Marci/English
Posted by: dhaley <dhaley@...>
Revisited last year. It was the pre-cursor to the Write Source products.
The only place still selling it is Write Source Publishers and Covenant
Homeschool Curriculum. Covenant likes it best because it doesn't have all
the garbage that alot of the new English programs have. It's a basic
Student Manual and workbook text. The workbook doesn't have alot of "pages"
to complete but it's thorough. Covenant sells the BER program for 7 & 8th
grade, however, it's equal to high school credit because Write Source wrote
it for High School. Covenant often places even Junior and Senior students
into the BER program when they sign up with Covenant. They feel it's a good
solid foundation and I must say I agree. It reminds me alot of the format
of Apologia Science vs. say BJU. It talks to the student rather than coming
across as a textbook. It was never intended to be the typical textbook.
It's goal was to teach students to use resources, their own brains and
getting it on paper. Here's a list of what we've tried in the past:
The program is very similar to Warriner's and Covenant tests according to
Warriner guidelines. The good part is that you have a worktext and
teacher's text which are hard to find for Warriner's.
Learning LA through Lit
Warriner's
Rod & Staff
Weaver
Abeka
Daily Grams and their corresponding texts
There were pluses and minuses to all of the above programs. My daughter
thrived with any of them. However, the BER is really working for David.
When I made the switch I switched Rachel too and she has voted it her most
favorite English as well.
Stop reading here unless you want to see an overview of book 1...it's a two
year program....feel free to email me with questions. I've had 2 other
friends switch to this last year too and we are all very pleased with the
results....especially the way our reluctant students like this better than
anything else we've tried....Deanna
I've spent so much money on English resources I thought perhaps giving a
breakdown on this program would help someone. I like this program because
there are usually no more than 2 workbook pages on each subject. The
explanations are easy. Tests are provided in the teacher's text, extra
worksheets are also provided, as well as suggestions for the struggling
student. It's very user friendly for the student as well as the teacher.
To purchase from Covenant you must buy their entire English Module....$200
(it's good but includes all the lit, etc.) To buy just the English part of
the program is really inexpensive. It's $13 for the teacher's manual, $10
for the student handbook (they use that for both years) and $13 for the
student workbook. You must call Great Source to order it. It doesn't show
up on their web site 1-800-289-4490. If you call to order it you must give
the entire title and ask them to LOOK for it. It's there they just don't
know they still have the product.
Here's a breakdown of what's in the first workbook:
Basic English Revisited: A Study Skills and Writing Process Workbook
The Writing Process
Ideas for Writing
Using your Senses
Using your Memory
Using Reflective Thinking
Guidelines for Spontaneous Writing
Writing Paragraphs
The Topic Sentence
Specific Details
The Basic Paragraph
The Descriptive Paragraph
The Narrative Paragraph
The Expository Paragraph
The Persuasive Paragraph
Revising for Paragraph Style
Using Sentence Variety
Substituting Specific Nouns
Substituting Vivid Modifiers
Substituting Vivid Verbs
Substituting Specific Words
Using Similes and Metaphors
Using Parallel Structures
Writing Clearly
Being Concise
Revising for Sentence Strength
The Simple Sentence
The Compound Sentence
The Simple & Compound Sentence
The Complex Sentence
Subordinate Adverb Clauses
Subordinate Adjective Clauses
Subordination Review
Types of Sentences Review
The Fragment Error
The Comma Splice
Run-on Sentences
Proofreading for Punctuation Errors
The Comma
The Semicolon & Colon
Quotation Marks
The Apostrophe
Review of Punctuation
Writing the Essay
The Topic Outline
The Sentence Outline
Patterns of Organization & Transitions
The Introductory Paragraph
The Concluding Paragraph
Revision and Final Copy
Final Proofreading
Review of the Writing Process
Proofreading Pointers
Spelling Reviews
Capitalization Review
Plurals Review
Commonly Mixed Pairs
Proofreading Review
Agreement of Subject and Verb
Writing the Letter
The Friendly Letter
The Business Letter
Writing the Library Paper
Limiting the Topic
Note Cards & Thesis Statement
Topic Sentences
The Outline
Writing your Rough Draft
Footnotes and Endnotes
The Bibliography
Revision & Proofreading Checklist
The teacher's text is not available for the second year from Great Source.
They are not going to reprint but you can buy the student text. I do have a
copy of the teacher's text for this and since it's out of print, would be
willing to photocopy the TE to help someone out.
Second Year:
Basic English Revisited: A Practical Writing Skills Workbook
The Basic Paragraph
Writing Review
Useful Transitions
The Basic Paragraph
Writing a Topic Sentence
Gathering Details
Spontaneous Writing
Guidelines for Gathering Information
Gathering Specific Data
Describing a Person
Selecting Vivid Details
Using the Thesaurus
Choosing Descriptive Words
Connotation
Adding Details
Using Vivid Sensory Details
*****getting tired of typing so I'll just give you the headings from hear
on!
Describing a Place
Combining Sentences
Describing an Event
Punctuation Review
Describing an ObjectCorrecting Sentence Errors
Expository Writing
Writing Clearly and Concisely
Persuasive Writing Skills
Using Parallel Structure
Guidelines for Writing Assignments
Writing Summaries
Writing the Essay Test
Planning the Essay
Writing the Library Paper
Hope this helps...if you need further info...email me off list...Deanna