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Hi,

I've been looking at the Rod and Staff samples and reading posts and I'm still undecided on where I should place my 11 yo (6th grader) in Rod and Staff. I'm trying to decide between Level 3 and Level 4. If he began in Level 4 this would have him finish Level 6 in 8th grade, BUT he has very minimal grammar instruction - just identifying sentences, subject, predicate and prepositions. That's it! He has matured as a learner and has good analytical skills, but all along I've thought he would do better if he began diagramming in 7th grade. So, I'm at a loss as to where to begin him. I'll look forward to your thoughts.

With Joy!
Florence

If you are wanting to start in level 3, which is where the diagramming begins, you could still do that and finish up to level 6 by 8th. Since you have an older child, I would guess you could easily double up on lessons, do much orally, and you could skip some of the repeat or review lessons. I know in level 2 when we studied adjectives, it was covered over a week or two by breaking it down into words that tell color, tell size, etc...an older child could do those sort of things all in a day or two. Nouns was broken up into words that tell people, words that tell places, words that tell things...then a few days of proper nouns. Again, an older child can combine thins like that. The diagramming lessons in 3 start quite simply and you could perhaps take much of the book at a faster pace. Possibly finishing it in a semester's time and move on to 4. You may be able to take at least parts of 4 at a faster pace as well.

I can assure you that the lessons are short enough that you can easily do 2 (or even more) in one day without an overload. R&S is written for the classroom so much of it can and should be done orally to avoid the classroom busywork. We often did just a couple written sentences in each exercise, did a few more orally, and even skipped many exercises if my dd knew the concept. Even as a 1st grader in level 2 (I "skipped" a grade and considered her a 2nd grader...she could handle it, but I admit I should have waited!!) she was able to cover 2-3 lessons a day with some of the concepts if we didn't do much of the writing.

HTH!

Hmm. If he hasn't had much grammar instruction so far, I think I would be inclined to start in R&S 3. We just started R&S 4 with my 10 year old, and he's doing well, but he's already covered diagramming, nouns, pronouns, verbs, verb tense, etc. with another program. I don't think he would be comfortable with it if we hadn't already been covering grammar. We haven't used R&S 3, but it sounds like doubling up on some lessons shouldn't be a problem, and it would give your ds a good foundation before moving on to higher levels.

The ladies are doing good job of helping you talk through your options! One other idea would be to do Rod and Staff 4, but take 2 years to cover it, spreading one lesson out over 2 days if needed or just doing it three times a week. If your son can identify a subject and predicate and has had some work with prepositions, I think he'd do alright with the diagramming in Rod and Staff 4. My oldest son began Rod and Staff 4 in grade 5 with no diagramming experience either and did just fine.

Blessings,
Carrie

You could just start English 4 at half-pace, and if it's too difficult, order English 3 and backtrack as far as you think necessary. Then you won't always be wondering if he could have done just fine with English 4 - and either way, you'll need English 4 anyway.

In Christ,
Julie

I think I will go with English 4. I can always shift the momentum however I need to. One more question related to Rod and Staff. It is my understanding that with Rod and Staff I will not need to use another writing/composition program. Is this true all the way through R&S level 8? Do any of you use Rod and Staff Grammar and another writing/compostion program?

Thanks.

With Joy!
Florence

Florence,

If you're using Preparing Hearts, there are creative writing assignments, coypwork, and written narration practice that when combined with Rod and Staff 4 is enough writing. If, however, you are not using Preparing Hearts, you would want to add an additonal creative writing component like Igniting Your Writing Volume 1, which we carry on our website here: http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into ... p#igniting

Blessings,
Carrie

If you're using Preparing Hearts, there are creative writing assignments, coypwork, and written narration practice that when combined with Rod and Staff 4 is enough writing.

Thank you Carrie. I am getting ready to begin Preparing Hearts along with Rod and Staff 4. I'm trying to get a full picture of whether or not we'll need to pick up a writing program with Rod and Staff at any point if we use RS through level 6 and HOD through grade 8.

Thanks again.

With Joy!
Florence

Florence,

We are planning on adding an additional writing component for each of the 4 guides to follow Preparing Hearts. Rod and Staff does a wonderful job of covering the basic skills needed for technical writing and for poetry. However, we also want to add an element of writing that is more creative. Right now, barring any major change, we are planning to use Story Starters by Karen Andreola for the next 2 guides to follow Preparing. We will use half of the book one year and the other half the next. While this book is a wonderful value, it does need some structure to help moms use it fully, so we will schedule it all out in the guide, making it very easy to open and go. Here is a link to the Story Starters book at CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/ ... &p=1017552

After that we will use an additional writing component for the next 2 guides as well, most likely choosing Igniting Your Writing Vol. I and then Vol. II. Of course the long-term plans could easily change but there will definitely be some additional writing scheduled weekly in addition to Rod and Staff.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie,

This helps me immensely with my discernment. What a delightful resource Andreola's book looks to be. Thank you for all your wonderful insight into this journey. Looking forward to seeing more of the plan unfold. Keep up the good work!

With Joy!
Florence