FLL vs. R&S Grammar

[kelmommy]

Okay, I'm new to Classical educating. I'm using Sonlight this year even for LA. But next year I want to at least change LA and follow more of the guidlines in TWTM. I can't decide between FLL and R&S grammar. Anybody out there have experience with both and can give me the pros and cons of both. Maybe someone uses both? I have thought about that since they are so inexpensive. I like the looks of R&S because I've read it is a very solid program and it is Christian based. But I like the looks (from the samples) of how FLL is scripted and that is has fun songs and poems included (in the CD). By the way I would be using it for a 2nd/3rd grader boy..my oldest. TIA

[Heather in VA]

Of the two I much prefer FLL. R&S is really dry and repetitive. I found that it wasn't hugely effective either - although others have found it very effective even if it's dry. At the ages of your kids whatever grammar you do should be fun. FLL has nice poems, copywork, dictation and songs. It's just much more well-rounded for that age.

[stephanie]

Of the two I much prefer FLL. R&S is really dry and repetitive. I found that it wasn't hugely effective either - although others have found it very effective even if it's dry. At the ages of your kids whatever grammar you do should be fun. FLL has nice poems, copywork, dictation and songs. It's just much more well-rounded for that age.

I've done both. I do FLL for 1st, then switch to R&S for 2nd and up. I loved FLL in 1st grade, but R&S really steps it up. R&S 2 isn't too difficult, but R&S 3 I think really gets more difficult. I love R&S because it is so thorough. However, I haven't tried FLL for 3rd grade. I've heard great reviews about it, though.

[Lori in MS]

My favorite curriculum for grammar stage is FLL. I have used FLL 1-3 and plan to use FLL 4 after that we will use R&S 5. It's nice to have the variety so you don't have to do R&S for 8 years.

[Sue G in PA]

both are good curriculums for teaching grammar. FLL was too scripted for me. I use it now for the poems, some copywork, songs and narrations. After a week of nouns (common vs. proper) in first grade both my ds and me were done! We now do R&S 2 orally mostly. Honestly, my favorite grammar program so far is Growing With Grammar. My ds9 is using GWG4 right now (after switching from R&S4) and he is loving it whereas before he dreaded grammar. My dd11 does well with R&S 5 however! They are all different. GWG does not have any writing component so for upper elem. grades you'd need a separate program. Other than that, I really like it. It is a workbook format. Oh, I'm keeping FLL b/c my ds6 who just can't stand to write might do well w/ the oral approach to learning grammar next year. We'll see.

[Nancy in SoCal]

We have used both, and enjoyed/learned a lot with both. I have decided to continue with FLL3 this year because my third child LOVED FLL 1+2. But my older 2 did R&S3 before FLL3 was out and learned/retained much. If you like the scripted approach FLL is a good bet. If your child prefers a more independent/less scripted approach, R&S will be a good fit. But honestly, they are both very thorough, solid programs.

HTH,

[Alana in Canada]

I am using FLL with my seven year old, and R&S3 with the ten year old.

Both did FLL1, the first 100 lessons.

Even though it's a great program, I personally don't like FLL, it drove me crazy--but my seven year old absolutely loves it and will ask me to do grammar with her everyday.

The ten year old groans when R&S comes out, but he found FLL too babyish. It didn't capture his attention at all and he clowned around a lot while I was trying to "read" the lesson.

R&S is more analytical and the sentance diagramming turns into interesting pictures from time to time! But the lessons are short and we do most of it orally. I do expect him to write some part of every lesson, just so he doesn't get lazy with his printing!

[profmom]

I've used both. With my oldest dd, we used FLL1&2 and then R&S3 for 3rd. We have R&S4, but dd was dreading using it (after being fine with it for 3rd). We've used Growing with Grammar for 4th & now 5th because there is less handwriting with the workbook. Many people do R&S orally, but we did it just as written, which meant that dd wrote about a page and a half on notebook paper for each exercise. I think it was beneficial for her, but I know my ds would hate it!

With my 2nd ds, we used FLL1&2 and are now in FLL3. I like all that FLL3 includes and the lessons are short with much less handwriting. We sit together for most or all of the lesson, discussing it. For some lessons, there are some practice exercises at the end that I have him do independently. The blank lines for diagramming are included in the FLL3 workbook. (With R&S, dd used a ruler and drew her own on the notebook paper. I can see advantages to both ways.)

FLL is both gentle and strong. Yes, it's scripted, but I don't use the scripting. It's open and go and a quick glance over the lesson gives me what I need to teach it. Once you get past FLL1, there is much less repetition. I agree that there was quite a bit of repetition on common vs. proper nouns, but I think they were just trying to be gentle for a 1st grader. I just skipped lessons that seemed too repetitive.

[kelmommy]

Thank you so much for all the answers, but I'm afraid I still do not know which would be better! Maybe I will just try to find both used and try both. I have 4 boys so I'm sure they will not learn the same way and that I will get use out of both. Thanks again!

[Cadam]

Thank you so much for all the answers, but I'm afraid I still do not know which would be better! Maybe I will just try to find both used and try both. I have 4 boys so I'm sure they will not learn the same way and that I will get use out of both. Thanks again!

I think you are right. With 4 kids you are bound to need different approaches so it won't hurt to have both things.

[Sheri]

I think FLL is a beautiful program; one that I didn't fully appreciate until we were finished with it and gone on to other levels. Both my boys learn completely differently and FLL worked for both of them. They retained what they learned in FLL.

I wish FLL 3 would have come out sooner.

[maryibug]

[quote=profmom;25749]I've used both. With my oldest dd, we used FLL1&2 and then R&S3 for 3rd. We have R&S4, but dd was dreading using it (after being fine with it for 3rd). We've used Growing with Grammar for 4th & now 5th because there is less handwriting with the workbook.


I was just wondering why you will switch back from GWG to R & S? I am thinking of buying GWG for the same reason you stated for my 9 yo ds, and I just thought I would ask! Thanks!

[Heather in OK]

I switched my girls from R&S English to FLL. We used it for about a month...they were incredibly bored...I'm selling it. :( I wanted to like it...but none of us did.

I'm going to put my 3rd grader back in R&S. She needs the repetition that R&S offers.

Right now I'm not sure what to do for my 5th grader. I'm considering Growing With Grammar and a couple other things.