R&S3 - what do I need

[Laurie in VA]

We will be starting R&S3 in the fall. I see that there is a textbook, TM, worksheets, and a test booklet. Do I need to purchase all of those, or just the TB and TM?

Also, how many of you stick with just R&S? I believe that WTM says that is all that's needed until 5th grade, but I notice many of you adding writing programs earlier. Should she be fine w/o or do most of you go ahead and add in another program?

Thanks!

[Laura in VA]

I use the text, teacher's book, and worksheets (but the wkshts really are optional). We do everything orally except on days that have a worksheet to go with the lesson and then my dd completes those. I'd suggest you order the books and then look the writing lessons over before you decide to order another program. We use another writing program, but that doesn't mean the R&S isn't adequate.

[Kinsa]

We use it all, but if you want bare-bones, go with just the text and teacher's book. That would certainly be sufficient. If you think you might want a little more practice, then get the WS's. And I like using the tests to see if my kids are retaining what they've learned; but, again, it's completely optional.

Really, the WS's and test booklets are so cheap, you might as well get them too, kwim? Aren't they only a couple of bucks?

Editing to add that we use only R&S for composition, no other programs added on. We do, however, linger on the lessons that are about composition, usually taking two or three days to cover those lessons fully. But I really feel it's adequate and nothing else is needed at this point. (6th grade this year)

[Dawn]

I read in TWTM that the English is sufficient if the child does the composition exercises. No need to add more writing.

My oldest will be moving into 5th grade English next year and it's all I plan to do for writing. For 6th, I'll be looking into a separate writing program.

[Dawn]

I should clarify that the English exercises aren't the only writing she will do. She'll do narrations from SOTW and literature on a regular basis as well.

[Rhondabee]

I go ahead and order the worksheets and tests.

I don't really use the worksheets anymore, though I used them quite a bit last year (our first year with R&S - 3rd and 6th). It does help get dc acquainted with doing some written work (esp. for 3rd), and also to how to follow the tests. I do use the tests, but did not "grade" them for my 3rd grader.

In 3rd grade, I waffled between "doing it all orally" and "doing it all" :rolleyes:. I think a good compromise is to do half of the Written Exercises together (me writing) for each exercises, then have ds "fill-in" our incomplete page independently. (As he is getting older - in 4th this year, I have been doing less and less for him this year.)

As for writing, I just use R&S. You will probably panic when you start looking through R&S-3 for "writing assignments." They are scattered here and there and everywhere. Basically, do not skip the "make up 3 sentences about this picture" or "Make up sentences using the following adjectives" assignments. These *will* build, and you will spend most of 3rd grade "making up sentences". :)

(And you will be amazed at how ingenious you dc is at writing amusing sentences about the rather mundane pictures in the book! We find their books excellent fodder for comedy. :D)

R&S-3 covers paragraphs at the end of the year, so do plan on completing the book before you go on to R&S-4. (Also, all the lessons about introductions and such are good "beginning compositions", even though they are oral.) The beginning of R&S-4 reviews sentences and then goes on to cover topic sentences and how to develop a paragraph rather quickly. Once that is covered, I started requiring well-developed paragraphs in history and science rather than pure narrations.

My oldest is doing R&S-7 this year, and is now doing 300-word compositions. The Book Report lesson he just covered is basically a short literary analysis paper (4 paragraphs) surrounded by more traditional "book report" paragraphs - a total of 8 - 9 paragraphs.

I have tried to supplement writing with Writing Strands, Classical Writing, Classical Composition and Wordsmith, and think I've finally decided that if we do R&S well, we just really don't have the energy to pour into another program.

hth,
Rhonda

[Narrow Gate Academy]

We have just the student and teacher books, although I must confess I haven't really looked at the teacher's book all year. I think you could do it with just the student book if you wanted. We did add a writing program to it (CW Aesop) because I wanted to place more of an emphasis on writing this year. I wanted my DD to take more time to think about both what she was saying and how she was saying it when she narrates and writes. Having the steps of outlining, rough drafts, editing, and final drafts in CW does this. I could do the same process with her history narrations, but I was afraid it would make her hate history so we do it separately.

HTH

[Suzanne in ABQ]

I didn't use tests until 6th grade. The workbook is nice for doctor appointment days, or school-at-Nana's house days (when lugging around the text and paper is just a pain). But, it's definitely not necessary. Just the text and TM are quite sufficient.

I didn't add another writing program until 6th grade. I did require a bit more writing, occasionally, but not very often. Mine were still pretty "little" at grade 3. ymmv

[Beth in Central TX]

I purchase all of the components for every level of R&S Grammar. Since we do the lessons orally, the worksheets provide some written reinforcement to the concepts we are studying.

[Soph the vet]

This is our second year with R&S and my dd9 is using R&S4, ds R&S2. I've used all the manuals. In R&S3 they begin diagramming and we did all of that. I did not use a separate writing program last year. This year my dd attends a one hour weekly IEW based class which has been a great addition. I am planning on using R&S all the way through as I believe it is very thorough. I feel like I understand grammar rules for the first time!:)

[Laurie in VA]

TY all so much! I think I'll go ahead and purchase everything - like Karen pointed out, the cost is minimal for the tests and worksheets! Have a great week!

[nutmeg]

For R&S 3, I had only the student book, and that worked well for us. We didn't most of it orally, except the diagramming of course.

For years 4-6 I bought and used it all. I have always been able to find the student and teacher's books used, and buy the tests and worksheets new. This is the plan I hope to follow for 7th and 8th.

[ThelmaLou]

We use all of it, worksheets and tests included. The teacher's guide is so inexpensive, so I find it worth the price to be able to quickly check answers. SWB has said that if you do the writing in R&S, also applying it from time to time to other subject areas (history, science) that you won't need another program for writing. But my two oldest boys (5th and 7th) take writing at our co-op. Because of this, I often let them skip the writing exercises in R&S.

One more comment: Sometimes I tinker with the topics in R&S. For example, if the boys are doing a "how to" paragraph with instructions, I'll let them tell how to assemble a stamp collection instead of forcing them to write on "the five steps to growing swiss chard" or some such topic. (Slight exaggeration, but not much!) As long as they stick with the format, I'm o.k. with changing the topic.

[Melora in NC]

I'd say the worksheets are very optional. R & S provides Lots of practice! The teacher's manual, the student book, and the tests are what I use. (Well, this year I Did buy the worksheets, just to try, but I won't buy them in future years!).
We started adding a writing program in 3rd grade.