ISO grammar / LA suggestions

[nowimscrappin]

We are completing our 2nd year of homeschooling with my kids. I am asking for advice for my oldest - she is completing 5th grade.

She didn't have a lot of grammar at public school (through 3rd grade). I had to teach her the parts of speech at the beginning of last year when I realized she didn't know them. We did BJU grammar last year. This year we did Sonlight, which has more of a writing focus, and we supplmented with Grammar Ace from Sonlight

Next year she is taking a year-long IEW workshop. So, she'll get all the writing instruction she needs through that workshop.

So, what curriculums would you recommend for more of the "Grammar" instruction. I would like to continue with dictation (although I can just get the activity sheets from Sonlight if I want dictations) but I'd like suggestions to continue and enhance the grammar knowlege that she still isn't really strong at.

Any advice appreciated - thanks!:bigear:

[Mom2legomaniacs]

I haven't used anything but Rod and Staff for grammar so I can't comment on others. But I love R&S! It is so thorough and very well done.

http://www.rodandstaff.info/samples/english/

Check out the above link to see samples. Then you can decide if it would be a program of interest to you. I have been very impressed with this program for grammar!

[Sue G in PA]

if you wanted something that was all-in-one like that. I've only used FLL 1/2 and 3 but find them to be a gentle approach to grammar and diagramming for my ds8. My ds9 uses GWG and loves it b/c of the workbook approach. Some say their dc don't retain as much w/ GWG, but that hasn't been our experience. Then, of course, there is the tried and true R&S which my dd11 uses quite successfully. Very strong grammar program. If your dd hasn't had a great foundation in grammar or diagramming, I would use it a year behind grade level. That's what we do for dd11 (in 6th but using R&S 5). Don't mean to overwhelm you w/choices!

[nowimscrappin]

We actualy use FLL 1/2 for my 2nd grader, and I will use 3 and 4 for him. I do love it!

But, do they have one appropriate for 5th/6th grader? I didn't think they had gotten that advanced yet

[Ellie]

So, what curriculums would you recommend for more of the "Grammar" instruction. I would like to continue with dictation (although I can just get the activity sheets from Sonlight if I want dictations) but I'd like suggestions to continue and enhance the grammar knowlege that she still isn't really strong at.

Since all you seem to need is grammar, my recommendation would be Easy Grammar. Rod and Staff includes much more than grammar, which is why I wouldn't recommend it for *you*.

[Sue in St Pete]

Here's a thread with my review:
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16693

[BarbinTN]

Well, my vote is AG. This is what my next year 6th grader will be doing. I just received it in the mail Saturday. It looks great! I have used Abeka, BJU, FLL, R&S, EG and my big beef is the fact that they start OVER every year. My dd also mentioned that we were diagramming nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and direct objects at the end of last year (Rod and Staff) and she wondered why we started over again. We are 3/4 the way through our R&S book and have now hit adverbs again.

We use MUS which is a mastery approach and I guess that's our "style". I suppose that's why I am drawn to AG because it assumes you learned the information therefore we don't have to reteach it, just maintain it.

So, if you tend to be a spiral/traditional person I would suggest R&S but if not I would suggest AG! Also, if you have more than a couple of kids, then multiple 30 minutes lessons of grammar EACH begin to eat read aloud time around here! I had much rather read to my kids than teach them grammar!

We too are using IEW next year:o)

Good luck!
Barb

[nowimscrappin]

Wow, that Analytical Grammar sounds neat. And I've never heard of it before, so its definitely something to look into.

I wish that FLL went to higher grades, but at least I have the benefit of working through it with my younger.