Writing Strands

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  • October 9, 2009 at 2:35 pm
    meagan
    Participant

    I saw these listed in the Bookfinder as I was browsing through it.  These books look intriguing to me.  Has anyone used them, and if so, what did you think?

     

    Thanks!

    October 9, 2009 at 3:45 pm
    CindyS
    Participant

    We are using them now and my children all enjoy them, except one. He is a 5th grader and he wants to go straight to the end product. This is our first year and the 12th grader is doing the fiction book, 10th grader is in level 5, 7th grader is in level 4 and 5th grader is is level 3. I can give you more info as to the layout and whatnot, if you would like.

    Blessings,

    Cindy

    October 9, 2009 at 5:44 pm
    meagan
    Participant

    I would love some more information.  I have a 4th, 5th, and 8/9th grader (he’s 14, started school a year late, but we are trying to work with him to give him some more mature work, he really wants to get back on grade level).  I tend to keep the 4th and the 5th grader on the same level, I find it works easier.  We are currently not doing much of a structured composition program, which I would like to be doing.  I just haven’t found anything I liked.

    October 9, 2009 at 9:19 pm
    CindyS
    Participant

    I first must offer a disclaimer in that this is not really cm beyond the short lessons. I’m sorry that I am unable to locate my older ones books. That would be the level 5 and the fiction writing ones. However, the intro says that this is “a complete writing curriculum program using a process approach to writing and composition.” We are not into it very far yet, but the children are happily working on it so far.

    Level 3 (10yo) just completed an exercise where he had to come up with a core sentence and then ask five different questions about it. Then, he rewrote the sentence five times adding each bit of information. Level 4 (12yo) just completed an exercise in which he was to select something he knows how to do and write a paragraph with the sentences flowing from one to the next. Each exercise takes a suggested number of days, and the author recommends that you take a week off after each exercise. We’ve not done that because I forgot, but I think we will now and devote that week to grammar instruction. You can see sample lessons here:

    http://www.writingstrands.com/curriculum.asp

    Blessings,

    Cindy

    October 9, 2009 at 9:56 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    I must confess that I tried these, but my children and I hated them.  I think my oldest son has scars.  LOL  He once wrote a paper using Writing Strands that he called “The Stupid Duckling Paper That My Mean Mother Made Me Write”  We don’t have good memories.  The exercises seemed pointless to the children.  Just our humble opinion.

    October 10, 2009 at 2:33 am
    Jodie Apple
    Participant

    We had an experience similar to what Bookworm described.    Frown   But we’ve only attempted this with our son.  (DD is too young yet for these)  So it could be a gender thing? 

     

    October 15, 2009 at 4:19 pm
    Beth Covalt
    Participant

    Sadly, my children really hate WS, too.  However, I have revisited them this year and am getting more cooperation and interest.  My third grader enjoys book 2.

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