Classical Writing Curriculum Review – Pros and Cons

Classical Writing teaches students, beginners to high school, writing skills based on the Greek method Progymnasamata. This is the same way many of the greatest minds in the past two millenniums were taught.

Using this program, your child will not only learn to write, but also be taught the importance of virtue. The Classical Writing course incorporates grammar skills into the lessons. This is a definite advantage to other programs.

Your child will not only learn how to use a thesaurus, but also multiple ways to write their sentences, which will help them develop their own style. This curriculum focuses on the idea of quality over quantity. There may not seem to be a lot of writing assignments, but your child will be taught the proper composition so there will be no bad habits to be broken later on.

This program does have its share of negative traits. It requires a lot of parent preparation. You basically have to learn the lesson yourself before you can teach it successfully. There is no way for your child to study by themselves if you are using this program. It can seem like a lot to take in, but the course progresses slowly.

This can be a problem if the student is particularly gifted. The grammar that is included may be too advanced if your child has no experience in that subject. There is not a lot of writing included in this program; many of the assignments are only rewriting paragraphs.

Although some children learn through imitation, practicing their own style is important too. Some of the rewrites are based on Biblical models, which some children will not enjoy. These included scriptures may turn off some parents who do not want religion to be part of their child’s education.

If you are looking for a comprehensive writing curriculum, Classical Writing may be for you. As the parent, only you can decide if it is a program your child can be successful in. If you are unsure, why not give it a try? You may be surprised at what an improvement it can make you your child’s writing skills.