Ok, I am looking ahead to next year. Has anyone ever used "Classic Curriculum Writing"? It is series 3 for third grade. I was just curious if anyone has used it and whether or not they liked it. https://www.homeschoolingbooks.com/pages/itemdetail.asp?ItemID=3850 Some of the other stuff I already have picked out and some of it bought. My World Science (science... woods, human body and tropical rain forest then move onto one of the others), History of the World Volume 1 (history), Math u see beta and gamma, Spanish on dvd. Anyhoo, just wondering if anyone has used that writing curriculum and if not what you suggest that is non-denominational. Thanks!
Hi Renee.. I see you use a lot the same sources I use. We use Story of the World too. I tell you for rigorous grammar, you can't beat Rod & Staff. It is recommended by The Well Trained Mind. However,R&S it is mennonite, BUT I can tell you it is very easy to adapt it to your own faith. The grammar books are not very intensive doctrinal points, but more like *Who walked on water?* *Why we should speak the truth to each other?*, etc. At least they are not in the younger grades, so far.:wink: With that being said, Loyola Press,(a Catholic provider) of grammar also produced a secular grammar course that is WTM second choice. If I'm not mistaken the site should be www.loyolapress.com. If not, it won't be hard to find. They had one produced by them and then the secular choice. WTM said that the secular choice is a good second. The nice thing with R&S is that it is a writing course as well. The books are hardcover, black/white illustrations and reusable for the next child. The children do their work on notebook paper AND/OR they sell worksheets and tests as well. If you add in copywork and dictation then R&S is solid. The teacher manuals are EXCELLENT and have enough review built in for a classroom. So you can feel free to review as much as you like or skip ahead. I can list some sources for you as well for copywork and dictation. Back to writing, I LOVE LOVE the writing series we are using called Classical Writing by Tracy Gustilo and Lene Jaqua. I will need to find the link for you. But it follows the progymnasmata which is a method of learning to write. Basically, children learn to copy great authors and start with stories of moral value, like Aesops Fables. This year they came out with Instructor guides, so there is alot of hand holding now. Their basic philosophy is that it is not only important HOW we write, but WHAT we write as we want to fill our minds with things chaste, trustworthy and of some value. That value can be seeing the results of evil and good alike, strong or weak character or simply reciting an event. CW recommends Harvey's grammar by Mott Media which is VERY intensive....I use my Harvey's alongside R&S, because R&S is more teacher friendly to the person who THOUGHT they received good grammar in school. Classical writing builds grammar into their writing so it's laid out for you as well. Also, you can check out Write Source, Brave Writer and Evan Moore Daily paragraphing which are all excellent sources and I know for sure Evan Moore is secular. I need to check back but I believe Write Source and Brave Writer are too. Okay, off to take kiddos to the dentist..:roll: I hope that helps..and will check back later to see if you need some more ChOICES.. ROFL
Thank you thank you thank you! I had not thought of Rod and Staff...I don't know why. I will research that and the Loyola Press. I just don't want anything that is close to Abeka and BJU. Thanks again!
Renee, I am doing the 4th grade and 6th grade Rod & Staff Grammar series with my 4th grader and 7th grader. My 7th grader needed more groundwork (we were doing other things before this year), so he's doing the 6th grade one. I tell them it's a level not what grade you're in. If you need more work in something, do a lower level until you understand it better and gain more confidence, so that's what he's doing. Anyway, I really like them---it's all stuff I never learned, so I am learning right along with my 4th grader! English is NOT my strong point, so I appreciate Rod & Staff's structure!
Renee Your very very welcome! ... Abeka has made some changes....it does fit some...but WTM seems to like the way Rod and Staff do composition. BJU made some changes this past year too, they have been pretty solid. Again, it's just differences on where you want your focus. In my priority list, writing/grammar and history are like my tops. So I look for lots of teacher instruction (just because we can learn alongside too) plus something that is real rigorous. The thing with R&S is that prior to last year, they only went through 8th grade for writing and grammar. That meant by 8th grade, your child had covered what was needed, including high school. So it is pretty rigorous with grammar. However, last year or the year before they finished courses up through high school. It is pretty solid. And now can be used through highschool. For writing it depends too on your goals and your child's abilities.. For me, my son had been writing 5 paragraph essays by the 4th grade. So I had to up the writing in R&S per WTM by doing the copywork, dictation and outlining. My second one is not ready for that load. Each curriculum is different.In the past I had done Calvert, and it focused on writing and leaves grammar until the 4th grade. R&S is visa versa.. Grammar first and writing is more gentle. So it just depends on what your needs are... Don't forget to check Classical Writing. It is very solid too. It combines the grammar AND writing for you and it follows classical methods if you lean towards that. I believe this is the site www.lulu.com/classicalwriting. Again this is very hands on course but the emphasis is definetly on grammar and writing. Either way you go, R&S and supplementing with copywork and dictation or Classical Writing and even Loyal Press (you will need a writing course if you go this way)...you'll be fine. There is so much *good stuff* nowadays, it's wonderful to be able to homeschool and use it!!
