Homeschool Writing That's Investigative and Interesting: A Writers in Residence™ Review

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. The blogger received product and compensation in exchange for her time writing this honest review of this homeschool writing curriculum. The opportunity to review this second level of
Writers in Residence™ follows our family’s experience with the first level.

After 18 months of working our way through the first level of Apologia‘s Writers in Residence™, I am thrilled to share our thoughts on the second level of this strong curriculum. In our schooling, we’ve used many Apologia products, and we’ve loved using their curriculum!

As I’ve perused the Writers in Residence™, Volume 2 All-In-One Student Text and Workbook, I’ve been very happy to see the in-depth writing experience from the first level continue through the second level of this curriculum. Like Writers in Residence™: Apprentice, the Journeyman level is well thought out and interesting. Journeyman carries on the framework of using an expert model, giving students questions to answer, and working through an assignment step by step that starts with the first unit, Writers in Residence™: Apprentice.

While the framework is continued between the two levels, the types of writing change with the Journeyman level. The student is taken deeper into the world of writing with investigative reporting and arguments, and the door to poetry is opened. I am confident that we will enjoy our walk through the Journeyman level just as much as we have enjoyed the Apprentice level.

An Overview of Writers in Residence™:Journeyman for Homeschool Writing

What is Writers in Residence™:Journeyman?

Writers in Residence™: Journeyman is a student text workbook that takes a child through four types of writing projects over the course of a school year. During the study, the child will learn the step-by-step writing process and the child will also learn foundational language arts concepts that relate to the current type of writing.

What are the four types of writing covered in Writers in Residence™?

1. I Investigate – Students learn research skills and writing.
2. I Think – Students are introduced to the elements of argumentative writing.
3. I Remember – Students write about their own experiences.
4. I Imagine – Students write high-interest creative writing assignments.

How is the curriculum designed?

Writers in Residence™: Journeyman is divided into four units, each with four modules.

Unit 1: Assignment – “Into the Wild” – Science Report – (I Investigate)
Unit 2: Assignment – “Making the Case” – Argument Essay – (I Think)
Unit 3: Assignment – “Poetry Jam” – Poetry – (I Remember)
Unit 4: Assignment – “A Fantastical Tale of Extraordinary Exploits” – Fantastical Tale – (I Imagine)

Like Writers in Residence™:Apprentice, this level starts each module with questions for the writer to ponder as he or she works through the module. At the end of the module, the student revisits the questions and contemplates his or her success in understanding the module. The student then works through a checklist to ensure the completion of each part of the module.

Each segment of the module is different, with some containing writing assignments, some containing exercises, and some simply containing reading sections. Through the course of the study, your student will also learn about writing careers through interviews with four Christian writers who work in the fields the student is studying.

The work-text itself is very interesting and pleasing to a child’s eye. Each section is clearly marked, and there are many full color illustrations to emphasize a point. I’m very sure my extremely visual learner will easily understand concepts like the structure of an essay and the structure of a story with the visuals provided in the text.

Using Writers in Residence: Journeyman™ for Homeschool Writing.

Like the first level, there are several different ways to use the curriculum in the homeschool classroom:

1. One child working through the work book independently over the course of one year, using the included suggested daily schedule as a guide.
2. One student working through the text at the pace that works for the individual student.
3. Several children on different levels working through the book with the homeschool teacher.
4. Use the book as a guide to go in depth with writing over the course of two years.

How will our family use the curriculum?

My oldest has used the first level at her pace for about the last eighteen months. She has enjoyed the experience and she’s looking forward to starting with research soon. My younger two are a little below the target age for the Writers in Residence™ curriculum, and we will begin the journey with them in level one in about eighteen months.

I will be changing the way I teach the curriculum the second time around. With my oldest, she worked independently and did four to eight segments a week. We will not be doing an independent study with my younger two children. I will be walking them through the process on a daily basis. We will not be using the book as work text for them, as my learning challenged child would get lost in the book as it’s designed. Thankfully, the curriculum is flexible and easy to individualize, and we can tailor the process to each of my children’s needs.

When we begin using this curriculum, I will be changing one part of the design of the book to work for our family. Writers in Residence™: Journeyman is an almost 550 page, spiral-bound book. It’s pretty hefty and we are an on-the-go family. Like my book surgery for the first level of Writers in Residence™, I’ll be breaking down the book into several smaller texts to make carrying and homeschool writing while traveling easier for our family.

The Benefits of Using Writers in Residence™: Journeyman for Homeschool Writing

As I look towards the future and using this curriculum with my younger two children, I’m looking forward to seeing the benefits this strong writing foundation has to offer.

I’m looking forward to seeing my children:
1. Learn to enjoy research.
2. Become familiar with the writing process at an early age.
3. Learn to embrace the writing process without fear of a blank page.
4. Learn responsibility for their own assignments as they complete checklists independently.
5. Grow their vocabulary through interesting assignments.

….and much more!