I am looking for something comparable to Rod and Staff

[WendyK]

for grammar. I know the WTM suggests Rod and Staff for 5th-8th. I think it looks really good, but I am really looking for something secular. I don't care for the Voyages in English. Is there anything out there that is comparable? I am tempted to order the Rod and Staff anyway, but I am not sure if I will be unhappy that I did!

Thanks!

:rolleyes:

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

for grammar. I know the WTM suggests Rod and Staff for 5th-8th. I think it looks really good, but I am really looking for something secular. I don't care for the Voyages in English. Is there anything out there that is comparable? I am tempted to order the Rod and Staff anyway, but I am not sure if I will be unhappy that I did!

Thanks!

:rolleyes:

I don't have a good answer to your question, but I did use R&S for three years (6-8) with good success even though we didn't use it for religious reasons.

I looked on the religious portions as value added for a few reasons: We used the KJV references as good prep for reading Shakespeare (esp. the archaic language study that was simply matter of fact part of the lessons), for learning about another minority US culture (Mennonite), and for clarifying our own morality and how we arrive at our values. Plus as dh's family has strong ties to Lancaster, PA (Kraybill family), it was interesting for the kids to read about what their life might have been like if one ancestor or another had taken a different turn in their life's road!

And my dd, now a high schooler, has absolutely no hesitations when confronted with a difficult grammar concept in Latin, and because her grammar is stellar, her writing never gets bogged down in the pesky mechanical details. She can focus on clarity and style, and has emerged as an amazing writer in classes full of strong, hand-picked students. I will NEVER regret making R&S this agnostic mama's top choice for middle school grammar curriculum. That is a choice that will be paying dividends long after the fact.

[Michelle in GA]

How about Hake grammar? The format is just like Saxon math-a new concept followed by a problem set of 30. It is very thorough, it includes diagramming, and is secular. There are three levels, grades 6,7, and 8. I think a fifith grader would be fine starting the program or spreading it over two years. HTH!

[Alana in Canada]

GWG looks to me as if it has the same rigour as R&S. I looked at it last year at a convention and I was quite impressed.

I'm not sure how "high" the levels go, though.

GWG=growing with Grammar.

[Mom2boys]

www.growingwithgrammar.com (http://www.growingwithgrammar.com)

It is secular and similar to Rod & Staff. The author is finished with the 5th grade book, and the 6th grade book will be done soon. We have been using it for three years now and are very happy with it.