One Year Adventure Novel questions

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  • August 11, 2016 at 12:22 pm
    Tracy Menard
    Participant

    I’m considering this for my 17yo. He’s starting his junior year, hoping to possibly wrap up his junior/senior year together. I’m still unsure that can happen, but he’s motivated right now. 😉

    That said, he’s been a struggling student, especially with language since the start.  I’m looking at several options for his English credit this year, one being OYAN. This is the only option he’s shown interest in and I think it’s the one that would draw him in and make learning enjoyable for him.

    I am concerned about the fact that he hasn’t had a strong English basics course so far in his high school. His grammar and spelling are pretty rough.  Last year I focused on using his writing assignments from his other subjects for his composition and added in Spelling Wisdom for his English credit.  He needs some real instruction to strengthen his writing skills. He has community college in sight for after high school.

    My question is, will OYAN work on those basic composition skills? Would it prepare him for the writing he’ll need in college? Would I be better off to have him take a standard online English class instead?  I want him to enjoy his studies, yet I don’t want him to miss out on the instruction he needs to be ready for what’s coming next.  Do I go with OYAN this year in an attempt to help him see the joy in language or do I go with the online english course to build that foundation and save the OYAN for the following year when/if he still has that year at home?  It’s possible he could wrap up enough credits to start community college next year, filling in with a course or two for the gaps that might be there.

    I guess I’m just trying to decide which is the best option. One more attempt to help him learn to enjoy learning or just get done the necessary evil and let him move on?  Thing is, whatever he does in college, he’ll need to write.  Will OYAN give him enough writing skills to do well in that college setting or will he still need more foundation?

    August 11, 2016 at 2:06 pm
    Tristan
    Participant

    My daughter used OYAN last year (9th grade). No. It’s not going to teach him basic composition skills. Go with a different course.

    She loved OYAN. But she’s a solid writer in the fiction arena.

    Maybe check out materials from Writing with Sharon Watson for what you are looking for. We’re doing her The Power in Your Hands course this year (nonfiction writing).

    Others to check into:

    Write Shop

    Not sure what else would fit the bill, hopefully someone will chime in.

    August 11, 2016 at 4:06 pm
    Tracy Menard
    Participant

    Thank you.  I will look at the resources you mentioned.

    August 11, 2016 at 4:17 pm
    Tracy Menard
    Participant

    Looking at The Power in Your Hands, will you use the two year schedule to complete this?  I’m wondering if I might have my other son, freshman, join in and have them both work on this together.

    Are you then adding in Lit with written narrations?

    August 11, 2016 at 5:25 pm
    Tristan
    Participant

    We’re planning on one year, but if it gets too heavy with all that non-fiction we’ll slow down and spread it over a longer time so we can add in more fiction writing. She does a lot of that on her own though.

    Yes, adding in lit with written narrations and socratic discussions. Plus more lit in history. Some of the books on her to read list this year:

    Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney
    Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
    One Second After
    Emma by Jane Austen
    The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
    The Canterbury Tales
    Lord of the Flies
    Columbus and Sons

     

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