(WRITING and COMPOSITION)

Brave Writer at http://www.bravewriter.com/ is a website run by Julie Bogart,
a homeschooling mom of 5, whose career before children was in editing/publishing. The
program was developed as a result of her frustration with the conventional writing programs.
Julie recommends many of the Charlotte Mason methods such as copywork and dictation,
and then uses freewrites, topic funnels, observation skills, etc. to produce a quality piece
of writing. Her method is very low key and geared towards what she terms the "reluctant writer."

Writing Assessment Services materials, produced by Cindy Marsch. She's a classical
homeschooler who has previously taught writing at the high school and university levels.
"Personalized instruction for people of all ages and a wide range of writing abilities.
Writing Assessment Services can evaluate writing progress, diagnose problem areas,
and prescribe tutorials and other helps to improve anyone's writing." For more information
see http://members.aol.com/cmarsch786/

Institute for Excellence in Writing; Writing Strands, especially beginning with Book 3; Learn
to Write the Novel Way by Carole Thaxton; Easy Writing; Any Child Can Write; and
Christian Liberty Press' Applications of Grammar Series for effective communication are all
good options. Consider the idea that the narration of books read is a building block for
compositions and reports later. Encourage "book talks." Keeping a daily journal (whether an
art journal, prayer journal, or nature book journal) is an excellent way to develop writing
skills along with good penmanship, too. Younger children can dictate to you what they want
written in their journal or in a letter and use it for copying themselves. This takes effort as
indicated in Hebrews 13:16, "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such
sacrifices God is well pleased."