Questions about Classical Comp Fables and DVD

[jerrysgal4ever]

Hi all, My son just started CC Fables using the DVD with me by his side. While I love the DVD, the lesson doesn't seem to match the student workbook. For lesson 1 Paraphrase I, the DVD talks about reversing the fable but the workbook asks for minimizing. Then when we played the part that was supposed to be for Variations 2, he talked about Final Draft instead. Also, my son is a struggling learner/ reluctant writer/ grumpy moody teenager and the two of us had a hard time figuring out how to do the reversal writing. Does anyone have an easy explanation?

[CatherineS]

Hi Louise!
For the first lesson or two with my boys who struggled with writing we studied the examples in the teacher guide together and paraphrased them, rather than requiring original writing immediately.
Then for the next lessons we worked backwards with the outline for the reversal. Just turn each outline point into a sentence in reverse order, even if the sentences don’t flow or make much sense at first. Then use the example in the teacher guide to help your son learn the phrases that make a story told in reverse order make sense—“before doing that he had just finished...” etc.
The DVDs can be helpful, but don’t be afraid to go even slower than the DVD lessons if necessary.

[Michael]

While I love the DVD, the lesson doesn't seem to match the student workbook. For lesson 1 Paraphrase I, the DVD talks about reversing the fable but the workbook asks for minimizing. Then when we played the part that was supposed to be for Variations 2, he talked about Final Draft instead. ... Does anyone have an easy explanation?

Good afternoon Louise,

Apologies for the delayed response! I spoke with one of our Classical Composition experts. She explained we received feedback that reversal was too difficult for the first few lessons. we therefore decided to change it to start with reduction, which is a simpler concept, and move towards inverting and starting in the middle of the story in later lessons, but the DVDs still reflect that original assignment. You can complete either one; the change is entirely to adjust the difficulty, not to correct an error. Finally, we do plan to eventually refilm the DVDs to match.

HTH!