Author | |
Erin Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005 Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5814
|
Posted: June 26 2006 at 8:50pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm needing suggestions/ideas on how to teach dd12 research and reporting skills.
She is a avid reader across a wide range of topics and I know she retains much of this in her memory. However I feel that we perhaps need to also address reporting in some manner of style what she reads.
I guess I'm looking at the longer term picture of university. I want to equip her with skills that she will need then. (If this is where God calls her.) Long time away I know but it will be here before I know it.
Don't know if I've expressed myself well, most likely because I'm not too sure what I'm doing in this area.
__________________ Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
|
Back to Top |
|
|
lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6082
|
Posted: June 26 2006 at 10:06pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I heartily recommend the Writer's Jungle and the Bravewriter lifestyle.
Bravewriter
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Erin Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005 Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 5814
|
Posted: June 29 2006 at 5:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Theresa
I finally got to read the Writer's Jungle recently
I can't rave about it enough, my mind still hasn't digested it all yet however we have attempted a start.
Ds 11 LOVES it, he is my budding author, 5 minute free write was not long enough for him. He wrote several beautiful poems and started a Redwall story all on the first day!!!
Dd12, was not so enthusiastic however I will go back to gently 'waiting' her out. (Her first attempt consisted of 'this is boring, so very boring etc' )
One fact that was brought home to me from all this was that every child has different talents and strenghts and that I really need to do more to nurture ds' and to give him more opportunities to thrive in HIS areas. So often we just focus on maths, which he doesn't enjoy but the others do. So then I am too 'tired' and we will often 'skip' any extra writing other than dictation and copywork. Therefore he doesn't have the same opportunities to feel good about his work in the way that the other children do as they get to enjoy maths but he doesn't get to enjoy creative writing.
Mmm a whole 'nother topic.
__________________ Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
|
Back to Top |
|
|
lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6082
|
Posted: June 29 2006 at 8:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am so glad you got a chance to read it. Have you had a chance to peruse the Bravewriter website? we signed up for Julie's email list, Bravewriter Lifestyle, and it was a great tool to get us going with the Writer's Jungle. What an awesome program Julie has written! It really has turned our writing from a chore into a pleasure. My ds was such a reluctant writer before, but now he is writing a "novel" for pleasure in his spare time!! I can't recommend The Writer's Jungle and Bravewriter highly enough.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
Back to Top |
|
|
stacykay Forum All-Star
Joined: April 08 2006 Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1858
|
Posted: June 29 2006 at 9:08am | IP Logged
|
|
|
With what ages could you use the Writer's Jungle? I looked at the site, but didn't see guidelines for it. I did see the subscriptions for language arts (checked out the Arrow. I thought it looked really helpful. I checked out the free study for Farmer Boy. I am seriously considering ordering them. Writing has not been our strong suit. I am hoping to change that. And, yes, Erin, you are so right about the various strengths of our children. I am so math and science focused , I don't want to miss one who may have a calling to write!
Thanks!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
with 6dss (Matt-18, Mike-15, Pete-11, Mark-8, Paul-4, and John-2)
|
Back to Top |
|
|
lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6082
|
Posted: June 29 2006 at 2:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
The Writer's Jungle is a guide for writing with children from K-12. The thing to remember is that it is not a workbook or textbook, but a framework for the homeschooling mom to learn a whole new way of teaching writing with children. It incorporates copywork, dictation, and narration, but it is so much more. It gives you the tools you need to "grow a writer" from the earliest stages through high school.
I suggest signing up for the Bravewriter lifestyle so you can get an idea of the day-to-day implementation of TWJ.
For example, Julie suggests working on many pieces of writing, but bringing only one piece per month through the entire writing process. So each monday is a reminder to work on a certain stage of the process so that you can have a finished product that month. Each tuesday is a reminder for tuesday teatime with poetry. Each wednesday is a reminder to watch a movie and discuss it. Twice a week are reminders to do copywork and/or dictation. Fridays is the reminder for freewriting with a link to her blog for a suggested prompt. There are also reminders for one-on-one time, grammar games, etc.
