Tell me again: Can I really do no additional grammar with WT 1??

[KIN]

I'd decided not to do any additional grammar, but I waffling. Help! If it really isn't needed, I don't want to do it. Why did you decide to add grammar, if you did? Did you feel something was lacking? Thanks!

[Linda...inOwasso]

No Kathy, you don't need any additional grammar. I think WT1 consistently provides a healthy dose of grammar. I am planning to add JAG in 4th grade along with WT2.

HTH!

[Wendy in ME]

We aren't doing any here either. It introduces a new concept every 2 weeks. My ds 4th grade 9yo seems to actually be getting it this year with WT1. We have done both Abeka and R&S grammar programs in the past. He could do the exercises in the book but never seemed to be able to apply what he was learning. We are also doing Latin with LCI so he is getting a bit of grammar from that also.

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

We plan to use Writing Tales 1 as well and we won't be using any 'extra' grammar at all. Well, other than what will come with our Latin. ;)

[Heather in VA]

Just in case you need one more to tell you - you do NOT need more grammar with WT1 :D

[OneRoomHomeSchool]

See there! :D

Ask again anytime you feel 'worried' now ya hear? ;)

[KIN]

Thanks everyone! I'll let it go now! ;)

[Pster]

So with WT1 I don't have to do FLL3? Hmmmm - from asking before on here I thought the consensus was I needed to. If I don't and WT1 covers enough grammer - then that would be great because it would eliminate the need for another subject. Course, that would then mean I'm getting rid of my "source" of copy work & dictation & poem memorization too but that can be found elsewhere.

Urrrr - wish I could see inside these books!! :rolleyes::confused::rolleyes:

so many decisions....:)

[KIN]

I do have Writing Tales 1, here is what the child does in the last lesson for grammar:

Circle all the nouns in the following sentence: (lists a sentence)
Circle all the pronouns in the following sentence: (lists a sentence)
Circle all the verbs in the following sentence: (you know, lists a sentence)
Circle the adverb in the following sentence:
Circle all the adjectives in the following sentence:
Circle all the prepositions in the following sentence:
Circle all the confjunctions in the following sentence:
Circle the interjection in the following sentence:

If they learn all that next year in writing, I really don't think they need grammar. Dh looked at it and agreed with me, but I guess I still wanted more assurance, and I got it! :)

[Pster]

oooookkkkk - if you all say so! lol - it's hard to let go of the idea of what I "thought" we needed!

What if they can do that stuff already? Then we just focus on the writing part? (not that it won't be good to review...)

[Heather in VA]

What if they can do that stuff already? Then we just focus on the writing part? (not that it won't be good to review...)

I would still do the grammar part even if they "know" it. Depending on how they learned it, you may find that it's harder for them to pick these words out of a model than it is to repeat a definition or find a noun in an exercise. It's one of the reasons that learning grammar this way is so effective. You see grammar in it's "natural habitat".

[KIN]

For me, I'll just do the lessons as they come along, whether ds knows it or not. :) Oh, just to further confuse things, Writing Tales does have copywork included too. It also has you look up vocabulary words in a dictionary and copy the definitions. I really like the looks of this program! I'll post a sample lesson if you want me too (not copying it, just telling you what all is included and how many days it says, etc.)

[Amy from WT]

Hi, can I further confuse things, too?!:D

First, I'm really glad to hear of families that are enjoying the program. Makes me happy, it really does! And for those of you that are still deciding, I know it won't fit everybody. The worst thing is to buy a program that will sit on a shelf. So I'm glad that you're being so careful about finding something that will fit your family the best.

I just wanted to jump in on the part about why you would continue to do the additional grammar, even though the grammar might include concepts that your child already knows.

The whole philosophy behind teaching writing this way, (copywork, vocabulary, grammar, etc, THEN re-writing the original story) is to thoroughly analyze the original model before the child gets to re-write it in his/her own words. Teaching the grammar FROM the model is part of this analysis. So really there are two main goals for including grammar in the program: (1) further analysis of the story for the student, and (2) learning grammatical concepts. I hope that anyone doing the program wouldn't encounter a grammatical concept and decide that they would skip it simply because the child has done it before. They would be missing a good chunk of the story analysis by doing that.

And the question of whether or not to do additional grammar with the program is really turning into a well-debated one! I have always said it is up to the individual parent. When I did WT 1 with my own daughter, she was in the third grade, and it was my own opinion that for her, it was enough grammar. However, I know plenty of ladies who would want their third graders to have a good chunk more grammar at that age! So honestly, I guess you really have to see how the program goes and decide for yourself whether or not you feel your child needs more grammar. For ourselves, I just felt the time for more intensive grammar would start in the fourth grade rather than the third grade.

Clear as mud, right?

Blessings!

[KIN]

Thanks for replying, Amy! It does help to know the philosophy behind it. :) I'm really excited about using WT next fall!

[Pster]

thanks Amy!!

I'm back to my original plans - I'm going to use Writing Tales1 with my 3rd grader. I'm actually happy to know that we don't have to do any extra grammar (I was planning on using FLL3) so that is one subject I can cross off!! (yay!)

:D