Classical Writing

We are using Classical Writing Aesop A.

This program is composed of a core book (starting with Aesop), instructor's guide and a student workbook. You can use just the core book, but the help the instructor's guide and student workbook give are invaluable especially if you have no experience with the progymnasmata. (The progymnasmata is the set of writing exercises developed by the Greeks on which Classical Writing is based.)

Classical Writing incorporates not only composition, but also grammar and spelling. (Though you might want to supplement with your own spelling program depending on your child's needs.) The instructor's guide lays out a few different schedules you can follow.

Writing habits are learned through imitation; retellings of good examples. The provided examples in the instructor's guide and student workbooks include fables by Aesop, fairy tales, legends retold by Baldwin as well as passages from the Bible. By imitating classic literature, the student doesn't have to worry about figuring out content, but can instead focus on mechanics; how to craft good writing. There are also suggestions in the core book on how to incorporate other subjects your children are working on to further practice composition skills.

I appreciate having one integrated English program instead of having to juggle different composition, grammar, and spelling programs.

cons: It can be difficult to wrap your head around just how to implement the program by just reading the core book. However, the student workbook and instructor's guide lay it out quite nicely and easily.