Learn To Write The Novel Way

by Sharon
(Leavenworth, Kansas)

Product: Learn To Write The Novel Way
Subject: writing
Levels Used: 10th grade English
Dates Used: 2008-2009 school year

Likes: WOW! This separates the huge project of writing a novel. The student is given easy steps to getting the job done. Along the way, so many aspects of English are taught or reviewed: editing, spelling, punctuation, parts of speech, and so forth.

This worked well as a co-op class. The students helped each other edit their books, and that was a boon.

The author of this program suggests that you try this with your elementary students first and then later with your high school student; I think that is an excellent suggestion.

This program would lend itself well to various ages. It even includes a final exam on the grammar and punctuation covered through the class.

The teacher's guide had great suggestions for how to use this as a co-op class. The guide even included ideas for a book-signing party at the end of the class. She also includes plans for implementing this class as a two-semester class or for speeding it up into one advanced semester class!

It is simply and brilliantly done. My 16-year-old son has a complete 15-chapter novel to prove how great this program was!

Dislikes:
It might be rather boring for a child to do this by himself. It would be better to teach this class and invite others so that your own student would have fellow editors and be able to read the works of other budding authors.