I am finally making the time to review this wonderful product! I apologize publicly to the author, Johnnie Lewis, for not getting this review done in a more timely manner. My life has been a little crazy lately (you can probably tell by my lack of blogging lately!).

Below my review of The Five Finger Paragraph is a description of the product that I received. This kit is for Grades K-12 - you can use the product for several years, reinforcing the material presented as the child progresses from writing a good paragraph to a great essay! Every piece of the kit is nicely laminated or bound making the product one that will last as it passes through the hands of multiple children. The Quick Guide cards (the size of a business card) make it easy for the child to have a quick visual reference for what they are supposed to write in their paragraph or essay. The wall charts are very handy - 2 of them are meant to be used with dry erase markers so that the child can practice his work easily.

Now, on to a description of the main texts. The Student Edition is a nice size, smaller for small hands! Ms. Lewis is such a talented artist ... my kids and I found ourselves awed by the detailed pictures and bright colors used in the illustrations. This product is probably best for visual learners. The directions use a hand (see banner below) color-coded to explain to the child how to write a 5-sentence paragraph. Once the child is familiar with which finger represents which sentence in the paragraph, then the color-coded instructions in their text begin to make a LOT of sense to the child!

Ms. Lewis has the child learn how to write a paragraph step-by-step. The child is first instructed to list what they want to write about and find patterns in the list. Then they are taught how to turn these patterns into a 5-sentence (or "5-Finger") paragraph. From p. 15, "The Five Finger Paragraph is a formula, a blueprint, or a recipe for how to "build" a paragraph correctly." Ms. Lewis then explains finger-by-finger what each sentence is to be about. Basically, the red thumb is the introductory sentence, followed by the middle three fingers which comprise the 3 describing sentences and ending with the green pinkie which is the summary sentence.

Once the child understands the process of creating an interesting 5-sentence paragraph, the text then explains how to take this paragraph and expand it into a 5-PARAGRAPH essay! Ms. Lewis explains two different types of essays - (1) The "topic first" plan and (2) The "list first" plan. I cannot believe that it really is this easy to write a good essay, but it really is.

The Teacher/Parents' Guide contains the Student Text with sidebars of extra information for the parent to use to help explain the material being presented to the child. There is also lots of space for the parent to write in notes, if needed. In the back is a wonderful list of References - books and websites - for the parent to use if they want further information on teaching writing.

I have used this product with my children now for several months and I have seen an improvement in their writing. They still have a LONG way to go until their paragraphs are a bit more creative, but that is noone's fault but MINE! I have been lax in teaching writing (which is one reason I was so excited to receive The Five Finger Paragraph). If you are looking for a great way to introduce HOW to write a paragraph, then this would be a great product for you to check out. This will NOT teach creative writing, just the mechanics of writing.

If you have any questions about the product, email Ms. Lewis - she is very quick to respond and very helpful, too! You can contact her through her website, The Five Finger Paragraph.

The Five Finger Paragraph^© books for HomeSchooled students are designed for initial introduction to the Five Finger Paragraph© Methods for Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade students.  The method is also quite effective when used as subsequent or remedial instruction material for students who function at grade level or below.  The materials introduce paragraphs and give explicit instructions for two methods of writing essays.  Also quite effective in helping students prepare for the SAT/ACT exams. Illustrations on almost every page.  Parents' editions (8 1/2 x 11) contain the student edition on every page, as well as instructional aids and helpful hints.  Student editions are 5 x 8.  Both editions are coil-bound. 

HomeSchool Kits of The Five Finger Paragraph^© books and instructional aids, appropriate for grades K-12, contain:  1 Parents' Edition, 1 Student Edition, 2 Quick Guide Cards™, 2 Bookmarkers, 5 Wall Charts, and 1 Dry Erase marker.  Additional student books can be added at $6.50 per copy when ordered at the same time as the Home School kit. 

... Kris ...