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I am wondering how much of the writing lessons you are using in R&S? Is Carrie's intent for all of the writing lessons in R&S to be used as part of the HOD writing balance? In other words does the writing balance in HOD that includes the content subjects, other writing programs (CTC and higher), and dictation also include all of the writing lessons in Rod and Staff English? Or, is R&S primarily for grammar and diagramming?

My younger son in R&S English 2 is doing copy work from the lessons each day in addition to the grammar. So I am using it in R&S 2.

My older son in R&S English 4 is where my question lies. He has completed levels 2, 3, and the first 1/3 of 4 using the writing in R&S (He is now 2/3 through level 4). Sometime this year though we gradually stopped doing the R&S writing lessons. I think it started with the book report lesson about 1/3 into the book. I am wondering if I am making a mistake and need to re-instate the writing lesson part of R&S English. I think the composition increases in level 5; so if I am making a mistake I would like to start correcting it this spring.

Thank you!

I don't know what is recommended beyond R&S4... someone else will chime in. But I know that 4 and down the recommendation is 1/3 written. The only thing we do written at all in those early guides is diagramming, and not even all of that (As long as they get them right they only have to do some of them.)

MomtoJGJE wrote:I don't know what is recommended beyond R&S4... someone else will chime in. But I know that 4 and down the recommendation is 1/3 written. The only thing we do written at all in those early guides is diagramming, and not even all of that (As long as they get them right they only have to do some of them.)

I had forgotten about the 1/3 writing. We do the diagramming written as well, and R&S 2 is the only one that I have used some of the copywork. The grammar we do orally.

I thought I would clarify some. I am wondering about the lessons that are only writing without grammar. For example, early on in R&S 4 we did a fairly lengthy lesson on paragraph writing. Recently we did a picture study questions orally, but the assignment was to turn them into a paragraph. We skipped writing the paragraph to save time. Should I have had him write the paragraph? Another one this year was a book report. He is in 4th and I really didn't know where to start so we ended up skipping the entire lesson. Then I began to wonder if this writing I am skipping is actually part of the complete writing picture and that we should be doing it. Should we?

We skip those things. They get enough writing instruction in other ways.

Carrie intends for you to do all the writing lessons in R&S. She has those scheduled in the guide. She balances her writing programs the assumption the dc are doing those lessons. In the writing programs in CTC and above she will often skip entire units or lessons because she knows it has been covered in R&S. The R&S lessons often cover things that the writing programs don't.

We've always done the R&S writing lessons.

LynnH wrote:Carrie intends for you to do all the writing lessons in R&S. She has those scheduled in the guide. She balances her writing programs the assumption the dc are doing those lessons. In the writing programs in CTC and above she will often skip entire units or lessons because she knows it has been covered in R&S. The R&S lessons often cover things that the writing programs don't.

Thank you Lynn. I knew she scheduled each lesson, but I was confused on how far to take them. Thank you for making it clear. I think I needed to ask questions on the book report one. This is good to know of how to proceed.

The balance between the programs makes sense now. Thank you!

Honestly I don't remember what I did with the book report lesson. If I had him write it, it wasn't a lengthy report. There have been 1 or 2 writing lessons that if I didn't think he could get it done in a reasonable time then I have modified it some way.

The grammar portions we do mostly orally and have dc write only one section down (so they may diagram one lesson portion or do one answer portion). But we do all of the writing lessons on paper. And Carrie definitely do balance the guide with those lessons. Sometimes the lesson may take a little bit long but we haven't had much trouble on those days. If we do, we may skip spelling that day or math or DITHOR may shift as well. But again, that is rare that we need to shift stuff to complete the writing lesson.

This is something I am having an issue with. It says "Or choose your own grammar", which I want to do. But then, I'm missing writing instruction. Not sure what to do. How much writing instruction is in R&S?

The writing assignments in R & S English have an *asterisk next to them in the table of contents. Carrie does intend all of the writing lessons to be done, but only 1 section to be written. So, we go through the entire lesson either orally or on a marker board, and we reserve a section to be written. If there are 2 writing sections in one lesson, I have Wyatt jot notes on a marker board for one of them and orally do it. He then writes the other one. R & S English covers so much so well, I'd not try to replace it as it would probably need to be replaced with multiple things that take longer and don't cover English skills as well anyway. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

In the past, I have always done what Julie said. All writing assignments are done. With the regular grammar lessons, we do most of it orally, then I usually assign one section or leave 3-5 exercises to be completed per section to be written down. I think doing things orally are great, but sometimes they need to write it down for it to sink in as well.

Jennifer