TOS Crew: Write with WORLD

If there is one thing that I had to admit that I have sorta kinda dropped the ball with in our homeschooling, it would be writing.  I am not really worried about it much with my younger kids but I am starting to realize that my 6th grader, the Lil' Chef, needs to be writing more. 

I think it is safe to say that she is a bit reluctant when it comes to writing, so I was doing cart wheels (well almost) when I learned that we were going to be able to review the new writing program, Write with WORLD.

 The Write with WORLD program is a two year program, we were sent the first year's student book and parent/teacher book.

The Write with WORLD program was written for the middle school student.  It was developed by the same education and media professionals that bring us God's World News and World News.  Using their expertise, they set out to train students to become proficient communicators. 

According to their website, this is what Write with WORLD exposes students to:

• reading and critical thinking that develop discernment
• contemporary subjects and professional guidance to pique interest
• flexible exercises to build confidence and skill for using today's new media
• a thoughtful and meaningful Christian worldview 

Let me share with you what is covered in the Write with WORLD student book:

Unit 1

• Lesson 1 - Reading Images and Advertisements
• Lesson 2 - Comparative Reading: Sentences
• Lesson 3 - Comparative Reading : Paragraphs
• Lesson 4 - Developing Critical Readers: Essays

Unit 2

• Lesson 1 -The Paragraph
• Lesson 2 - Composing and Linking Sentences
• Lesson 3 - Creating Focus and Arrangement
• Lesson 4 -Linking Paragraphs: Transitions and Logic

Unit 3

• Lesson 1 -Writing Autobiography: Reporting Facts
• Lesson 2 - Writing Autobiography: Creating Character
• Lesson 3 - Writing Autobiography: Developing Ideas
• Lesson 4 - Writing Autobiography: Composition

Unit 4

• Lesson 1 - Crafting Narratives: Developing a Point of View
• Lesson 2 - Crafting Narratives: Showing Versus Telling
• Lesson 3 - Crafting Narratives: Narrative with a Purpose
• Lesson 4 - Crafting Narratives: Writing a Fictional Narrative

You can view a sample lesson on their website.
Here is what we liked about Write with WORLD:

• I liked that this program makes the student think. 
• We liked that the lessons were laid out in manageable chunks.
• I liked the conversational tone of the book.  I felt is was written to the student.
• While we do have the teacher/parent book, so, far The Lil' Chef has been doing pretty well on her own.  I like that it is a program that she can take the ball and run with.
• The program seems to be very thorough.  The lessons with in the book give good solid tools for writing.
• I like the creative approach that this curriculum uses. 

The only thing that I was not super happy about was the price, Write with WORLD is $95.00 for Year One.  After researching a few well known Junior High/High School writing programs I see that the price is pretty comparable with the others.  The better deal, in my opinion, is to purchase the full curriculum (Year One & Two) for $165.00. 

I do like this writing curriculum and would recommend it.  I plan on continuing this program with the Lil' Chef and will consider using Year Two once we are finished.

The Write with WORLD program that we were given to review is actually a pilot program and will not be available until Summer of 2012.  In addition to the student & teacher books there will also be an online component, which is included in the price of the curriculum. 

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine.