R&S writing

Johanna · Post by **Johanna** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:04 pm

I notice that Carrie is using R&S as part of her LA currics. I will be using Bigger with my dd4th and ds2nd next year and i am wondering if i should do R&S 4th with her on not. Has anyone used it?? Will it equal a burnout for sure?? If i decide not to use it...what are my options for a formal writing program? Up to now, we have done the CM way of narration, copywork and dictation and Growing with Grammar 3rd. But, i feel that for 4th grade she needs more particular assignements and instruction ie: book report, note taking, biography, letter writing, poems, stories etc....
So, does anyone have any suggestions or been there done that advice for my 4th grade dd where LA...specifically writing is involved? Carrie, what are you doing with your 4th grader (I think you have one, right?)
thanks a bunch!
Johanna

susie in ms · Post by **susie in ms** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:35 pm

Joanna,

Have you looked at the contents and the sample pages of the 4th grade English? I noticed your posts on the other board too. Here is the link to the samples in case you have not seen them:
http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/item/12 ... ff_Grade_4

Johanna · Post by **Johanna** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:53 pm

Yes, thanks.... i did. I looks good...but also a bit too good. I am worried it may be too much! KWIM? I am afraid of it being to rigorus for such a young age. So, that is why i am seeking other's opinions. Thanks!

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:27 pm

Ok first disclaimer. I am a huge R&S fan. It is just really high quality. Cheap dollar but very well done.

I think the English could use a little more writing practice but have to say I actually like a different style for that so it does not bother me.

We are using R&S 4 and we have just a few more weeks to finish it. It is thorough and a wonderful tool. It can be used however you want it to work for you. Meaning if your child has the concept you do not have to do the next lesson that reviews it. My dd is really a very good reader and we did not skip any lessons. She loves it and is really learning. So overkill? Well that depends on the kid and it is real obvious when it is a review lesson of the same concepts so very easy to skip anything that might be overkill for your child.

My dd is finishing up fifth grade level but doing 4th grade R&S for English. She was pulled out of PS two years ago and has done level 3 and now almost done with 4 English.

I know Carrie will answer you better but just wanted to share what I could.

kerby · Post by **kerby** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:59 pm

Hi, Johanna ~

I am using R+S this yr for the first time and am in absolute LOVE!

My ds started w/ the gr 4 and he would have been fine. This is even after a yr at the ps w/out anything and our first yr hsing w/ material that was not retained well. R+S is so gentle and explains everything so well.

As the pp said, you can easily skip what is not needed. A lot of times, I will have my dss do just the worksheets and reviews. I also only do odds or evens. This has worked well when I've needed to go back over a particular lesson because I had the other problems for them to work on.

I have also heard that a lot of people do the work orally or on a white board. For English, I usually do the quick oral review in the TM and then read over the lesson w/ my dc. This takes about 10-15 min for the most part. You could easily do the work for the lesson w/out taking a lot more time.

As far as the writing portions, I have been very pleased with them. They are broken down just like the daily lessons but are interspersed throughout. My dc have enjoyed the quick breaks and have not balked at these writing assignments as they have at other ones in the past. They have been broken down in a way that is easy for my boys to understand and even implement in other subjects. My ds doing the gr 5 book was not overwhelmed by writing a short report!!! This was a HUGE blessing! I plan on sticking w/ R+S as long as I can!

Johanna, do you have a specific question or questions that we can answer? I'm sure you will get other responses, too.

K

blessedmomof4 · Post by **blessedmomof4** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:06 pm

You could always start with a lower level to get your feet wet. My dds had no formal grammar at all, so I started them both with R & S English Gr 2 (they are 3rd and 4th). It's been just enough. My oldest had not grasped grammar with other programs and I started her in 3 (she is grade 8 ) and she breezed through it and NOW "gets it" You could try starting with 2 or 3. Grade 4 is quite rigorous and a jump from 3. Just a suggestion.

Post by **Carrie** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:33 pm

Johanna,

If you're a Charlotte Mason style language arts family, then it would be best (as the ladies suggested) to do Rod and Staff 2 or 3 with your 4th grader for English.

You could go either way. One deciding factor for you may be that Rod and Staff 2 has very little in the way of writing instruction as it is building the English skills needed for writing. Rod and Staff 3 has quite a bit more writing instruction (but it is all grouped toward the end of the book).

I wouldn't do Rod and Staff 4 for your daughter's first "formal" intro. to grammar, as it is quite meaty! My 6th grader just finished it up this year, and from a Charlotte Mason perspective it was plenty!

Hope that helps!

Blessings,
Carrie

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:09 pm

Carrie wrote: I wouldn't do Rod and Staff 4 for your daughter's first "formal" intro. to grammar, as it is quite meaty! My 6th grader just finished it up this year, and from a Charlotte Mason perspective it was plenty!

To me it seemed like the jump from R&S 2 to 3 was big and 3 to 4 was not as huge but 4th is really pretty advanced. To give you an idea I was in a Christian bookstore and we looked at BJU 8 th grade. It was essentially identical to what my dd was doing in R&S 4th. I am not kidding. It was so similar and my dd was able to do the exercise in there with no problem. R&S English is super advanced. It only goes to 10th and Cathy Duffy calls it complete at 10th just to give you an idea. So don't let the grade level be your guide. I was worried about that until I heard Carries advice and saw BJU Eng.

Johanna · Post by **Johanna** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:02 pm

Your responces have been very helpful. I think, after looking further into it and hearing other's opinions that i am leaning away from R&S for now. I was intrigued of how the writing component was included....however, i think it will be overload for my dd. I think i may keep with the narration and dictation and copywork (via FLL3 or something) so she can get more practice with putting her thoughts onto paper in more structured sentences and paragraphs. I now realize that i dont need all the extra stufff ie: book reports, story writing, etc Unless she pursues in her "open ended writing time and i will give guidance as she desires it.
It also helped me to cement these revelations when i read Susan Wies Bauer's "intro" to her new writing program "writing with Ease".
I am also going to have a lot of notebooking opportunities in Bigger, right?
Let me just say that one aspect of LA that I am looking forward to in Bigger is the Poem appreciation time. That has been seriously lacking in our lessons.
Looking forward to next year!
Thanks again ladies

heartofdakota.com

R&S writing

R&S writing

thank you ladies