I'm having trouble with GWG 2...

[KIN]

My 2nd grade ds is doing this independently, but I'm really not sure how much he is learning. It is easy, it doesn't take much time and he gets the exercises correct. But, he doesn't know how to identify parts of speech.

Any ideas on how to make it work for us? I'm thinking it is because I'm allowing him to do it all independently?? Maybe going over the lesson or doing something like FLL 3 that has teacher interaction would be better?

[profmom]

I'd try going over the lessons with him before switching, just because you already have GWG. You could still assign the workbook to be done on his own. 2nd grade would have been too early to expect my ds to do his grammar completely independently.

profmom

(dd used FLL1-2, R & S 3, GWG4 with CW, GWG5 with CW
ds used FLL1-2 and now FLL3 with WT1)

[Tina in WA]

Make up some worksheets and go over parts of speach with him.

As you do your read aloud, or reading, stop and ask about parts of speech in a sentence you just read.

Different things like that. Just make it light and fun. If he is getting his work done so quickly but not understanding the concept, there is no reason you can't add on a couple activities like this. :D

HTH~Tina

[Jenny in Atl]

I did GWG 1/2 with my seven yr-old dd this past summer/fall. We did it together and for the most part orally. I think it helped her to write down the exercises but to also share the info verbally as well. You might also add a sentence or two of your own for him to pick out the verbs, nouns, etc. I have found talking about the parts of speech when we are reading other materials helps like, "did you hear the verb/action, who was doing it?" That one thing about the old Sonlight grammar I loved, lessons came from the reading that day.

hth's

[Sunny]

I think you're right that your ds is a bit young to do this independently. I would say that after you have gone over the lesson, ask a few questions, make him narrate, and THEN send him on his way to do the worsheets.

[KIN]

I'm thinking that I do need to have a lesson with him before sending him off. Does FLL 3 do this better? I'm going to finish GWG this year, but wondering about switching next year. I think also we need to memorize some definitions on the parts of speech. We keep seeing the same things over and over: nouns, pronouns, etc. in grammar, Latin and our spelling (SWR). But the definitions are always just a tad different. It would be nice to say "Oh, remember, a noun is the name of a person, place, thing or idea." I do have FLL, I think I just need to pull it out and memorize the defs.

[Tina in WA]

GWG 3 is different then GWG 1/2. 1/2 has everything in 1 book. Once you are move onto GWG and above, you will get a separate instruction book. I like the way it is set up. It isn't teacher say this or teacher say that like with FLL, but it explains everything nicely.

If you like the narrative form of FLL, you will probably like FLL3. But it is very teacher dependent.

I think peace hill has samples of FLL3 and I know there are samples of GWG 3 at their site. The best thing is to compare the 2 yourself to see if matches with your teaching style and your child's learning style.

I was fortunate that a local teaching supply company ordered FLL3 for me to look at to see if I wanted to purchase it or not. I was happy not to pay for something only to turn around and sell it.

[KIN]

GWG 3 is different then GWG 1/2. 1/2 has everything in 1 book. Once you are move onto GWG and above, you will get a separate instruction book. I like the way it is set up. It isn't teacher say this or teacher say that like with FLL, but it explains everything nicely.


Thanks, that is helpful! I really don't need scripted lessons, but explaining the lesson in 1/2 seems so redundant. My ds reads the lessons and understands it, but still I wonder what he's getting in the long run. I'll visit some sites and do some comparing. I wish I could have both in my grubby little paws. :D

[one l michele]

I dropped GWG 2 because my ds found it too easy to scan the introduction and use the example as a guide just to "get done" with the worksheet. Grammar isn't a self taught subject, I want to be interacting with him during grammar exercises and see that he is in fact understanding the concepts.

[Lisawa]

My 2nd grade ds is doing this independently, but I'm really not sure how much he is learning. It is easy, it doesn't take much time and he gets the exercises correct. But, he doesn't know how to identify parts of speech.

Any ideas on how to make it work for us? I'm thinking it is because I'm allowing him to do it all independently?? Maybe going over the lesson or doing something like FLL 3 that has teacher interaction would be better?

I think you are right on the $$....I would go over the lesson with them... 2nd grade is young to have them so independant....the one on one time will make a big difference.

Do you go over a few problems first? GWG can allow for teacher interaction. *Ü* May I ask how far along you are in the book?

We used GWG 4 last year....

Lisa

[KIN]

I dropped GWG 2 because my ds found it too easy to scan the introduction and use the example as a guide just to "get done" with the worksheet. Grammar isn't a self taught subject, I want to be interacting with him during grammar exercises and see that he is in fact understanding the concepts.

What are you planning to do next year?

[KIN]

Do you go over a few problems first? GWG can allow for teacher interaction. *Ü* May I ask how far along you are in the book?

We used GWG 4 last year....

Lisa

We are about 3/4 the way done with GWG 1/2's 2nd year (wow, that was confusing!). It just seems that the introduction problems are so easy that my son can just do the lesson without understanding the concepts. Like, the adjectives are right before the noun in every sentence in the example and in the lesson. So, he just circles the word right before the noun. It is very obvious what the correct choice is going to be. I'm wondering if it changes a bit starting with GWG 3?

[Lisawa]

We are about 3/4 the way done with GWG 1/2's 2nd year (wow, that was confusing!). It just seems that the introduction problems are so easy that my son can just do the lesson without understanding the concepts. Like, the adjectives are right before the noun in every sentence in the example and in the lesson. So, he just circles the word right before the noun. It is very obvious what the correct choice is going to be. I'm wondering if it changes a bit starting with GWG 3?


So My understanding from what you are saying is he gets the concept... but doesn’t know why he is doing it... its just systematic at this point w/o understanding??

If he gets it wrong, or if you are sitting with him and he just circles it... ask him why he did that? If he underlines the noun, ask why? Make him tell you... if he can’t, he needs to understand the why....

Do you think that might help? Please let me know your thoughts...

[one l michele]

What are you planning to do next year?

Because I have been spending time gathering copywork, dictation exercises, and memorywork in addition to scheduling it for two school aged kids. I realized just how silly that was since someone has already created a program that contains those items as well as grammar exercises. I feel kids need teachers and like the interaction and practice that FLL provides.

[Linda...inOwasso]

I felt that my dd7 did not retain the information in GWG 2. I've started sitting with her as she does it and giving extra examples, talking more about it, etc... in order to help with the lack of retention. We've just started Lively Latin so I don't plan to use GWG at the higher grades.

[Tina in WA]

Adjectives normally/usually come right before the noun or the pronoun anyways. I don't think this is a concept you can can't avoid. He sounds like a smart kid and figured that one out already. :)

When you reach adding -er in 1/2 book, there are examples that don't have the adjective right in front of the noun.

Ask him, is the word right before the noun called. If he can't remember, review and ask again. Give other examples by making up sentences and doing it orally, or on a white board, etc.

In GWG 3 they will be diagramming adjectives, they will learn about different types of adjectives: ones that tell how many, which one, articles (A, An, The), etc. I see 1/2 covers some of the same things for adjectives, but I think it is more in depth than the 1/2 book. And the teacher/instruction book is separate from the child's book.

And If he knows the answer by looking back at the introduction, I would suggest to cover up the introduction and walk through it with him.

Personally in grades 1/2 grammar isn't supposed to be so challenging they hate it. I think this is a great gentle approach to grammar and helps build that self confidence and the "Yes, I can do this" attitude. GWG provides lots of review of the topics covered.

HTH's some.

~Tina

[Tina in WA]

Because I have been spending time gathering copywork, dictation exercises, and memory work in addition to scheduling it for two school aged kids. I realized just how silly that was since someone has already created a program that contains those items as well as grammar exercises

Good Points. :) I agree. If you are spending time searching for these other activities, FLL is the way to go.


Our family get those added extras from other studies we do, so I am not worried about adding it on to our language program. I do like the workbook format of GWG. If you have a child that doesn't like to write a lot in 1st or 2nd, then GWG probably isn't for someone's family. My dd did FLL 1/2 and then moved into GWG3. My son (in 1st this year), moved right into GWG 1/2 and is enjoying it. It works for him. There are some aspect of FLL I miss, but I know we do those things in other subjects so I am OK with it.

What works for 1 family won't work for every other family. ;)

~Tina

[profmom]

With FLL3, you would sit with your dc for almost the entire lesson. However, there are often some sentences to diagram or practice the new concept at the end of the lesson, so I'll leave him to finish.

It's true that it's scripted, but I don't read most of it. It's been easy to tell the point of the lesson at the start and then take it from there.

[Hot Lava Mama]

them to completely understand parts of speech. We are using FLL-3 with my 3rd grader, and they learn to diagram a sentence. This has been a HUGE help. My son was completely lost in 1 & 2 grade (we used FLL 1/2). He could recite the definition, but didn't understand what it meant. I think, though, that is kind of the idea about the classical method. They memorize stuff first, then they can get a grip on it later as they mature. We are also using GWG as well (with my dd 1st grade, in conjuction with FLL 1/2 since she likes to write more than my son ever did). Both are very good programs. Bottom line, keep up with what you are doing, and expect it to sink in later when they become a little more mature.