Writing Strands (Teaching Companion)

Author Dave Marks believes that kids become good writers by ... writing! Not by doing endless diagramming or laboring over parts of speech worksheets. He eloquently equates the process of learning to write to learning to ride a bicycle ... you get on and ride, not spend weeks, months, or years labeling the parts of a bicycle on worksheets! Mr. Marks has 27 years of experience teaching in high school and college and also homeschooled his son using this approach (yes, his son did become a writer!). The four strands of writing (argumentative, explanatory, creative and report) are explained, modeled, and practiced throughout the 8 levels. Beginning in level 3, the author speaks directly to the student, a nice touch because Mr. Marks has a tongue-in-cheek humor that makes learning to write enjoyable! We have used this program effectively. Most children begin this program in level 3. Older children may progress more quickly through the lower levels. Dave promises that "A child, at whatever age, having worked through level eight, would be ready for college-level writing."

Writing Strands, long a homeschooling favorite, has received an expansion and facelift from its new publisher, Master Books. Still providing the same quality, step-by-step writing instruction, the major difference is that there is MORE than just writing instruction. A complete series of reading/literature lessons is interwoven with the writing instruction resulting in solid language arts courses. Each consumable worktext provides space to complete the writing assignments as well as worksheets for discussing books (chosen and assigned by teacher/parent) and Bible passages. The student is encouraged to keep an ongoing spelling list as well as constantly be involved in the writing evaluation process. Composition lessons cover the writing process and provide experience with the various forms of writing as well as specific traits of good writing. Reading/literature lessons provide literary analysis instruction coupled with discussion questions and biblical applications.

All instruction is provided in the Student Worktexts. Students are encouraged to build a portfolio binder although there is ample space provided to complete many of the Worktext assignments. Introductory information includes course descriptions/principles, writing guidelines, skills writing mastery chart, list of problems to solve (this is kept as a running list based on assignment completion), and a detailed daily schedule. Detailed lessons, written directly to the student, are provided for 180 days (five days a week; four 9-week quarters) and can be expected to take 30-45 minutes to complete. Bible passages are used as the primary resource for the literary analysis lessons. These lessons are coupled with book studies using literature selections chosen by the parent. Answer keys for objective portions are included as well as a glossary of helpful terms.

This edition is a bit more grade specific than the previous version although there is still some flexibility. Each level is a one-year course. Typically students would begin the series in 5th grade and progress through 10th but a student with good reading skills could start in 4th (possibly, 3rd). An older student (ex. 7th grade) would typically start with Intermediate 1 but could start with a lower level if their writing skills are minimal. Students should be able to enter at grade level assuming they are reading at or above grade level. Grammar and spelling are covered from a usage perspective so you may want to add a grammar and/or spelling workbook for practice and basic instruction. All course books are three-hole punched. ~ Janice