A Review of Treasured Conversations
Once again I’m taking part in the Virtual Curriculum Fair by bringing you all of my favorite homeschool curriculum
resources and ideas. This week I’m excited to share one of my recent favorites
as we dive into language arts week. Every once in a while you stumble upon a
homeschool curriculum that not only teaches your child, but teaches you how to
be a better teacher. Treasured Conversations is such a curriculum.
The
Basics
First things first, let me give you the basic
facts about this curriculum before I move into my analysis of it. Treasured
Conversations was written by a homeschool mom who has been homeschooling for
over two decades. She couldn’t find a grammar/writing program that taught those
subjects the way she wished {we’ve all
been there, right?}, so like any good homeschool mom she did things her own
way, and it proved to be successful. Treasured Conversations is the result of
the way she taught her own children through talking about words, sentences,
paragraphs, and reports. It is designed to be used with children in the third
through fifth grade.
Treasured Conversations is divided into three
sections. In the first section the focus is grammar and sentences. The second
section teaches paragraph construction and outlining. The third section builds
on the previous two sections by having children learn to read for information
and use that information to write a multiple paragraph report. Currently, the
curriculum is only available as a pdf download.
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| Sample page from the grammar section of the student book. |
Why
I Love It
It appeals to my Charlotte Mason homeschool
self. With the curriculum geared toward 3rd through 5th
graders who have little or no previous grammar or writing exposure, it falls
right in line with delaying formal grammar study until those ages like Ms.
Mason espoused. Each lesson is short and simple using grammar in the context of
a story instead of constructed sentences that usually follow a pattern, which
causes children to really learn the grammar. Also, the curriculum includes copy
work in the first section while studying grammar and sentence structure and you
know how much us CM homeschoolers love our copy work!
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| Sample page from the paragraph writing section of the student book. Notice how grammar is continuing to be reviewed! |
It appeals to my writer self. I’ve loved writing
for as long as I can remember and it’s always been a natural strength for me so
grammar came pretty easily to me as well, but I struggled with teaching my
children grammar because I honestly don’t find it very useful. Treasured
Conversations helped me realize how to talk about grammar in the context of
being a good writer, choosing strong verbs, specific nouns, and descriptive
adjectives and adverbs. It’s difficult to have those conversations with a
budding writer if they have no clue what a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.
even is. Plus it helps children understand why they are learning these things
as well. The curriculum is constantly referring to knowing grammar so you can
put them in your “writer’s toolbox,” which is what learning grammar is all
about becoming a better writer. I also love the focus on outlining, note
taking, and paragraph construction in the later sections. These are skills that
are vital to good writing and that are sometimes difficult to teach.
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| Sample page from the report writing section in the student book. |
It appeals to my teacher self. One of my
holdovers from my former life as a public school teacher is that I constantly
want to learn how to be a better teacher. Probably my favorite part of
Treasured Conversations is how it has helped me able to talk about grammar with
my kids. I’m technically using the curriculum with Sophia, but I’ve found
myself using the techniques learned there with Grace to talk about her writing
and to help teach her more grammar as well by using her own sentences and
paragraphs to break down and analyze. We all have a better context for grammar
study which has made me more enthusiastic about teaching it just by having a great conversation.
Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with
giving this program a try for your upper elementary kids.
Please visit my fellow homeschool bloggers who are writing about Playing with Words this week:
Delight Directed High School English by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & MindsAct Your Part Well- 2017 VCF by Lisa @ Golden Grasses
The Search For Language by Michele@Family, Faith and Fridays
Our Top Picks for Language Arts by Amanda H @ Hopkins Homeschool
Multiple Approaches to Language Arts in 2017 by Laura @ Day by Day in Our World
How We Cover the Language Arts in Our Homeschool by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory
Use Your Words by Laura @ Four Little Penguins
The Art of Perfecting Macarons by Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life
Loving Languages Every Day by Jen K @ A Peace of Mind
Speech Therapy & Elementary Latin by Yvie @ Gypsy Road
The Readin' and Writin' Part of Homeschool by Shecki @ Greatly Blessed
Children Who Love Books by Lizzy @ Peaches At Home
Customizing High School Language Credits by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool
A Poetry Feast by Sarah @ Delivering Grace
Teaching Language Arts without Curriculum by Brittney @ Mom's Heart
I know your pain and it is worth it! by Kim @ Good Sweet Love
Language Arts: Our Style by Annette @ A Net in Time
Words! Words! Words! by Lisa M @McClanahan 7
10 Wonderful Word Games (+1) by Lori @ At Home: where life happens
Finding the Right Words by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
What About Reading Comprehension? by Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset
What
language arts curriculum do you love?
Chelli
