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Differences between: Meaningful Comp., Jump In, Writing with Ease, and Epi Kardia
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I need to make a decision soon and would like to not have to return material, kwim?!
I am looking for something to help my ds (13) to: organize his thoughts/take his long, detailed narrations and make sense out of them/write a basic essay, etc.
I am looking at something that he can do on his own as much as possible. I’m available to help but he really enjoys doing as much as he can independently (even if he needs the help, he likes to figure things out on his own).
I’m leaning toward Jump In (viewed samples already) but then I think I looked over WWE and Epi Kardia and have confused myself.
Please help if you have any preferences. Thanks.
I chose MC because of the step-by-step approach, outline and teaching self-check ing techniques. I like the IEW approach, but wouldn’t pay the price for it nor want to have so much teacher involvemtn.
I went back and forth on Jump-In. What I decided from asking questions and reading other’s experiences is that it seems too general for me in approach, not incremental enough regarding technique. My son likes having a “list” and is independent, too; my dd desperately needs clear instructions since her brain doesn’t function in a very sequential manner; she just has ideas and a story in her head and just keeps going!
After the structured lessons, they can then be more creative and individualize their writing after having that foundation.
I know nothing about WWE.
Regarding Epi KArdia, I plan on using during their high school years for Essay and Research.
After the structured nature of MC, they will go into the more casual teaching style of Write with the Best Vol. 1 and 2 in 7th and 8th grades.
Just keep asking questions and reading reviews and pray and you’ll be able to figure it out!
So you’re doing MC in the elementary grades?? Hmmm….we started out a bit late with CM so now that my ds’s narrations are good, I’m ready for him to “polish” them and do more if the program suggests some here and there. So would MC be appropriate for his age/grade in your opinion??
BTW, thanks for the reply.
You’re welcome.
I’m only doing MC for my dd’s 5th grade and my son’s 6th, which is next year-they will be age 11 and 12. It’s actually designed to be started as early as 4th.
If you think his written narrations are good, perhaps you don’t need something as structured as MC and Jump-In would be more to your liking.
Here’s reviews that helped me for MC:http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/meaningful-composition.htm
and samples:http://tfths.com/samples.php
Jump-IN review:http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/jump-in.htm
Bookworm can give you good info, both here and from other posts, since she has used it. Misty has also used it w/her oldest this past year, I believe; so maybe she’ll chime in, too.
I do think MC is perfectly appropriate for his age and grade. However, so is Jump- IN. So it just depends on how much structure you want and he wants; how much you think he needs to write well. I usually don’t like real structured, curriculum type materials, but I decided that I wanted it for this area at this time.
From this statement of yours:”my ds’s narrations are good, I’m ready for him to “polish” them and do more if the program suggests some here and there”
it sounds to me like Jump-In may be more suitable.Just my opinion.
Keep looking at samples of both, think about your son’s learning style and current writing needs and you’ll make the right decision.
WWE will be too young and not what you are looking for. Writing With Skill might fit what you want. They will send a generous sample if you will email and ask for it.
Meaningful Composition has books for all levels. They have generous samples on their website. http://www.tfths.com
Epikardia is very straight forward for Essay and for Research Paper. (I may have the Essay guide for sale.)
Thanks ladies, this has been very helpful to me as this has been one of the most challenging to decide on for him.
He’s a great oral narrator (especially when he wants to be), leaves a bit out in his written narrations that I know would have in them orally, but just needs to know “how” to structure it all on paper. I remember Bookworm mentioning a long time ago about kids that have somthing to say and that that is half the battle, well, now he has something to say. My son is not a big talker but his oral narrations (and written most of the time) can be lengthy and full of content (I know he can add more and so does he) so now he has something to say and I want to help him get that on paper.
Thanks so much for your help.
One thing about MC… I thought my kids would be able to do it independently but I found that they didn’t really retain the information unless we did it together. so we would sit at the table, each of us with a copy of MC, and we would take turns reading the bullet points of the lesson orally. We would discuss if needed, then the kids would write whatver they were assigned. Then they read it out loud to me as we sat there together.
We are going to do the first level of Writing with Skill next. You can download the entire first six or seven weeks of that from peacehillpress.com.
One thing about MC… I thought my kids would be able to do it independently but I found that they didn’t really retain the information unless we did it together. so we would sit at the table, each of us with a copy of MC, and we would take turns reading the bullet points of the lesson orally. We would discuss if needed, then the kids would write whatver they were assigned. Then they read it out loud to me as we sat there together.
We are going to do the first level of Writing with Skill next. You can download the entire first six or seven weeks of that from peacehillpress.com.
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