A grammar readiness question: if your child is an emerging

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:58 am

reader, do you wait until they achieve reading fluency to begin grammar instruction?

Background: We have used FLL starting in first grade. My oldest has done fine with this and will be moving onto third grade grammar-

My second child is utterly sick of FLL and is not benefitting from the lessons whatsoever- mainly from having listened to all of his older brother's lessons. He does not have mastery of the concepts- but knows enough to find it incredibly boring!

He is learning to read this year and is 6 1/2.
Next year, he will be using the emerging readers set.

I was wondering if I should go ahead and use Rod and Staff 2 with him next year or just give him the year to focus on reading fluency?

Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Rebecca

inHistiming · Post by **inHistiming** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:13 am

I think if you want to wait, he is certainly young enough to do so. With my daughter, we ended up focusing really hard on reading and fluency...and did not do the grammar thing. We will be next year, and that will be 3rd grade for her; we'll be using R&S English level 2. It will be her first formal grammar. My son has had some grammar teaching (he's 10) but nothing that intensive, so he is starting next year with R&S English level 3, even though he'll be in 5th grade. My plan is to move ahead quickly with the things that are easy for him, treating it as a review; then moving into level 4 as soon as he's ready. Some of the ladies here have said R&S is advanced. So, having said all that, I don't think you really need to do grammar yet unless you just think he's ready and you want to keep moving forward. My thought with our daughter was that she needed to be a good reader, versus a struggling reader, before we started talking about nouns, verbs, etc. Just my ideas, but I hope that helps some.

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:33 am

I totally agree with Wendy. We will be doing that exact same thing....waiting until 3rd grade and starting R&S 2. The grammar lessons built into Beyond are just right for a 1st or 2nd grader. I don't believe CM advocated starting grammar until 5th grade, so you're safe!

I think just focusing on the reading would be enough for you.

Post by **Carrie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:54 am

Rebecca,

We had a similar experience with our first son when we did First Language Lessons 1 and 2. By the end of 2, he really disliked reciting all of the prepositions, and we finally just stopped. He had retained little to none of our grammar after 2 years of lessons! We went through several other grammar tries in the following years, none of which stuck either (until Rod and Staff).

With my second son, we went with a delayed formal grammar approach doing only what was written in "Beyond.." and then starting Rod and Staff 2 in "Bigger...". Already my second son knows much more grammar than my first did. So, I do think giving them time to grow into strong readers prior to formal grammar instruction is a very good decision.

Blessings,
Carrie

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:06 pm

I agree with what's been said here already. Why not wait and start it the following year with a fresh approach? Also, just enjoy the Emerging Reader's Set and watch him blossom into a wonderful reader. I'll be doing that next year too and can't wait to start that set. Having done it with my oldest already, I know we're in for a real treat!
Julie

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:34 pm

Thank you!

I have been pondering purchasing the Beyond Guide for him and just using it for the math and grammar, etc.

He will be using SM 1A as well for next year...

Thinking of all the options!

Rebecca · Post by **Rebecca** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:38 pm

realized I didn't clarify...
I have been pondering and planning on combining him with my eight year old in Bigger...
that is part of what prompted this question!

He does fit skill-wise- into Beyond...

Hope that makes sense,
Rebecca

Post by **Carrie** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:15 pm

Rebecca,

If you were wanting to combine your younger little guy with your older child in "Bigger.." (for the history and storytime), then it would be a good idea to do the language arts (spelling and gentle grammar lessons) and math activities from "Beyond...". You may also have to modify some of the writing required in "Bigger..." as it will most likely be too much for your little guy.

Then, if you got going with "Bigger..." and felt "Beyond..." was a better place for your son overall, you would already have the guide and could easily (and fairly inexpensively) put him in "Beyond..." instead.

It's often worth a try to combine if you can, as at times it works very well.

Blessings,
Carrie