Rod & Staff English.... catching up questions...

[Sparrows-Song]

When ds was in 4th grade, we switched from R & S English to Easy Grammar, only to find at the end of the year that he'd retained nothing. So I began the year over for him with R&S 4th grade, essentially leaving him a year behind in English.

Now he is in 6th grade, doing the 5th grade book. I'd really like to catch him up to speed but am a little unsure how to go about it. Can I just skip the 6th grade book and go directly into 7th grade English (we're using it for grammar only)? Or should I go about it some other way?

I'd thought of giving him the end-of-chapter tests for the 6th grade book, and beginning him where he starts having difficulty, but what scale do I use to determine how many wrong answers are enough to stop at?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

[Beth in Central TX]

I think it is common for some kids to be a grade level behind in R&S; especially when you get to the higher grade levels. R&S Grammar 5 does a lot of review, so it could be skipped. I definitely would not skip R&S 6, 7, or 8. I think those need to be done in order. R&S 7 looks very challenging; it may take us longer than a year to complete (and fully understand).

[beansprouts]

I skip most of the written practice with R&S. I do everything orally except the sentance diagrams, and the writing assignments. In this way it is very easy to double and even triple lessons when dd seems to be breezing through the material. This helps tremendously when I fall behind, which seems to happen all too often... :o

[Sparrows-Song]

I think it is common for some kids to be a grade level behind in R&S; especially when you get to the higher grade levels. R&S Grammar 5 does a lot of review, so it could be skipped. I definitely would not skip R&S 6, 7, or 8. I think those need to be done in order. R&S 7 looks very challenging; it may take us longer than a year to complete (and fully understand).

This helps! I have not looked at R&S 7 yet, but have a scope and sequence on its way to me thru snail mail.
That is a relief that my ds is not alone in being a year behind in R&S. I guess my worry is that he will stay behind if we don't work extra hard to catch him up. Can I have your thoughts on that? Is Rod and Staff more rigorous than other programs? Should I be concerned that he is a year behind or just go with it and not worry?

Thanks!

[Beth in Central TX]

I'm not sure how it compares to other programs, but I think that R&S grammar is very thorough and rigorous; it is way more grammar than I ever learned. TWTM suggests that you schedule grammar review until 10th grade. You could easily do this with R&S 7 & 8. R&S does offer grammar through 10th grade, but the high school books contain more writing instruction and more Mennonite doctrine. I don't plan to use R&S Grammar 9 or 10. Therefore, we will move as slow as we need to complete R&S 7 and 8.

I wouldn't worry about being on grade level. I would work at your son's pace and go through the books until you feel comfortable that he has mastered whatever grammar goals you have set. The strength of R&S is the repetition which builds a strong foundation; going too fast and skipping lessons defeats the strength of the program in my opinion.

[angela in ohio]

I agree that you wouldn't want to skip. I would just keep plugging along, knowing that R&S is plenty challenging, even a year behind.

[Sparrows-Song]

Thank you all very much!!!

[HiddenJewel]

You can see samples of the material here:

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

[Sparrows-Song]

You can see samples of the material here:

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

Thanks!!

[Rhondabee]

I think it is common for some kids to be a grade level behind in R&S; especially when you get to the higher grade levels. R&S Grammar 5 does a lot of review, so it could be skipped. I definitely would not skip R&S 6, 7, or 8. I think those need to be done in order. R&S 7 looks very challenging; it may take us longer than a year to complete (and fully understand).

The review in R&S 7 is fast and furious. If you aren't really "reviewing" it, it would be very overwhelming!

OK, IMO, it would be very overwhelming...

:D

[Lolly]

you could have skipped the 4th grade book very easily. Skipping the 5th grade book is doable, but difficult. After that, it really isn't a good idea. The good news is that you really aren't behind at all. R&S is beyond most programs. He'll be just fine and "at grade level" even though the book has a different number on it.

[Sparrows-Song]

Thanks! This makes me feel so much better. We will just keep plugging away where we are right now.