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I have been looking at the sample pages for Res to Ref and see that the Medi Hist Writing is used. Can we use Writing With The Best in Res To Ref instead? We have not used it in CTC (but should have, sigh). She will be using R&S English 6 next year. She will also do the Shakespeare option and is very excited about that. Thoughts?

What would be your reasoning for wanting to switch?

I am impressed with the Medieval. It is in manageable chunks each day and leads them to more actual writing of their own (rather than the analysis of WWTB). I like how it prepares them to think through what to write about and how to logically lay out the format of a paper, as well as how to add elements that improve the style of it as they go. Oh, and how to edit their own work, too. The kids (2 boys who have done WWTB and most of Medieval so far) don't seem to enjoy any program but I am enjoying "teaching" (facilitating?) this one.

My DD will be (due to a strange set of circumstances, including learning to read very late, yet quite quickly when she finally did) skipping CTC this year, moving straight into RTR from Preparing, and I will go ahead and skip WWTB along with the rest of it (though I do plan to have her read some of the CTC books either over the summer or as DITHOR books!).

However, maybe there are some things I am missing that others can help address, since I am in no way an English major myself!
Blessings,

My advice would be if she places in RTR, I'd just go with the IEW Medieval writing course that's scheduled. We absolutely loved using it with my older kids, and it fits beautifully with the content within the RTR guide. We're getting ready to use it again with our third child next fall.

ok, so two good votes for IEW, but brings up another Q... how much online printing needs to be done? is thee a hard copy available to order? We don't have internet at home due to where we live, but I can get a bar on my cell phone. Down loading pages eats up data. Is this feasible?

We did Write with the Best this year in RtR as we did not do CTC last year (started HOD this past fall) and it worked fine, but my daughter is below level in her writing so it was best to start there with her. If your daughter fits perfectly in RtR, I would go with the one listed in RtR.

You don't need to download much. There are just a couple of pages that were printed online and it was mainly word lists. I ordered the physical student book so I didn't have to download that. I also vote for IEW. I have loved it for my dd this year and she has learned a lot.

Thank you so much mamas, you have been so helpful. I think I will order the physical IEW student book as well. Creative writing is the only thing she remotely likes about English, so I think IEW will be the best plan as is. I really do appreciate this board and all the info sharing!

Even with the student book (which I do suggest you get) it is suggested that you download the SRN (student resource notebook?) from their website. Maybe you could download it somewhere and save it to a jump drive. You don't need all of it (most of what you need is word lists like someone already mentioned) but it is very helpful. There is a list somewhere (in the guide, maybe? I forget now) of which pages you should print. I printed each type of list (-ly words, adjectives, etc.) on different colored paper and I LOVE it that way (much easier to tell my boys to turn to the blue page, instead of numbers since you don't print them all).

I hope you enjoy IEW!

Blessings,

Good idea, thank you Rice, I was thinking the SRN was the hard copy thing I could order additionally. I hope I can just put it on iBooks on the iPad at the library. Then I could print of the pages needed if need be.