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Essentials in Writing
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Is anyone familiar with this DVD curriculum? I know it’s not CM. I wondered if it might be good for my audio/visual learner.
I spoke to the creator/instructor on the phone last week and am leaning heavily in this direction. We just need to see if the budget will allow.
I would love to know more also. 4myboys – could you tell me more about what they said? I have a visual learning that this might be a good fit for. Mom2fourboys- if you have any insite to share we’d love to hear from you also.
We have used the 7th grade Essentials in Writing. What specifically do you want to know? I can tell you that he shows you how to do each step of writing. He doesn’t just say, now write an outline. He does it for a story of his own on a whiteboard. Ask me other questions if you have them.
Dawn, did you like the program? Will you be using the grade 8 program? In looking at the samples, it seems to be more grammar than anything else, did you find this to be true?
From what he told me on the phone he teaches grammar on a need-to-know basis, though he said there was a bigger grammar component to the 5th and 6th grade curriculum. He is not big on diagramming, either. He said that my struggling 6th grader would be fine starting at either the 5th or 6th grade because he breaks it all down step by step and demonstrates it all as he goes.
I’ve been looking at this for next year also. Is this mostly grammar and writing or is there any literary analysis included, especially in the high school years?
I do belive the focus is strictly on on effective writing, i don’t believe there is any literary analysis included. I haven’t looked at the toc or course syllabus for high school. You should be able to find in on the website.
We used it this past year for my boys in 3rd grade, 6th grade and 7th grade. The 3rd & 6th grade programs include both writing and grammar. The 7th grade only includes writing. I didn’t find the video quality to be bad at all. It is a simple recording of Mr. Stephens in a classroom setting. No Hollywood glitz or glamour. My kids did enjoy watching the DVD’s and really liked Mr. Stephens.
Now my opinion of the program… I felt that the grammar portion of the 3rd and 6th grade levels moved a little too quickly with minimal review. Mr. Stephens did an excellent job explaining the grammar concepts. He is very thorough and engaging but there just wasn’t enough written review. However, the writing portion was spot on for all grade levels of the program. Mr. Stephens did an excellent job breaking down and explaining every bit of the writing process. He made it so easy for my boys to complete the writing assignments.
With that said, I decided not to buy the next level for my son who moved into 4th grade because he needed a grammar program that took it a little slower. My other sons moved into a history program that has composition included, so I didn’t buy any additional levels. I would say that their writing improved greatly with just that one year of writing instruction. Prior to this program, they basically had no formal writing instruction and had just written narrations and history papers with added correction when needed.
Tammy
Sorry it took me so long to get back with this. Do I like it – yes and no. I love the program – it’s thorough, has good examples to follow, it’s a do a little everyday and end up with a whole paper sort of thing. The grammar is only a review sort of thing if needed after 6th grade. And that grammar is only what is needed for writing. It really isn’t a thorough grammar program in the way R&S or Easy Grammar is. Although what is “thorough” is debatable (at least by me). Will I use it next year? I don’t know. My “natural writer” son is the one who was using it, and he seems to do better with a more free form writing with a bit of guidance and organization thrown in. I haven’t been using any particular program with him. I intend to focus more on formats in high school and may go back to it then. I don’t know about literary analysis in high school.
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