Writing With Ease

[MissRubyandKen]

I'm considering using the Writing With Ease text for next year. I'm almost certain I'm ordering Simply Grammar. From the table of contents it looks like the pace of Simply Grammar is faster as far as what is introduced when. It seems Writing With Ease could serve as review or reinforcement of grammar while focusing on writing. Simply Grammar looks to mostly oral. Anyone have opinions on Writing With Ease? Do you or your children like/dislike it? I'm also thinking I could implement the Writing With Ease approach, only following the order and pace of the grammar introduced by Simply Grammar. I have considered buying the Level 1 workbook, but it is pricey. Also I have two students who I'd be teaching so we'd either use it as a non-consumable or need two. So it seems we'd basically be paying between $30-$60 for copywork? I'm okay with finding my own copywork, I do so already.

[MyLittleWonders]

We use Writing With Ease, and though it does focus on various grammar topics within the writing, it's a writing and narration program. The focus is modeling strong writing and having the students replicate it (through copywork in the beginning years and dictation in the later years), and the art of summarizing. We were using First Language Lessons as our grammar program, but have mostly switched to MCT Island series, but we will still stick with WWE all the way through level 4 for each child. The skills taught in it are beyond just grammar skills.

I would think doing your selected grammar program and Writing With Ease (as written - I tried modifying it as I thought would work, but honestly, the beauty of the program is how it is written) would work well together. Do not worry if you are covering topics in your grammar program more quickly than you would get to them in WWE. Grammar is one of those topics that needs constant reinforcement. It will be good review and also good practice to revisit grammar topics as you go through the WWE program.

[MissRubyandKen]

MyLittleWonders I think you're spot on. Thanks for your thoughts. Using WWE as is makes a lot more sense than changing it. The review will definitely be helpful. We just finished our first lesson from Writing With Ease. I have it on loan from the library. I combined a narration and copywork lesson into one. I narrated, then we had the question/answer session, then they wrote one sentence for copywork. The kids actually enjoyed this . We had fun and spent the time together, which is important to me also. We've been using Core Skills workbooks for Language Arts. This seems like its going to be soooo much better. With the Simply Grammar we'll be doing it together as well. Both are short lessons without much writing in the beginning. We should be able to keep it light and fun. I like that they'll be introduced to good books. I will have the books I'm narrating from on our shelf from the library in case interest in reading them is sparked and to pull copywork from. I think we'll combine the copywork and narration lessons so that we are doing 2 WWE lessons and 2 Simply Grammar lessons a week and go from there. Now I'll see if I can talk them into finishing the year in the workbooks we have, lol. I won't be able to purchase the WWE text and Simply Grammar for at least a few months now. Maybe I'll continue on with the WWE while I'm able to have it on loan from the library.

[MissRubyandKen]

Oh, and I really like that both texts are non-consumable and I can use them for all three kids! Its enough to have to buy and use up all of the Math consumables and I'll be making copies of the needed reproducible History and Science pages. Its ALOT of paper and expense too!!!

[luvmy2girlz29]

I know some moms who just buy the WWE text and find their own copywork. I only have one child to hs so I'm just buying the workbooks. Not to tempt you or anything but have you checked out The Phonics Road to Spelling and reading?

Korrie

[MissRubyandKen]

Originally Posted by luvmy2girlz29

I know some moms who just buy the WWE text and find their own copywork. I only have one child to hs so I'm just buying the workbooks. Not to tempt you or anything but have you checked out The Phonics Road to Spelling and reading?

Korrie

Haha, hmmm, I've looked at so many I'm not even sure, lol. I'm off to check it out, thanks.

[scrappyhappymama]

We use Writing with Ease and have really enjoyed it so far (finishing up year 1). Instead of buying the workbook, I bought the Start Write program and print off our own copywork. I use the suggested copywork in the book and then on the other weeks pull from our current read alouds. It's worked well for us, and doubles as handwriting practice as well since we do early cursive. Since we have four children so far, I felt that buying the StartWrite program and printing off copywork pages as needed would be more economical in the long run.