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time4tea
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| Posted: June 03 2010 at 10:04am | IP Logged
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Has anyone seen or tried this? Is it any different than, say, Intermediate or Primary Lang. Lessons?
There are currently 4 levels listed at Peace Hill Press website, and I am looking at maybe levels 2 and 4.
Thanks in advance!
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Maryan
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| Posted: June 03 2010 at 12:43pm | IP Logged
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Similar to PLL? I guess. But different in the sense that you repeat the same pattern (level 3: read, narrate, dictate, read, narrate dictate). And easier in that you have student pages? But PLL is cheaper and you would just use a notebook. With PLL, I felt like I didn't understand where we were headed, but Writing with Ease is laid out very cleary - even with the answers to discussion questions about the reading. I started with PLL and switched to Writing with Ease in mid-October when I didn't feel comfortable with PLL. (Although that's just me -- a lot of people love PLL).
I used level 1 and 3 with my 1st and 3rd grader. Due to my slacking, we only did half of the book? I'm going to just do the other half for next year rather than do 2 and 4. (Reason: 4 has them memorize paragraphs at a time for dictation... and I'd rather stick to the sentence memorization dictation and use our poetry for memory work.) I might jump into 2 for my 2nd grader half way through.
I think they have sample pages at their website and at Amazon.
The complete is a nice sized hardcover book. It explains the whole program. Not necessary if you get the workbook. They also sell student pages too, but that doesn't have the teacher pages. Here's sample pages of Level 3 at Amazon
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Maryan
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time4tea
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Thanks, Maryan! I guess that's also the problem I have had with PLL/ILL - I'm never sure we're doing some of the exercises the way the author intended. I even have the MODG syllabi that are supposed to explain some of what PLL/ILL are wanting, but still I feel as if I am missing something.
I am wanting to use it with my two dd's who will be in 5th and 3rd. They have never really done dictation the way Writing With Ease teaches it (my fault due to not implementing PLL/ILL the correct way), so I was thinking of starting my 5th grader at Level 3, which the Peace Hill Press website says if actually for grades 3 and 4, and my 3rd grader (she is a young 3rd grader with a Fall birthday) at Level 1 or 2. I am assuming that is for a child who is already familiar with the type of instruction? I viewed some samples at their website, but I am off to look for more just to be sure.
How long does a typical lesson take, btw.?
Thanks again!
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Maryan
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| Posted: June 03 2010 at 1:33pm | IP Logged
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IMO, I think level 4 would be a hard starting point -- just for the dictation alone!
I would do level 3 and 2. Or... have both do 3 and just do half the work (or smaller amounts) with your younger daughter?
If I remember correctly, in Level 2, the mom reads the selection to the child. But if your child reads well, you could also have her read it. (That takes 5 minutes or so). Then you ask her about ten questions or so (5 minutes or so). Then you lead her to writing a two to three minute summary. And write that down (five minutes or so). (So... 15 - 25 minutes). That's Day 1. Day 2 is copywork (and you go over some grammar stuff). (10 minutes tops). Day 3: Dictation (ten minutes tops. Day 4: Read, narrate, dictate (25 min tops). The only downside to level 2 with a third grader is that the student lines are very large.
I think Level 1 would be too easy. Mom reads. Asks child questions. Then we write one sentence about the story. Does copywork only; no dictation. These lessons are very short. I think you could skip to level 2 without having done 1 without any trouble.
HTH!
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Maryan
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time4tea
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| Posted: June 03 2010 at 1:47pm | IP Logged
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Yes, thank you, it helps a lot!
I have one last question for you - would you happen to know if Writing With Ease overlaps with First Language Lessons? I have been looking at samples of both books, and it seems while FLL is much more grammar oriented, the basic method of copywork/dictation/narration is the same. I am wondering if doing both together would be overkill?
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Maryan
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| Posted: June 03 2010 at 1:48pm | IP Logged
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Also Michele Quigley blogged about just using the manual to use as a guide. But planned to follow their method using whatever reading her kids were doing.
I think that would be both cheaper and possible to do using fairy tales or Aesop's fables. But I really wanted something completely laid out -- so, even though the workbook was expensive, I can use it with ALL of my kids because I can copy it. 
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anitamarie
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time4tea wrote:
Yes, thank you, it helps a lot!
I have one last question for you - would you happen to know if Writing With Ease overlaps with First Language Lessons? I have been looking at samples of both books, and it seems while FLL is much more grammar oriented, the basic method of copywork/dictation/narration is the same. I am wondering if doing both together would be overkill?
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If I remember correctly they are designed to mesh with each other. Here's how one family does it Writing with Ease and First Language Lessons
There may be more info at the Well Trained Mind website itself.
Anita
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Maryan
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| Posted: June 03 2010 at 2:10pm | IP Logged
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Interesting blog post! She makes a comment that selections might be disjointed (or something like that). And it's true -- they are just teasers to literature selections. If I had more time, it would be better to pick our own reading and follow the method.
time4tea wrote:
| I have one last question for you - would you happen to know if Writing With Ease overlaps with First Language Lessons? I have been looking at samples of both books, and it seems while FLL is much more grammar oriented, the basic method of copywork/dictation/narration is the same. I am wondering if doing both together would be overkill? |
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Hmm... I just dropped it. So I guess I couldn't tell you. :) WWE does include grammar discussion but not like PLL. I don't have ILL, so I don't know.
