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I have to admit that I was less than enthusiastic and more than a little doubtful about the path I saw writing taking throughout the HOD guides. My background is teaching English and the whole narration to writing thing just didn't make sense in my mind. I explored other options to add in, but never found something that was affordable or made me really excited so I stuck to the HOD way with lots of doubts...

I'm NOW seeing just how it all comes together as my daughter is writing her own narrations in Preparing and they are just beautiful. Oral narration has taught her to creatively express what she wants to say. I just couldn't be more pleased and must say I have taught junior high students who were not able to articulate as well as my 3rd grade daughter in their writing. This is not at all to brag on my daughter, but on HOD. To see how far she has come simply through demonstrating narration in Little Hearts, the small narrations in Beyond through ER to oral narrations in Bigger and now written narrations in Preparing has been amazing. I now see no need to add in a separate writing curriculum just to "teach" writing. There is no need! The HOD way really does work!

I couldn't agree more. I love the writing path that they have chose. I feel like waiting until they are a little bit older to formally introduce "writing" is great. By that time, they have increased their vocabulary to actually perform the activities the curriculum is requesting. My oldest dd is in Preparing this year also and she completes most of the writing activities on her own with little to no help as well.

Thanks for sharing this! I couldn't agree more. Oral and written narrations (as well as dictation for spelling, and copywork) were all new to me. I remember first reading about them and thinking the same things you mentioned here. I have been so happy with the results having stuck to the HOD plan though! My oldest ds, now doing the high school World Geography guide, has written narrations that rival the writing prompt essays I used to have to correct for our school district. All I can say is it really works. I also liked the addition of formal writing programs at the start of CTC through WG. The varied styles of writing curriculum chosen have kept writing fresh, as well as taught different skills. I feel Wyatt has an arsenal of writing tips and tricks and styles at his fingertips now when he writes. Here may be some fun reading for what is ahead as you move through guides (though it is not complete as RevtoRev, MTMM, and WG aren't included )...

Progression of Writing Through the Guides:
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RevtoRev: The Exciting World of Creative Writing
MTMM: Write with the Best Vol. II
WG: Essentials in Writing Grade 10

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you so much for popping in and talking more about the older guides! I can't wait to get there and it's exciting to hear how the writing is progressing! I find myself looking ahead the guides and seeing what is coming up, but can't always anticipate just how wonderful it will actually be