The Bravewriter lifestyle is all about incorporating writing seamlessly into your lives. It is the most stress-free program I've ever seen and it brings truly marvelous results.
The Arrow, Slingshot, and Boomerang are age appropriate copywork/dictation passages from excellent books. They are by subscription and you access them on her website. Each month is a new set of passages with Julie's reasons for choosing the passage and things to learn from it, such as grammar, punctuation, etc. It is basically a way to have all your copywork/dictation passages thoughtfully chosen for you! We have not used them much because dictation is not our style, but they are totally not necessary. You can use TWJ fully without them.
Julie also offers online classes,w hich I would love ds to do some day. But they are very popular and fill quickly.
One nice thing about Bravewriter is that Julie has a free public forum where she will answer any questions you have about the program and also give advice on improving your child's writing. Go to the homepage and click on forums. From there find the "Scratch Pad" forum. Post your questions there.
I'd be glad to answer any more questions that I can, as you can tell I am quite a fan!
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
Back to Top |
|
|
stefoodie Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005 Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline Posts: 8457
|
Posted: June 29 2006 at 3:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks so much for the detailed explanation, Theresa. I've had The Brave Writer for a year but haven't read or used it yet. My ? is this: I'm planning to start using it soon with my 10-yo and 7-yo, but is it too late to use with a 15-yo? We're using Warriner's English Composition and Grammar with her and most days she just doesn't get motivated enough to do what needs to be done. I think she's got great potential but as a mom I don't know what to do for her at this stage of the game because I keep thinking I'm not such a good writer myself. Would TBW maybe help me help her get out of this rut? (I know I should just read it and find out for myself, but I'm also looking at other programs trying to figure out which would be the best fit for her... and right now I sure could use some easy answers from people who have actually used it. Thanks so much!)
__________________ stef
mom to five
|
Back to Top |
|
|
lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6082
|
Posted: June 29 2006 at 3:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I would say it is definitely not too late!Especially if dd is not enjoying her present program. The Writers Jungle focuses mainly on elementary age kids, but then the principles are extended through the high school age. Julie has a newer publication out called "Help for High School" which you may want to check out, as it is more specifically focused on that age group, while continuing all the wonderful bravewriter philosophy. Help for High School
The table of contents and introduction are available online for you to view.
I strongly advise reading The Writer's Jungle as soon as possible in order to get a feel for what it is really all about. It is SO hard for me to describe because it is so different from everything else out there.
Hope this helps.
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
Back to Top |
|
|
lapazfarm Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005 Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline Posts: 6082
|
Posted: June 29 2006 at 3:34pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Stef,
I just had another thought. If you lack confidence in being able to implement TWJ with your older dd, then perhaps you might consider signing her up for one of Julie's online classes. There are several at different levels and she really invites parental involvement in them. Doing a class together with dd might help you build confidence to really take off on your own with the others.
Just a thought!
__________________ Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Angie Mc Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005 Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline Posts: 11400
|
Posted: June 29 2006 at 3:48pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
stef, if you look into the courses, let me know. Would it be something that Aisa and Devin could do together? I just forwarded Devin the link to the Help for High School.
Love,
__________________ Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
|
Back to Top |
|
|
Lavenderfields Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 06 2005 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 400
|
Posted: June 30 2006 at 8:28am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Angie,
I bought Help for High School this past year for dd16. It talks to the kids specifically, not just for the parents to read and implement. She started it a little, then we signed her up for Julie's essay class. Betsy learned a lot in the class, did two papers and feels pretty confident she can write a paper. We will be using this resource more this year.
God Bless
Robynn in Lancaster, CA
|
Back to Top |
|
|
stefoodie Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005 Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline Posts: 8457
|
Posted: June 30 2006 at 6:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
hi angie, i was planning to have aisa look at it today so we can decide -- but she's sick and took the day off. i'll let you know. thanks for all the help, everyone!
__________________ stef
mom to five
|
Back to Top |
|
|