I'm considering BJU Grammar/Writing for next year...

[DB in NJ]

Have you used these books?

Normally, I'm not fond of BJU's products. I find their TM's to be the most cumbersome thing out there! Blech!!! But I was looking at their Grammar/Writing worktexts, and they look *really* good!

I'll be using Grades 4, 8, and 12.

What has your experience been with their English program? Can I use the worktexts without those awful TM's??

I have a *very* strong background in grammar & writing; don't know if that makes a difference or not (Yes, I'm aware that the 2nd part of that sentence is a fragment) :D LOL

Thanks!

[Bee]

Love the grammar portions.Dd was able to do those pages independently after the first year or so.I don't like the writing portion all that well.I have come to the opinion that young childrens' writing skills should not focus academically on creative writing.Writing book reports and essays are good practice.The rest just isn't necessary,IMO.Creative writing should be done on their own time,without pressure to get it "right".But that's just my thoughts.I do like the writing rubrics in the TM's.We didn't use it for grade 6 because we wanted to try something different.If we go back I will have dd start in the 8th grade book for 7th grade since she found it very easy and i want to challenge her a bit.I really want to try Rod and Staff though...

[Ginger]

I'm using 4 this year. I have been pretty happy with it. I don't use the TM--don't even think I bought it. I basically give my daughter the workbook and she reads the lesson and does the work pages, only giving help if she needs it.

I've skipped most of the writing lessons in the book because my dd is taking a writing class through a co-op. After we finish the co-op, as we're also on the last grammar section of the book, I plan to go back and have her do more of the writing exercises.

I said I have been 'pretty' happy with it, but after using R&S last year, and now reaching the end of this year, I feel R&S was just so much better. It almost seems that BJU is too easy--although I think my dd was disagree. It's actually right at her level. But with R&S, "I" learned so much about grammar that I didn't know.
An example of the difference: In R&S they taught that when you use a helping verb that you use the 'n' form of the irregular verb (seen v saw. gone vs went) whereas BJUP just gave a chart that had which verb form went with helping verbs (like you'd always have the chart with you to figure it out) i just like how R&S gave you a way to figure it out.
I am thinking of using GWG next year. However, keep in mind, that I am a curriculum junkie, and I tend to get bored with curricula and switch after a year. All in all, BJUP has been refreshing, but just not as indepth as R&S. Oh, but I have to say that I do like BJUP wriitng instruction way better than R&S--so that is a selling point.

[pianoplayer]

We have been generally pleased with the grammar teaching that the BJU texts provide. I used BJUP 4th grade English/grammar with my youngest last year, and I am currently using the 8th grade text with my oldest this year. Generally, I think that the student texts could easily be used alone IF one has a strong background in grammar. I do not even order the teacher's edition for the elementary grades; I ordered the teacher's manual for the 7th-8th grades, but have rarely opened them. I never use the teacher's manuals for teaching purposes. If something seems unclear to my oldest after having gone through a lesson, I get out our college Harbrace.

I have been less than pleased with the writing portions, however--in fact, we switched to Writing Strands this year. (I just skip the writing sections of the BJUP texts.)

Hope this helps. :)

[awanama]

I have not used BJU for Grammar/Writing but I did want to mention that Christian Liberty Press sales a teacher manual that they have put together that goes along with it. I've seen on the boards that many people like it because it gives you the answers and some tips on teaching. You might check them out. They are really inexpensive!

[HollyDay]

I love BJU grammar but I do not like the cost of the TM or the TM itself, or the writing portion. I did use the TM and found it to be very, very useful. THe writing units are very tedious in my opinion. Some dc respond very well to this structured approach so it depends on your dc's learning style

[gardenschooler]

You probably could use it without the TM, but the TM does include the (optional) instruction on diagramming, more details on the writing lessons, as well as a CD-ROM with additional grammar worksheets and writing rubrics.

And, of course, the answers! You might be fine, but I sure need the answers. :D

I did recently read a post on here from someone who had switched their 11th grader over to BJU W&G and had a hard time with it. I don't remember why, though.

Have you looked at the samples on CBD?

[BizyPenguin]

The link to my blog is below. Click on "Tues. Reviews" to find it. HTH!

[Shari]

I really like BJU grammar. It is very thorough and easy to teach. We've always bought the TMs, too. A homeschooling friend of mine says that, especially once you hit the upper elementary grades and above, your time becomes more and more valuable, and the extra minutes saved every day by having the answers already there is worth something.

Mostly what I've used our TM for is the CD-rom in the back that has extra worksheets you can print out for every single grammar lesson. These have been particularly useful when we have hit topics that ds didn't quite get the first time (adverbs!) and for review.

I don't care as much for the writing portions, which for us at least, are beyond ds's ability right now. We are using TOG and IEW instead.

[Verena]

for the first time. It's been a good experience, but we'll switch to something else next year. Overall, I think bju is a very solid program.
I can't speak for the later levels- although I checked into the 4th gr. one online and it looks VERY similar to the 3rd gr. book.

I did buy the TM ('cause I didn't know any better), but I'm glad I have it. I use it esp. for the answer key and for the ideas to introduce a new topic, but it sounds like you could do without.

What I like about it:
-lots of hand-holding esp. in the writing portions
- incremental steps for writing projects
-colorful
-easy to understand explanations
-grammar portions can be done independantly (well, your older dc can probably do the entire text independantly)

HTH!