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Hi,

I have been using HOD since August and really enjoy it. I was/am using my own grammar program(PLL & ILL) which I had purchased before I discovered HOD, but am now planning for next year and would like to use the recommendations in the book.

Here is our grammar background:
My daughters will 9.5 & 11 years next year. I am planning on placing my 9yo with her brothers in BLHFHG and beefing it up a bit (was going to have her in Preparing this year, but was a bit advanced with her) using her level math and language arts and additional reading for history (she hates to read). Combined her with her brothers in LHFHG and it is working well so will continue to combine next year to. I did do First Language Lessons with her in first and part of second when we switched to PLL, we continued with PLL this year and while it is a great program it is lacking in guidance for the teacher which I need and know that both R&S and the HOD manuals will give me. I am also supplementing with Grammar & Punctuation from Evan-Moor.

QUESTION 1)Does BLHFHG have a scheduled grammar program in the appendix for R&S2 or will I need to purchase BHFHG for that?
2) I was thinking of putting her into R&S2 even though she has had some grammar background but wondering if it might be to easy for her (better to easy and her learn and do than to hard and her not try) or do you think R&S3 will be doable?

Regarding my dd 11yo. She has had a lot more grammar exposure, we did FLL for 1st & 2nd grades. 3rd grade we were going to use R&S 3 but I took one look at it and cried at all the writing (have since learned that I could have had her do most of it orally or started her in R&S, but live and learn) so we used Grammar & Punctuation by Evan-Moor and something else which I can't remember. 4th Grade started with Abeka and switched to a combination of ILL & Simply Grammar which we are continuing to use this year as well as the dictation in Preparing (we skip the dictation in ILL). She hates to write (loves to create stories but finds the actual writing to be torture). Do you think I should start her in R&S3 or would R&S 4 be doable.

Thanks for reading all this. I did try to do some searching for an answer but since this can be so individual had a hard time finding an answer. Thanks

QUESTION:
1)Does BLHFHG have a scheduled grammar program in the appendix for R&S2 or will I need to purchase BHFHG for that?
BLHFHG has grammar lessons on Day 5 of the plans. They are a great intro. to grammar.
The schedule for R & S 2 is written in BHFHG - so you will probably want that for R & S 2.

2) I was thinking of putting her into R&S2 even though she has had some grammar background but wondering if it might be to easy for her (better to easy and her learn and do than to hard and her not try) or do you think R&S3 will be doable?
I think R & S 2 for your younger would probably be a good fit.

As far as your older child, you could do R & S 3 or maybe R & S 4 at half-speed at first. I think I'd lean toward R & S 3 because it teaches diagramming so well. R & S 3 also lays the foundation for R & S 4 so well, and R & S 4 as a lot more writing. I'm going to link you to a post about how we've settled into doing R & S 3 very happily, with less writing:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2797&p=20666#p20666

HTH!
In Christ,
Julie

If the ONLY thing you need the Bigger manual for is the grammar schedule, then I think you would be okay just working through the R&S a lesson a day without the Bigger manual. Occasionally when there is a review it is broken into 2 days, but it is usually a lesson a day.

Also, I would lean more to R&S 4 for your 11 yo. Be sure to get the Teacher's Manual. It is a gold mine. I think she would do fine. If it seems a bit much you can always just take 2 days on a lesson. We also switched from PLL and ILL to Rod and Staff.

Thank you so much ladies for your advice! :0)

deltagal wrote:If the ONLY thing you need the Bigger manual for is the grammar schedule, then I think you would be okay just working through the R&S a lesson a day without the Bigger manual. Occasionally when there is a review it is broken into 2 days, but it is usually a lesson a day.

Also, I would lean more to R&S 4 for your 11 yo. Be sure to get the Teacher's Manual. It is a gold mine. I think she would do fine. If it seems a bit much you can always just take 2 days on a lesson. We also switched from PLL and ILL to Rod and Staff.

Good thoughts! I'm so glad you responded to this because you've used PLL and ILL. The R& S Teacher's Manual IS a gold mine!

In Christ,
Julie

I just wanted to chime in and agree with the ladies wise suggestions wholeheartedly! I do think Rod and Staff 2 would be a good place to put your 9.5 year old. It is solid grammar instruction and will not overwhelm her.

I do think Rod and Staff 4 is a good place for your older child as well. The Teacher's Manual is a wonderful help. I would also agree (for a child who dislikes writing) that you should do almost all of the lesson orally or on the whiteboard, assigning only one small section to do in writing each day. Feel free to take 2 years to complete Level 4 as well. We did this with my own son and found it allowed him to mature a bit in order to do Rod and Staff 5 full-speed in grade 7, yet it kept him solidly moving forward in grammar instruction. It also prevented both of us from burning out on grammar instruction.

Blessings,
Carrie