Slow Schooling Chapter 14: Teaching Writing

Two really great programs that work

Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:20AM

Learning the three R’s (and then some) continues. One thing I’ve changed is how I’ve approached teaching writing. After attending a workshop at the last homeschooling conference and grilling a 12 yo girl who participated in this program, I finally just bit the bullet (or wallet) and bought the IEW program (Institute for Excellence in Writing). We’ve been at it a couple of weeks now and......we LOVE it. Here is my 8yo “would rather play Lego than write” boy very intensely working on a three page paper.....and loving the process. Miracles do occur.

As a public school teacher, I was very much enamored with and enthusiastic about what was then known as the “Whole Language” movement. What was there not to be enthusiastic about? Surrounding--no, soaking--children in language at every turn, reading real (unabridged) books, and engaging them in the world of “writing workshops” where the written word was encouraged, nurtured, and celebrated. I loved putting words …