Educational Diagnostic Prescriptive Services Review

Write with the Best Volume One

With Write with the Best Volume One, a child learns descriptive writing by modeling classic works of literature. Volume One is geared towards 3rd to 12th grade and covers nine different genres:

• Describing an Object from Jules Verne
• Describing a Place from Charles Dickens
• Describing a Character from Daniel Defoe
• Dialogue from Kenneth Grahame
• The Short Story from O. Henry
• Fables from Aesop
• Friendly Letters from Robert Louis Stevenson
• Poetry – Rhyming Verse from William Wordsworth
• The Ballad or Narrative Poem from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Each lesson is broken down into small, “bite-sized” assignments.  Most lessons are scheduled to last 2 weeks, but you can adjust the time needed according to your child’s needs.  Lessons take between 15-45 minutes daily.

Munchkin does not enjoy writing at this point in time, but she likes this program because it doesn’t require long writing sessions.  She is learning how to write from great authors.  The passages from great literature have peaked her interest in reading more of the works from these authors.

I like that grammar review is built right into this program.  There is very little preparation time required for the parent/teacher.  The answer keys, grading criteria, and “How to Write Guide” are valuable helps for both the parent/teacher and student.

We received the downloadable version of Write with the Best Volumes One and Two.  (Volume Two will be reviewed at a later date.)  It’s important to note that with the downloadable version, you can only print it out twice.  You will need to print it out all at once.  You can read more about that here.

Want to try the program before you buy it?  You can download the first 2 units of Volume One and the first unit of Volume Two.  Volume One and Two are available to download or in print.  Prices for Volume One vary from $19.95-$24.95.  Prices for Volume Two vary from $24.95-$29.95.

Roots and Fruits

Roots and Fruits is a Greek and Latin roots based vocabulary program. Students learn the meanings of the English forms of 673 Greek and Latin roots and prefixes. They will also learn 1,716 vocabulary words by the time they complete the program.  Roots and Fruits works for all ages from K to 12 (or even adults).

Students will learn through managable daily assignments and hands on activities.  Here’s a sample of how our week went:

Monday

• Place labels for new roots and meanings on index card.
• Place label for new vocabulary cards on back of index card.
• Look up meanings of vocabulary words and copy down 2 definitions on back of index card.
• Review previous week’s vocabulary words; use as spelling words for the week.

Tuesday-Thursday

• Look up meanings of vocabulary words and copy down 2 definitions on back of index card.
• Use previous days vocabulary words in sentence.
• Do an activity to review vocabulary words.

Friday

• Look up an remaining vocabulary words and copy down definitions on back on index card.
• Use all vocabulary words in a sentence.
• Play a game to review vocabulary words.

Generally, it takes Munchkin less than 15 minutes per day to work on her vocabulary.  She has been enjoying this program, and she’s learning how to use the prefixes/suffixes to figure out the meaning of words.  It’s been fun watching her light bulb moments as she discovers how this program is helping her in all of her studies.

We received the downloadable version of Roots and Fruits.  You will want to review the policies on downloads here.  By following the suggestions in the faq section, we were able to download the program without any problems.

You can try the first section (A) for free.  Roots and Fruits is available as a download or in print.  Prices vary from $14.98-$19.98.

About the author:

Jill J. Dixon holds a Bachelor of Science in English Education (magna cum laude) and a Master’s Degree in Special Education (summa cum laude). Her teaching experience spans twenty-seven years and includes working with students from pre-school age to adults in public, private, and home school settings. Her students have included learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, and physically and mentally disabled children and adults. In 1993 Mrs. Dixon began “Educational Consulting and Diagnostic Services” which provided educational consulting, tutoring, and testing services to parents, schools, and homeschool support groups. Mrs. Dixon presently teaches history, literature, and writing classes, conducts standardized testing for local homeschoolers, serves as a national consultant for Home School Legal Defense Association and serves as an area Educational Consultant. Mrs. Dixon also enjoys speaking at homeschool conferences, conducting workshops, and writing articles for various publications and web sites. Mrs. Dixon is in her sixteenth year of homeschooling her own four children, with two now in college.