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Alas, all 3 of my sons did quite poorly on the grammar mechanics section of the CAT. We are using Rod and Staff, but it appears the boys simply need to have more intentional review/drill of punctuating sentences, use of capitals, etc. Any thoughts on what we should do?

You might try Daily Grams. They only take a few minutes a day and would provide continual review. Just a suggestion!

I teach a small group of middle school homeschoolers literature and writing. Something I like to do with my students is have them practice grammar with their own writing. I take a writing prompt, silly or serious, and have them write 5-10 sentences. Then from those we look at the grammar parts, how they relate to one another, and how they should edit them for correction. I think it is helpful once they have learned the basics to apply it to their own writing. I'm only starting with the first level of R&S grammar this fall with my rising 2nd grade daughter, so I'm not sure how this relates to how grammar is taught, but it might help to see how grammar works in their own sentences. I am usually dealing with minor reteaching issues and not going over major portions of grammar with my middle school students.

As far as punctuation goes you could try some online quizzes. This site has very good explanations of rules and also some quizzes to help them out. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ I also like this site for grammar and punctuation practice. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

There are loooooots of chances for practicing and reviewing this in HOD. How are they doing in r&s lessons? and in ctc, how are the written narrations, dictation, copywork, and write with the best? do they punctuate well there? and the answers for science questions each week? if the firsr you noticed it as a problem is testing but they do well in their writing, then they simply do well in context and real life but not in set up, fake, out of context writing for test taking. i personally would prefer a good writer that flunks tests than a poor writer who aces tests.
how long have you done r&s? it took us until the third year of using it and consistently doing the oral reviews to see the fruit. also, lisslejo gave good advice....seeing in their own writing, etc. fortunately, that is exactly what you do daily with hod! putting periods on sentences in those daily review programs is fruitless busywork. they need to write it, read it, see it, edit it, copy it, ....everything hod does will do this for you. Dont let those tests telk you in one day what ypur kid knows bc you know better! youre with them day in and day out and see their actual work. those tests test test-taking skills. dont stress!

We've been using all HOD recommendations for 3.5 years. They do fine with their writing, but their writing at this point does not include the different types of punctuation scenarios that are included on the test, for example: book titles, poems, dialogue. They've "studied" these things in Rod and Staff, but they don't apply them enough for it to stick. In addition, the format of the achievement test is awkward to them. The discouraging part is the boys are very diligent in their studies and the low scores are discouraging to them. Their math scores are finally starting to improve, but the language arts scores took a dive this year for the 11 and 13 year old. I understand their challenges on a practical level, but the reality is achievement testing is how it's done in our culture. In reality they would do better with a lower grade level achievement test, but they have to be tested on the grade level on record with the State. Thank you for listening. I'm just trying once again to sort this through.

The 13 yo is 1/2 way through CTC and Rod and Staff 5, finishing Singapore 4B and took the 7th grade CAT.
The 11 yo is 1/2 way through Preparing with extensions, finishing Rod and Staff 4, finished Singapore 3B, and took the 5th grade CAT.
My 15 you is finishing RTR with extensions, 1/2 way through Algebra 1, 1/2 way through Rod and Staff 6, and took the 9th grade CAT.

It's done that way in our culture, but it's a failure of a method! I really never even show my kids their scores. We don't prep for it. We go to bed early b/c we have to "get up early", not b/c we have a big or important test in the morning. We have donuts that morning and play dates and lunch out that afternoon. Then the day is over. We go to bed, and they never think about it again. It's just another day in the life....

If you think they need practice with book titles, have them keep a reading log. Poems...they have LOTS of poetry practice and discussion and exposure. Are they doing any poetry copywork? Are they doing enough written work with R&S? Have you tried giving them the worksheets but several lessons behind so it's review instead of the same lesson?

And keep in mind...ACT is far different than these tests with this sort of thing. I remember our high school tests each year being soooo different than the ones needed for college entrance. They actually made us write. And we almost even had to think a little! The things they are learning in HOD may not show well in this sort of flawed testing method, but they will get a chance to shine when the ACT comes around. And the ASVAB will be a breeze if they choose that route. These other tests mean literally NOTHING for their futures. Nothing for their present either! The ACT is still to come and that one they get to write! They'll be pros by then! And I can promise you freshman and sophomore years of college will be easy for them after HOD. They're being so well prepared and you're doing great with them. They aren't missing skills...they just use them in context better than test situations. There are geniuses that would score really low on tests like this. It's made for kids that have been taught the test, not taught to learn.

I just want you to know there's no need to stress and there's easy ways to brush up on skills IF you see in REAL LIFE that they lack those skills. If the test is the only telling factor, then by all means leave it be. If they struggle in real life, meet them where they are and register them in the same grade this fall if you want and keep moving forward at their pace. My rising 6th grader is registered as a 5th grader for this fall. She's very young for her grade and we've moved very slowly through HOD b/c of me and my health issues...she'll either have an extra year to finish HOD or she will finish it her 12th grade year that will have her reg as 11th and do dual credit the year she is reg as 12th. Whatever works. Just no stressing over the tests. No one will come knocking at your door saying that's not good enough. Praying for your peace! And your creativity to add some simple things for review if you feel the need.