Composition

I think oral and written narrations are likely enough for elementary school, followed by something like Jump In that ServingwithJoy recommended, and then a high school essay/research paper program like the new follow-up to Jump In or Epi Kardia’s programs.  I must admit I’ve struggled in this area and felt like I’ve needed hand-holding. What we’ve done in conjunction w/oral and written narrations:

2nd/3rd    Primary Language Lessons

4th/5th Writing Tales (pretty independent and not time-consuming, w/copywork, narrations that are edited, beginning grammar, and voc. and spelling based on a classic lit. selection).

Jr. Hi and H.S. as stated above. HTH some:)  Gina

I have been using Write On with my 10yo and it’s been a good fit for her.  She really struggles with writing and dictation.  We also started doing some simple notebooking pages.  I’ve been having her draw a picture and write one sentence…I’m hoping to increase the amount of writing as she gets more comfortable with it.  
http://www.kid-friendly-homeschool-curriculum.com/Write-On.html

My DS 8 is narrating very well, so we may just do PLL/ILL and written narrations.  He’s also been doing notebook pages for science and history.  I’m hoping that the CM basics will work well for him and we won’t have to add much else in.  I may incorporate some of the Write On assignments into their notebooking assignments.

I am planning to use Jump In with my grade 7 student next year, but I’ve been looking at Write On as well.  If I get write on I’d be able to use it for my 4th grader as well. 

I agree with Doug that my kids have learned most of their composition skills from the great living books they have read. The reason we added a writing curriculum was two-fold:

1. To give me, as their instructor, a framework for teaching composition.

2. To give them an opportunity to understand the process of writing essays for purposes other than narration (ie: persuading, comparing and contrasting, etc…)

I freely admit that my kids who are benefitting most from specific writing instruction are my very logical, linear thinkers. They love having a structure for organizing their thoughts. But their word choices and general sentence construction are mostly influenced by the wonderful books that they have been fed on their entire lives.

My creatively gifted child could write an excellent essay with very little instruction or ‘how to’ – but she has also benefitted from thinking through her ideas and organizing her thoughts before committing them to paper.

After using Primary Language Lessons and some of InterMediate Language Lessons in the elementary years, mine – now both 12 – are using Meaningful Composition, books 4A and 4. Then when we’re finished with those, Write With the Best Vol. 1 and 2 and then probably Epi Kardia.

I did oral narrations and began written, but my son showed that ,even though being an avid reader with excellent oral narrating skills, he was at a stand still with the written and is quite happy to have the “hand-holding” and structure of MC.

My dd didn’t need it so much, but it’s improved her skills as well.