Why we switched to Writing Strands by Master Books

[@valeriecolvin6977]

Thank you very much for your review...I hesitated as I was a mom who has been home schooling our 13 children in the 80's and used EVERY level of the older curriculum. You've really helped me to drop my preconceived notion about MB's version. Thank you! Believe it or not, after 35 years of home schooling there is always something new to learn and use!

[@SimplyLivingIt]

Thank you for this review. I am considering this for my family for this coming year and I greatly appreciate this! 💗

[@tinachan272]

Thank you for this! I've been on the fence about the new versions for a while, and you have shown me exactly how I can make it work :)

[@TaunaM]

You're very welcome! I'm glad it was helpful.

[@rachelbarnes5340]

Thank you so much, very informative and super helpful!!

[@Sorren11]

Has anyone compared this with Writing With Ease?

[@shaysjs3376]

So great! Thank you, Tauna.. May I please ask you?! What is the poster (behind you & to the left of us viewers) about ??

[@TaunaM]

Sorry I missed this! It's an American history timeline poster. Someone handed it down to me and it doesn't appear to have a company or label on it. Sorry!

[@shaysjs3376]

@@TaunaM Awww.. No worries.. TY! (=

[@shalon4jc2]

Which do you prefer essentials in writing or writing strands?

[@HelpMamaRemote]

Thanks for this review. Does the big give suggestions on which books to read for that week or do you pick any book of your choice?

[@karendavis4793]

Are there answers for the teacher/parent?

[@TaunaM]

There’s no answer key. Many of the questions are too open ended for that anyway. But it did take us some getting used to.

[@danabenedetti8753]

What are you using for reading? I know they recommend you assign books.

[@TaunaM]

I choose options from books about books. :) Honey for a Child's Heart, Honey for a Teen's Heart, Books Children Love, The Book Tree, and similar resources!

[@danabenedetti8753]

@@TaunaM Thank you!

[@joepotter106]

Would WS work well if you didn't write in the book but in a notebook? I have several kiddos that could use this but trying to save on $.

[@TaunaM]

Yes it's definitely in a format that would work for that. :)

[@masontribehomestead]

Okay, I am not even half way through the video but I have to ask... are you, by chance, an enfp? I ask because I can totally relate to the not reading teachers' manuals and checking off boxes 😜, haha!

[@TaunaM]

Ha! Nope I'm an INTJ. But we must have that in common! :D

[@inspiritandintruth9118]

What curriculum was it that your son didn’t like, because he sounds like my 13 yr old son and we are debating this curriculum and IEW Intensive writing B. I’m torn! I also have a almost 10 year old girl I was considering Masterbooks “Language Lessons for a Living” I’m even wondering if the grade 6 would suit my son for 7th grade??... I’m just not sure. This is our first year homeschooling so I’m just trying to process it all! 🙈

[@melissamckeen1033]

I was wondering the same thing! I'm also toying with IEW and Masterbooks...unsure which one to move forward with. :-)

[@TaunaM]

IEW. Personally I like IEW, too. IEW for him was less creative and more about taking a pre-written piece, breaking it down in an outline, and re-writing with with modifiers. At least, that’s as far as we got. For whatever reason it didn’t gel for him. Some of it was a “i just don’t want to work” kind of thing, but some of it was genuine frustration over the repetitive nature of it.

[@melissamckeen1033]

@@TaunaM Thank you for your response!

[@laurabeth7755]

Is there an answer key for this?

[@TaunaM]

Laura Beth there is no answer key. A lot of the questions are too open ended for that anyway, I think.

[@mandyveal2868]

We currently are using The Good and the Beautiful language arts. I really like it. I love all the subjects it covers but it is very teacher intensive and I have 4 kids. I also feel it takes a lot of time which takes away from other things I would like to teach my kids. I am looking into LLFALE and am concerned its not enough. My kids need more writing practice. I am considering using LLFALE and writing strands (just the writing part) together for my 5th and 4th grader. Do you think that would work well? Thanks!

[@TaunaM]

Hi Mandy! You could easily both of them together. Another combination that seems popular is Writing Strands with Fix It Grammar!

[@TaunaM]

You can find Writing Strands here including a description of each level and a placement test! >> www.masterbooks.com/writing-strands-series Don't forget to use code TAUNASFRIEND to get 5% off any order at Master Books. :)