Writing Strands?

[hannasathome]

I'm in the process of choosing resources to use in our homeschool next year - I'll be using LC 1 - (we just finished PL and loved it!) with my 8 and 10 year old daughters. I've been researching writing programs that will carrying us through high school, looking specifically for those that do not emphasize grammar. I've just spent a good bit of time examining Writing Strands, and would like to have feedback from anyone who has either used or reviewed the curriculum. Thanks for your help!
Leslie

[kincaidknight]

I highly recommend Classical Writing.

Check it out at: http://stores.lulu.com/classicalwriting.

[hannasathome]

Thanks for your reply - I've looked at Classical Writing and that's definately on the list of options - what is your favorite thing about the program? I have reluctant writers - do you think it would work for them? Thanks - Leslie

[kincaidknight]

My children are not old enough to begin CW, but I can't wait until they can! I've looked through Aesop and Homer thoroughly and I have friends who have used them with their kids. It's a systematic, comprehensive program. As a former high school and college composition instructor, I think it's the dream writing program out there to help developing writers.

I am unimpressed with Writing Strands. It's a bunch of writing exercises that are irrelevant or that can be taught in other contexts as needed.

The progym is tried and true and I can't imagine using a non-progym-based program now that I know much more about classical writing models as opposed to the weaker modern models I have been trained to use!

[Cindy in Indy]

Leslie,
I don't have experience with CW or Writing Strands, but I do have experience with reluctant writers. I encourage you to listen to Susan Wise Bauer's talk called "Writing Without Fear". (I have it on tape, but I think it's available on CD now from welltrainedmind.com - you may also be able to read notes from her talk on the website.) She lays out a simple plan to get (and keep) your children writing across the curriculum. The main idea that helped me is that even a reluctant writer should be writing a sentence a day, building to 2 sentences a day by Christmas, 3-4 sentences by Easter. In other words, don't give up, just because they resist. But don't discourage them with too-demanding assignments, either. Slow and steady is the key to progress in writing. There's a lot more content to her talk - worth considering, IMO.

[hannasathome]

Just wanted to take a moment to thank you both for your replies - your feedback is extremely helpful and I appreciate your time! I've spent quite a bit more time looking at Classical Writing - thanks for the suggestion!
Leslie:)