TOS Crew Review - Writing Tales

Writing Tales is a Language Arts and Writing curriculum that follows the Classical approach to homeschooling. Designed to be used from grades 3-5, Writing Tales is based on the Greek Progymnasmata - the theory that children learn to write well and learn the mechanics of the English language by copying other well-written models. Writing Tales also includes short, often hands-on, grammar lessons, which is another important essential aspect to writing well.

There are two levels to Writing Tales - Level 1 is designed for Grades 3 and 4, and Level 2 for Grades 4 and 5.

Each level comes with a spiral-bound student workbook, and a regular-bound teacher's guide. The teacher's guide contains instructions for each lesson, answers for all of the lessons, co-op lesson plans, and an Appendix which contains extra materials for the lessons, that can be photocopied for student use. The materials in the Appendix are also available on the Writing Tales website as a pdf for printing ease, which is a plus for those who don't have easy access to a photocopier.

There are 30 Lessons per level, and each level covers 15 stories. The lessons are broken up into 5 days worth of work, and each story takes 2 lessons (2 weeks of work). The first day of the first lesson is always to read the story (supplied in the student workbook and teacher's guide), followed by discussion about the story, and an activity that helps the child remember the details of the story and the order they came in. The next few days are some light grammar lessons, using the story for instruction and example. Copywork and vocabulary are also covered through the week. Many of these lessons are hands-on or engaging in some other way, without being rote workbook-type work.

Day 5 of the first lesson for each story requires a child to write a rough draft of the story that is the focus for that week. The child is encouraged to retell it in their own words, without adding any creative touches. In the week following, the child will write another draft of the story, correcting any mistakes found in the original rough draft, and now with the permission (and encouragement!) to add their own creative flair to the story. At the end of the second week, the student writes up a final draft of their version of the story. It is suggested that the child have a special notebook specifically for these final drafts, so that at the end of the year, they have a notebook full of their own writings.

As I mentioned, the stories that are covered in each lesson are included in the student workbook as well as the teacher's guide, so no extra materials are required. However, there are some suggested additional books that I was able to easily find at my library. The teacher's guide gives warning ahead of time of when those books are going to be used in a lesson, so that there is ample prep time to gather them.

For this review, I started both Isaac (4th grade) and Ezra (3rd grade) in Level 1. I want to give you some background with our previous writing curriculum experience before I share my thoughts on this product. Isaac is an avid reader, but not an avid writer. I had tried introducing a formal writing curriculum with him two years ago, and every single lesson was met with tears, frustration, and discouragement (often on both our parts!). Convinced he just wasn't ready, I shelved that curriculum and the next year, tried a different one. It brought the same results. I had really decided to just give up on any type of writing curriculum for another few years, thinking, again, that he just wasn't ready. So when the opportunity came to review Writing Tales, I was excited, but also a little apprehensive.

I can't even describe to you how absolutely elated I am with Writing Tales. There has been no tears, no frustration, no discouragement in using this product. None! The release of the pressure to come up with a creative story completely out of nowhere has given Isaac the freedom to start enjoying writing!!! It has turned that aspect of our homeschooling around completely.

Now, when it's time to do a rough draft, I remind him "Just write it as if you were telling me about the story" and it is so easy for him! No tears!!! Also, since he didn't have to come up with the storyline himself, he now considers it easy to be able to embellish more on the second draft. I can see his creative writing skills blossoming through the use of Writing Tales!

As for Ezra, since I had given up the idea of using any formal writing curriculum before even starting one with him, I have no before and after comparison, but he, too, is finding writing easy and enjoyable. The hardest time he has is not being allowed to be creative in his first rough drafts! He loves to add things to the storyline to make them uniquely his own. He struggles a bit with the mechanics of writing, however, so (taking a tip suggested in the teacher's guide of Writing Tales), when it comes time for writing drafts, he writes the first few sentences, and then dictates the rest to me to write. For the final drafts, each boy types them up and I am keeping them in a special folder on the computer.

While Writing Tales definitely requires teacher involvement for each lesson, we've found the lessons are beautifully short - I don't think I've ever spent more than 15 minutes on each lesson with each boy, except on the days when they are writing their drafts. Usually the lessons average 5-10 minutes, which is GREAT! for this busy homeschool mom and my short attention span boys! No "eyes glazing over" look! ;-) The teacher's guide is very easy to use and teach from, and prep time is minimal - I usually just glance over the next day's work as we're finishing up the current day, and have only had to spend at most about 5 minutes getting ready for what's next.

The hands-on aspect is also delightfully fun. I never thought grammar could be hands-on, but Writing Tales has made it easy. Sometimes it's just using different colored pencils to underline or circle parts of speech in the story, sometimes it's racing to a different parts of the room where types of sentences are posted on the walls, sometimes it's cutting and rearranging sentences, or just playing games with words! There are activities for all types of learners in each lesson.

My one complaint is that the teacher's guide isn't spiral bound like the student workbook. Small complaint, I know, but the teacher's guide can be cumbersome when it won't lay flat. I'm only mentioning that because perhaps the creators of Writing Tales will read this and consider the idea! It's definitely not a "make-it or break-it" detail in my opinion of the product (obviously). It is easy to take it to a local office supply store and have it spiral bound there... I just haven't yet.

Writing Tales is, hands-down, THE writing curriculum that I will be using over the next few years for Isaac and Ezra. I am so impressed with every part of it, and even more so, the peace it's brought about in our homeschool and the confidence it has given my children (especially Isaac!) in their writing. I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to review Writing Tales, as I otherwise had given up on teaching writing! I am hopeful that Level 3 will be available when we finish up the Level 1 and 2!

Oh, and I wanted to add - we are not "Classical" homeschoolers, so please don't get hung up on that description if you're not either! Writing Tales, I believe, will work wonderfully with any type of homeschooling, unless you only want curricula that your child can use without your involvement.

Want to see for yourself? Samples of each level are available here!

Here is a detailed Scope and Sequence chart that allows you to see what stories are used and what grammatical concepts are taught in each lesson.

Also check out the FAQs, which are very helpful!

For Level 1 of Writing Tales, the Teacher's Guide is $24.95 and the Student Workbook is $19.95. I let my two children share a student's notebook by doing the work in a separate notebook, but it is easier to use the Student's Notebook as a consumable, in my opinion. Level 2 of Writing Tales sells for $32.95 for an Teacher's Guide and $24.95 for a Student Workbook.

Oh, and check this out!! If you order between May 2nd and May 9th, you get 20% off AND free shipping! Definitely take advantage of that sale!

Please make sure to go and see what other members of the TOS Crew are saying about Writing Tales, by checking out the TOS Homeschool Crew Blog!

Disclaimer: I was given this product specifically for the purpose of reviewing here on my blog as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. I received no other compensation in regards to this review.