Essentials in Writing and Literature Placement for a Student New to HOD
We are new to Heart of Dakota (HOD) and have received help in placing our soon-to-be tenth grader in World History. I am at peace with that placement! However, I have World History in my cart, and I have some questions about the English credit. My son has written a few informal essays for his literature study. He did well with them, but it was more based on content and word count than structure. He also did one essay with detailed directions to follow, and he has used Rod and Staff English previously.
Will the level of essays he has had work with Essentials in Writing (EIW)? Or, should I use World Geography for literature and EIW, and use World History (WH) for grammar? Then, I could use WH’s literature and composition next year with US History I. He has three years of high school left and is at the older end of the grade. He’s also my oldest. I will add that I appreciate Carrie’s blog post on keeping the balance of the guide intact. Would the literature and composition with WH be better to keep the balance of the rest of the guide intact? Thanks in advance!
HOD’s Reply to “Essentials in Writing and Literature Placement for a Student New to HOD”
With what you’ve shared (here and in an earlier post), moving forward with the plan to do World History as it is written, including the English credit, would be best. There is enough review at the start of EIW, and Matthew Stephen’s directions are so clear to follow. I found it easy to step in and help as needed, as the EIW Student Book closely follows the DVD instruction.
Keeping the Balance of Writing Intact
We have students transfer into Heart of Dakota at all different times in high school. The smoothest transition is to try to keep the balance of the guide as intact as possible. Carrie is considering all that is in a guide when writing plans. So, for example, if there is a written narration in history, there may not be a written assignment (or as heavy of a written assignment) in EIW. EIW is scheduled 2 times a week in WH. On these days, the World History assignments are usually the Book of Centuries timeline and a talking points oral narration. As you can see, the World History assignments are purposefully chosen to be done more orally or to have minimal writing (as in the Book of Centuries), so the student only has to focus on writing in EIW.
Keeping the Balance of Oral and Written Narrations Intact
Likewise, the literature study has step-by-step clear guidelines to follow. It too keeps the balance of the guide intact. For example, if there is an oral narration planned for Literature Study, there will not be an oral narration planned for World History. If there is a written narration planned in World History, there will just be annotations planned in Literature Study. Not to mention, looking further down the road. In USI American Literature coincides perfectly with the history. When students write a 3 paragraph narration for American Literature, composition (In Their Sandals) is not part of the plans that day. When students are responsible for typing their narrations in U.S. History, they won’t be assigned to type their essay composition, and so on.
Keeping the guide intact maintains balance not only now but also in the years to come!
So, by keeping the guide intact, you will be keeping balance not only this year but also in the years to come. I think you will enjoy that as much as we have! Hope this helps!
In Christ,
Julie
