Awesome! Can I ask how old your kid(s) were doing Jot It Down last year? Was it a good fit for those ages? I feel like we were on the upper end of ages, almost needing to do Partnership Writing but still enjoyed Jot It Down!
@@LizBlueandHazel I did it with my 2nd grader last year. This year I'm doing it with my 3rd grader and kindergartener. My 3rd grade boy had a fine motor delay and super reluctant writer so it is still a good fit this year even in 3rd grade. My K girl on the other hand wants to write books 😂. I know she will love the projects!
Thank you for this! you explained it very well! We are considering homeschooling our two daughters next school year. they are both ESL, and writing and reading are struggles for them. I had been thinking about this program, but couldn't find much about it. Thanks!
Just found your channel and watched all of your brave writer videos..I was debating between that and IEW and I think you’ve convinced me to go brave writer lol ❤
Both are great programs, but very different I think. I know a lot of brave writer families end up using fix it grammar at some point from IEW in addition to Arrows. I think I will try the first Fix IT Grammar in 5th or 6th grade with my oldest.
The poop on the list 😂. Love seeing how you used this, it’s been sitting on my shelf for a while and I’m excited to start using it. Also Golden Guides 👌🏼
This was very helpful review. I do have a question. I have a 9 year old and 7 year old. We have never done any formal writing cUrriculum. Do you think this level will be ok for them or is it too simple. I personally like how simple it is and approachable. Both don’t like writing. We have done some copy work but that the extent of writing we have done
I would consider a couple things when deciding. First, I think the projects are still delightful for those ages and a bit more simple and easy for you as a parent compared to Partnership writing. I have a partnership writing video you can watch to compare. Second, it would be reasonable to ask your 9 year old to write more on her project than your 7 year old. So instead of writing it all for them like you would a 5 or 6 year old, have them write what feels reasonable for where they are at. It will build confidence and you can help them with spelling the words if needed! Partnership writing also is just a list of projects, although some of them are much more involved as the parent in gathering info. I used to feel very panicky that my kids, especially my oldest, weren’t writing much compared to peers in public school. We are now following more of a Charlotte Mason method and I realize I don’t need to have them writing paragraphs right now. Copywork is all that’s technically assigned using Charlotte Mason’s methods until age 10 or 4th grade, where they then begin to practice written narrations instead of 100% oral narrations. But up until then, they are learning to find their voice and tell what they’ve read. So Jot It Down kind of introduced me to the idea of kids narrating orally before they write to find their voice. I think you’d love it, just ask what your writing goals are 💕 you can also level up to partnership writing projects and just do more of the writing for them. Also you can continue to do copywork which will hugely help over time. I’m going to bump up my 8 and almost 10 year olds copywork from once a week to daily this year and we’ll be continuing to do a few more projects from Partnership Writing.
For Dart reading, we usually read a chapter a day which was around 15 minutes.Then, kids would either do copywork or some of the grammar from the dart with me. Never more than 15 min of reading plus 15 minutes of a lesson I'd say. Jot It Down was a bit random, and I tried to do it on days we didn't do other language arts from the Dart. We'd do a project daily till we were done and then wait to start another (sometimes weeks in between). The time spent could be 20 minutes a day till done. Some, like the lists, were a 1 day project. Others like the Fairy Tale Project took WAY longer.
Loved seeing how used this for some of the projects. We did about half of the projects last year and I want to do the rest this year.
Awesome! Can I ask how old your kid(s) were doing Jot It Down last year? Was it a good fit for those ages? I feel like we were on the upper end of ages, almost needing to do Partnership Writing but still enjoyed Jot It Down!
@@LizBlueandHazel I did it with my 2nd grader last year. This year I'm doing it with my 3rd grader and kindergartener. My 3rd grade boy had a fine motor delay and super reluctant writer so it is still a good fit this year even in 3rd grade. My K girl on the other hand wants to write books 😂. I know she will love the projects!
Your son sounds just like mine, all the “deadly” pictures are exactly what my son draws!
Great walk through of this!
I have been on the fence for awhile about getting Jot It Down. I definitely want to purchase it now after seeing your review. Thanks so much!
Thank you for this! you explained it very well! We are considering homeschooling our two daughters next school year. they are both ESL, and writing and reading are struggles for them. I had been thinking about this program, but couldn't find much about it. Thanks!
Just found your channel and watched all of your brave writer videos..I was debating between that and IEW and I think you’ve convinced me to go brave writer lol ❤
Both are great programs, but very different I think. I know a lot of brave writer families end up using fix it grammar at some point from IEW in addition to Arrows. I think I will try the first Fix IT Grammar in 5th or 6th grade with my oldest.
The poop on the list 😂. Love seeing how you used this, it’s been sitting on my shelf for a while and I’m excited to start using it. Also Golden Guides 👌🏼
Haha, yes the poop thing😅 kids are hilarious! Hope it goes well!
So helpful! Thank you! ☺️
Your son is funny. I love all his drawings and poop listed on his things I like list, lol.
Lifetime keepsakes for sure 😂
This was very helpful review. I do have a question. I have a 9 year old and 7 year old. We have never done any formal writing cUrriculum. Do you think this level will be ok for them or is it too simple. I personally like how simple it is and approachable. Both don’t like writing. We have done some copy work but that the extent of writing we have done
I would consider a couple things when deciding. First, I think the projects are still delightful for those ages and a bit more simple and easy for you as a parent compared to Partnership writing. I have a partnership writing video you can watch to compare. Second, it would be reasonable to ask your 9 year old to write more on her project than your 7 year old. So instead of writing it all for them like you would a 5 or 6 year old, have them write what feels reasonable for where they are at. It will build confidence and you can help them with spelling the words if needed! Partnership writing also is just a list of projects, although some of them are much more involved as the parent in gathering info. I used to feel very panicky that my kids, especially my oldest, weren’t writing much compared to peers in public school. We are now following more of a Charlotte Mason method and I realize I don’t need to have them writing paragraphs right now. Copywork is all that’s technically assigned using Charlotte Mason’s methods until age 10 or 4th grade, where they then begin to practice written narrations instead of 100% oral narrations. But up until then, they are learning to find their voice and tell what they’ve read. So Jot It Down kind of introduced me to the idea of kids narrating orally before they write to find their voice. I think you’d love it, just ask what your writing goals are 💕 you can also level up to partnership writing projects and just do more of the writing for them. Also you can continue to do copywork which will hugely help over time. I’m going to bump up my 8 and almost 10 year olds copywork from once a week to daily this year and we’ll be continuing to do a few more projects from Partnership Writing.
How much time would you say you spend daily between reading, Dart, and Jot it down?
For Dart reading, we usually read a chapter a day which was around 15 minutes.Then, kids would either do copywork or some of the grammar from the dart with me. Never more than 15 min of reading plus 15 minutes of a lesson I'd say. Jot It Down was a bit random, and I tried to do it on days we didn't do other language arts from the Dart. We'd do a project daily till we were done and then wait to start another (sometimes weeks in between). The time spent could be 20 minutes a day till done. Some, like the lists, were a 1 day project. Others like the Fairy Tale Project took WAY longer.