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High School Composition – Help Request
- This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 9 months ago by
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My oldest daughter was in a K12 online charter school from mid-2nd grade through 6th grade and we have been doing our own thing these last 2 years. We used IEW’s Writing with Structure & Style from 4th through 6th and she has used their Elegant Essay 7th & 8th (this year). As I have learned more about Charlotte Mason’s method, I love it. It makes sense and is true to what I remember being effective when I taught myself something. I received the Learning and Living dvds a week ago and have listened to them all. I have been working toward a more Charlotte Mason style these last 2 years, but still need to change a few things, especially language arts. I had been thinking of using IEW’s Windows to the World for her next year and possibly The Grammar of Poetry. After the dvds, I’m uncertain if this is the way to go, I expect they might be somewhat formulaic and perhaps too analytical. Based on my daughter’s experience and the fact that she enjoys writing, especially poetry, and does have some talent for writing, does anyone have experience with these IEW programs or know CM better than I and can offer some thoughts, guidance or suggestions? Thank you in advance!
So she’s going into 9th? If she hasn’t done literature analysis, Windows to the World would be good.
For poetry, how about Art of Poetry: http://classicalacademicpress.com/the-art-of-poetry/#.VZm5IH_loTY
It’s less technical than Grammar of Poetry, but if she likes writing poetry, IMO, GoP would probably be a good fit for her. Then ‘Art of Poetry’ later.
SInce I want in depth literature analysis writing skills done in high school, I will be using WttW. I also see value in learning to write poetry, though GoP isn’t the only resource. Another is the Micheal C. Thompson’s Poetry program, which is multi-year. http://www.rfwp.com/series/poetics-program-by-michael-clay-thompson
Art of Poetry isn’t for learning to write poetry exactly. From what I’ve read, the GoP and AoP complement each other.
I think the MCT Program requires more parent involvement than GoP, and of course, goes all the way to graduation. It has a good reputation. You might want to look into it.
I don’t know if this was helpful, but IMO, I don’t think GoP or WttW are contradictory to CM. They are just tools to use to meet an end that I think is CM.
Rachel
It sounds to me like your daughter has had plenty of writing instruction for her age. If it were me, I would take a year off of formal writing programs and focus on oral and written narrations.
Out of curiosity, and to clarify for myself, based on a statement you made above, do you think the CM way is not analytical?
I agree that you should definitely be working on oral narrations. I agree you don’t need anymore teaching about how to write good papers (basic and essays), but lit. analysis and research papers aren’t taught in the programs you mentioned.
You could take off a year as Melanie recommended above and just let her use what she has learned so far in the various subjects, then begin lit. analysis in 10th and the research paper afterwards. IMO, since she enjoys writing poetry, I see no reason not to further hone those natural skills by using something like GoP (which is even recommended at Ambleside Online, a CM-based curriculum).
Orally narrating is hard work, so use easier lit. books and have her read small portions first and then narrate, with her reading portions getting longer as her abilities strengthen. Also, writing across the subjects, using her already developed skills, would make for a good year. Then, that ability for her brain to sort out material as is required in oral narrations would prove beneficial in her deep thinking skills and comprehension.
Hope that makes sense. My brain’s a little fried today.
Thank you both very much for your responses! Since April, I purchased The Roar on the Other Side. My daughter and I looked at that and GoP and she chose The Roar…, I expect because it seemed more inspirational than instructional. 🙂 I will take a look at the other two poetry programs you mentioned, Rachel, as well.
I recently ordered IEW’s Teaching the Classics and Excellence in Literature: American Authors. My concern with the IEW stuff was whether it would dissect literature too much. As Melanie suspects, she had too much of that in K12. It looks like the American Authors uses books listed as middle school books on AO, gives resources for broader context of the books and has a few thought-provoking questions for written narration for each. I plan to continue the oral and written narrations and use the TTC and American Authors for analysis, as appropriate. Maybe WttW and/or Worldview Detective to follow. I will not burden my now 8yo with the K12 style just reading and narration. Older, wiser.
I truly appreciate your time and wisdom you have shared here. I will no doubt refer to it again. Please feel free to comment further, as well. Thanks! 🙂
I’m so glad you found Roar…; that was another resource I wanted to recommend, but could not remember and was trying to! I want to use that this coming year, but the title was escaping me! Yes, I think that is a great idea and I’m glad you asked her opinion. I think she’ll gobble that book up.
I’ve never done TtC, but it’s my understanding that it’s mainly for you to learn in order to teach her, so it’ s not really something she has to do directly. You may not need to use WttW if you implement TtC in the coming years.
I am going to use Excellence…, too, after this year. I didn’t start structured writing instruction soon enough, so that’s on my agenda this year (with Jump In and WttW).
If your dd is able to do somewhat of a lit. analysis paper than she’s set with that, since the Excellence… material requires those types of writings. Since she’s had more teaching in writing using the Structure and Style, she will probably do fine and where she might struggle, you’re learning about it in TtC and can assist her. Then you can reevaluate her strengths and weaknesses, her interests and your requirements, the following year.
I think ya’ll will be fine and she will have a good year.
Rachel
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