covers a lot of ground including vocab, spelling and grammar. Plus it's fun. There are sample lessons on the site.
Did someone here mention the Jensen? I looked it up and really like it! I may reserve the right to buy this in the future, first I will see how what I have is doing though.
I'm using Jensen's Punctuation and although it's really dry my daughter is learning. We also have Jensen's vocabulary and that was just too much of a slog. Not sure about the writing. If it follows the pattern it will be rigorous but boring.
The writing one looked really good to me.. its step by step , a lot like writing strands but is very explanatory. Teaches the how and whys, in other words as you go? For sure going on my if I find I need more list!
Ok so it sounds like IEW is out, but I love the initial look at writing tales. I will check out Jensens too. I love that I ask one question and there are so many other choices out there. Thanks
It's fun how that works isn't it! Last year I changed my mind like ten times then ordered my stuff late, this year I needed to cut corners with cost so went with what I had a tm for so am already receiving stuff instead of being late start! wee!
I have to have stuff in June, so I still have a little bit of time. But these are big decisions for me. My kids would rather I not get it bought so we would only have math and MOH for a while.
I just bought some stuff from IEW, but my son is older (16). He can write OK (b or c usually after some editing). I just know that like me it is usually a subject he would rather avoid, simply because of the unknowns. It is a big task to write a paper or even a paragraph at times, because there are so many steps and it is subjective. I don't think I would worry about a formal writing program until at least 5th or 6th grade, but that is just my opinion. They have stuff for much younger kids and it may just be a great way to start out writing. What I think I am going to like is that it teaches kids how to vary their sentences and make them stronger. It also teaches you how to write from notes. I am hoping to have him write about historical things, rather than just question and answer type worksheets.
I have poor writing skills, so I need all the help I can get. It sounded like the IEW would do that. But there also seems to be several cirricula that are cheaper and just as good. I think for this year we are going to ask the 4th grade PS teacher we know what she does and just go from there. I also looked at and like the Jump In from apologia.
I use Jump In with my son and he loves it. It should take about 2 years to go through the book and it goes step by step helping a child write different types of papers.
I know, you were the one I found out about it from! I didn't know it would take two years. What age did you start at?
We just started it a couple months ago. I think it is aimed for grade 5-8. I don't think it would be too difficult to go through it in one year depending on how often you do writing. But if you use all the writing prompts and the workbook exercises it could take two years to complete. I use it along with Killgallon so there is no way we will finish it in one year
You certainly still have time, but perhaps keep IEW in mind for middle and high school. The last two years my high schoolers have used SWI-C (Writing with Structure and Style), Windows to the World, as well as The Elegant Essay, and DD writing has improved immensely. I purchased the "teacher" workbook/dvd and although at first I found it somewhat tedious, the rules became more or less second nature and it has definitely paid off. For me, its strength has been in the fact that DD (and I) learn best systematically and this program is certainly that. On the other hand, as writing is more intuitive for my son, he didn't like the program at all. He did score almost perfectly (blast that one point) on the SAT essay, and I believe IEW curricula is more than a little bit responsible for that....even though he won't admit it. But yes, there is quite a bit out there that is effective and less expensive, and that is the reason we did not begin IEW sooner.
