Meaningful Composition – Did it Work? At what age?

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  • August 13, 2012 at 6:37 pm
    Andrea 3b1g
    Member

    Just looking for some comments from anyone who has used MC? Comments from anyone who has used it with a reluctant writer would be great. I think I’d be looking at MC4+ (DS just turned 9. His brother is 7.5 – might be begging to tag along, we’ll see, I think that is a bit young).

    I realize the CM way is to avoid “direct” instruction in writing, in favour of letting the child develop his own style based on learnings from all the quality literature he’s been exposed to. I’m a bit concerned to follow it quite this way, however, because DS9’s confidence is low for writing. (had several disastrous moments writing in PS in grade 1 and 2). He likes to do everything WELL (preferably the first time, lol) and he does lean to feeling comfortable with in depth rules/instructions, etc.

    Comments welcome! Blessings, Andi

    August 13, 2012 at 10:05 pm
    Rachel White
    Participant

    HI Andi,

      I am beginnning MC4+ this year with an 11 and a 12 yr. old. It is supposedly for as young as “4th” grade, under which your 9 year old would fall, technically.

    I wouldn’t have started that young, though; but that’s just me. If he’s reluctant, I’m concerned that MC may be too much. My son, almost 12, was/is also a reluctant writer, but has good form; my dd, 11, loves writing, but has one long, run-on sentence! If I had had him do MC at 9, I know I would have turned him off completely from future efforts of writing. I am glad I waited. I just continued daily copywork, started him on dictation 2x a week and began having him copy his Hebrew vocab. words down in his notebook (plus, continued oral narrations and good literature read independently). That’s it, but with lots of groaning. Then last year, I increased it a little more, with a little less groaning to now no groaning at the end of this year;  this next year he’ll begin MC4+.

    What other writing activities do you do? What about Copywork and/or Dictation? He’s at a good age to start dictation. Also, a gentle intro. into grammar or just use the sentences you use for dictation to teach basic grammar concepts that make up a sentence is sufficient, too.

    If you feel really concerned in this area, and would like a more structured curricula may I recommend you look at Writing Tales for his age? It encompasses copywork and grammar (though I don’t think dictation, but has spelling taught in other ways) and teaches the sentence, etc. via class works of literature. It doesn’t have as much writing requirements in my opinion. I think I could’ve used WT with my son when he was 10.

    http://www.olsenbooks.com/index.html

    If you do WT 1 and 2, you have a few options to transition into depending…; there’s Write with the Best, Jump In, Classical Writing if you want to go that route (though that’s rigorous and may not be suitable for a child who doesn’t care much for writng) or the later versions or MC.

    After MC 4+ and 4, I may do 5+, but I’m not sure. Whether I do or don’t, next will be Write with the Best. After the structured nature of MC, WwtB will be a nice balance, I think, then essay and research teachings in 9th+.

    What do think?

    August 13, 2012 at 11:48 pm
    Andrea 3b1g
    Member

    Rachel, thanks for the detailed suggestions! I’ll definitely have to check out WT 1 and 2 before I go on thinking that MC is in our future. As for your suggestion about a more structured curriculum, yes, that is exactly what I’ve been pondering as an idea to address my concerns about DS9’s reluctance on writing. (acutally had thought about CQLA as well but then wondered if MC might be enough….MC is written by the authors of CQLA). I do love this forum for helping narrow down excellent curriculum choices!

    We are doing copywork daily, and some days he’s happy to concentrate, other days he’s quite zombie-like going through it. Truly, both of my boys are sometimes in such “auto-pilot” mode when doing copywork, it has me wondering whether they are really absorbing it, which is a big point of copywork after all, to absorb excellent writing and language. Perhaps moving to dictation a few times a week, thereby requiring more active thinking, might be the answer. I am considering that as an option as well. Seems to me that dictation would more gentle AND in a way, easier on ME. There’s something that just have me ruffled that my son is 9, pretty bright and just has no ability to write (or is it no interest!).

    Thanks again for the suggestions, Rachel!

    Blessings, Andi

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