I'm undecided about grammar. I did buy FLL Level 3. But we didn't do it. We did a couple weeks, but I couldn't keep up. It was well laid out, but I was doing Right Start, Writing with Ease, and FLL needed Mom too. I think I might just need a grammar workbook like Language with God. But again, that's just me and my schedule.
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Maryan
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time4tea
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| Posted: June 03 2010 at 2:15pm | IP Logged
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Maryan wrote:
| I think I might just need a grammar workbook like Language with God. But again, that's just me and my schedule. |
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Well, that's what we have been using this year, and I am wondering about just sticking with that!
Anita - thank you for passing along the link and I will be checking it out as well!
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Maryan
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time4tea wrote:
Maryan wrote:
| I think I might just need a grammar workbook like Language with God. But again, that's just me and my schedule. |
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Well, that's what we have been using this year, and I am wondering about just sticking with that! |
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So... can I turn the question? How did Lang of God work for you? We haven't done formal grammar (just Montessori Lessons and dictation stuff). But as we are crazy and #6 is due in the Fall, I'm feeling the need to have a workbook to make sure the gaps are covered.
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Maryan
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Maryan
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| Posted: June 03 2010 at 2:43pm | IP Logged
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FYI Here's an old post discussing Writing With Ease
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Maryan
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time4tea
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Maryan,
Sure! Language of God follows the traditional approach to teaching grammar: teach a concept, practice with sentences, review later. Each level (Level G will be released soon, and is for 8th grade) builds on previous levels, reviewing concepts taught in the previous level and then adding some new material. The series was written by 3 different authors, so the flavor changes a bit the further you go with it to include not just grammar but also composition and some literature. If you are busy it will definitely cover the bases for you, and the kids can do the practice sections independently after you have taught the initial concept.
If you stick with the series from Levels A-G, you will have a complete language arts program (minus the living books of course, I mean the mechanics of grammar and writing only). I have been using CHC as my spine now for a few years, and I find that with some strategic substitutions it works well for us. But it is Spring, and Spring for me means curriculum shopping and that always gets me to thinking there is maybe something out there that is maybe better than what we are currently doing 
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time4tea
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Maryan,
Thanks for the link you provided! I think I will buy just the workbooks, since I like to have everything all laid out at this point. Am I correct in understanding that the workbooks have instructions to the teacher included in the front?
Thanks again!
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Maryan
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time4tea wrote:
Maryan,
But it is Spring, and Spring for me means curriculum shopping and that always gets me to thinking there is maybe something out there that is maybe better than what we are currently doing |
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 I know that feeling!
And to your other question: yes, the workbooks have the teacher pages in the front. It's the student pages that they sell for $12 that don't include the teacher's instructions.
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Maryan
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JennGM
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Maryan wrote:
| And to your other question: yes, the workbooks have the teacher pages in the front. It's the student pages that they sell for $12 that don't include the teacher's instructions. |
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I'm enjoying this conversation; it's very helpful for me.
Are you saying, Maryan, that I could just buy the workbook for the year and not have to buy the whole Teacher's Manual?
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Maryan
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Yes. And if you want to borrow the teacher's manual from me to get a sense of the whole program. Feel free. :) It has three sample weeks in there, so you could try it out first.
ETA: to be clear, the hardback complete program is what I'm calling the Teacher's Manual. It covers how to do all four programs, and has at least three weeks of samples for each year. The workbooks have the teacher's instructions and ALL the student selections and writing pages in it for the whole year -- 36 weeks, I think.
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Maryan
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Thanks, Maryan. My borrowing list is getting longer. I keep borrowing a copy from the library, but because it gets requested, I run out of time to sit down with it.
I had plans to use PLL, but I really was attracted to Writing with Ease. A bit torn....
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Maryan
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| Posted: June 03 2010 at 5:35pm | IP Logged
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Do you have PLL? You can look at that too. Like Tea, I just felt like I was missing some instructions and hand holding. Dictation etc. was all new to me.
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Maryan
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Maryan wrote:
| Do you have PLL? You can look at that too. Like Tea, I just felt like I was missing some instructions and hand holding. Dictation etc. was all new to me. |
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I've got a copy I bought last year that has been in-waiting. I need to pull it out and look it over again.
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time4tea
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Jenn,
The MODG 3rd grade syllabus has lesson plans and some teaching helps for PLL in it. I have used it per the syllabus before, thinking it would fill in some of the blanks for me, but PLL just seem to jump around a bit too much, not much rhyme or reason to it. One thing I like about the samples I have seen of Writing with Ease is that there seems to be more continuity to the lessons and the overall scheme of teaching. PLL and ILL are such lovely books though.
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Topic: TWTM's Writing with Ease
