Classical Writing hard copy? w/ large families?

[Renee]

Hi,
I am very interested in this program but I really need to see the books and look through them before I make the investment. I need to know if it is something I can actually do with the size family that we have and another one due in July. I checked our local Home school convention and you are not listed as one of the vendors. So, I guess my question is, how do I get my hands on a hard copy of the program?
My other question is, do you have many larger families who use CW or is it meant for smaller families. I really want to use CW because #1) I want to learn and #2) I want my kids to be excellent writers. However, I can't teach them this skill on my own. I NEED HELP

Sincerely,

Renee

[Carolyn]

If you don't know anyone that is using the program, your best bet for getting your hands on a copy would be Rainbow Resources. The last time I looked, they had a return policy that would suit your needs.

If you're placing an order for 5 or more books from Classical Writing, and don't need to have a return policy, feel free to contact us at [e-mail], as orders of that size (and placed directly through us) qualify for a discount.

Kathy Weitz, who writes our workbooks, started writing them because she has a larger family and wanted to be able to use CW. It's definitely doable, but it is a commitment. I can't speak too much to the larger family dynamic, having only two, but I can say the use of CW isn't limited to small families.

[greengables]

Hi Renee, just wanted to duck in and say that I have four still at home, and I do use Classical Writing at four different levels, so yes, it works very well for large families!

If you have specific questions, I'd be happy to help.

Kathy

[Renee]

Thank you Carolyn and Kathy for your kind responses. I'm just beside myself trying to figure out what to do. I honestly don't know if I'm "smart enough" to do this program. It looks a little intimidating and I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. How do I know what program to invest in and put my confidence in? I guess I just have to decide and take the plunge.

[Lene Mahler Jaqua]

Renee,

I am sure you're 'smart enough', its probably more of an issue of how much time you can put into language arts, as well as how much of a priority you want to put on language arts. Every homeschooler's answer to that will be different.

That being said, after umpteen years of homeschooling (I started in 1995), I have owned and discarded numerous curricula. It seems to be something we do for the oldest student, and especially something we do in the early years when we're still getting our bearings, and half way learning our priorities by looking over different curricula to learn what it is we're really seeking. Homeschooling can be expensive for this very reason. But, if nothing else, most of us settle down after 6th grade for the oldest kid, and then, while the textbooks get more expensive, the 'waste' is reduced.

Best wishes for your search for the books you need,

Lene

[Rebecca]

I too have a larger family and would like to begin CW. In the fall they will be 9th, 8th, 6th and 4th. We also have a very active 2 year old. I am really wondering what to do for starting them. None of them have much formal writing experience, but they do write fairly well creatively. I definitely would like to start them in Poetry for beginners, but I am not sure if I should put the older ones in the Poetry for Older Beginners or try to keep all of them in the same books. Also I really don't know where to start them on the progym either...Aesop B, Homer A, just have them all use Aesop and Homer for Beginners? I'd like to move the older two ahead as quick as is practical, I'd like to challenge my nine year old and the soon to be 6th grader is a very good reader and loves all things grammar. So...any suggestions? We are on a pretty tight budget, which is part of the reason I have been putting off the writing curriculum for so long. We do Latin, Greek, use McGuffey Readers, and do quite a bit of oral narration and they write poems and stories of their own, as well as book reports for me.

[Lene Mahler Jaqua]

I would start the three older kids in Aesop and Homer for Older Beginners before doing the Poetry. The fourth grader I would start in Aesop B.

This way, you buy the corebooks Aesop and Homer and all use them, and then each kid has his or her own workbook.

Lene

[Rebecca]

Thanks Lene. That is what I was thinking about the core, except I wasn't sure about my rising 6th grader. I think you're right, and thanks for the advice on the poetry. I think we'll stick to reading for pleasure and memorizing various works for now.

Rebecca