OK, ladies, here's my concern. My daughter (10 years old, soon to be 5th grader) is having struggles in English. I've been using Shurley English, but she is not transferring the knowledge. I just got her SAT scores back and sure enough she scored below average in her language skills. What to do?
I was highly considering switching to Rod & Staff English grade 4 since we will be using HOD (Bigger) for the first time next year, but now I'm wondering if I should move down to grade 3. Not having seen the books myself except for a few sample pages online, could I get some feedback from those of you who have used this English program? I would especially like to hear from those who have used Rod & Staff with children who have struggled in English.
Thanks a bunch! I have so valued everyone's words of wisdom!
Rod & Staff English
Rod & Staff English
Kristi
Mother of 3 girls ages 10, 8, and 3 years
Mother of 3 girls ages 10, 8, and 3 years
Hi kristi:-)
I just wanted to say that my 8 yr old boy(who truns 9 in Nov and going into 4th grd )scored rather low in the english area this year on his SAT's, and I know SAT's are only for a guide, and are not the end all..... but our school really pays attention to scores, so at the approval of my homeschool director, we are going to be using HOD....YEAY!! and Rod and staff English 2. The rod and staff is supposed to move rapidly beyond many other curriculums in scope insequence, as I understand, so i think Grade 3 would be an excellent choice for your child:-) I belong to a homeschool ISP with high scademic standards and have been given permission to move my ds into 4th grd using R&S 2, with the anticipation he will catch up:-)
Again, this is not base on personal experience with R&S yet, but based on research and lots of counsel from many wise women:-) I do believe, as God's word says that, "In the multitude of counselors is safety." So, you have come to the right place. there are some great women on board here!! I think if you look at the reccomendations on the HOD site, you will find the info regarding R&S and age/grade reccomedations. Others here, i'm sure have way more experience than me with R&S, but just some food for thought:-) God bless you and guide you as you seek out the best curriculum for your dear child.
In Christ,
Angie
I just wanted to say that my 8 yr old boy(who truns 9 in Nov and going into 4th grd )scored rather low in the english area this year on his SAT's, and I know SAT's are only for a guide, and are not the end all..... but our school really pays attention to scores, so at the approval of my homeschool director, we are going to be using HOD....YEAY!! and Rod and staff English 2. The rod and staff is supposed to move rapidly beyond many other curriculums in scope insequence, as I understand, so i think Grade 3 would be an excellent choice for your child:-) I belong to a homeschool ISP with high scademic standards and have been given permission to move my ds into 4th grd using R&S 2, with the anticipation he will catch up:-)
Again, this is not base on personal experience with R&S yet, but based on research and lots of counsel from many wise women:-) I do believe, as God's word says that, "In the multitude of counselors is safety." So, you have come to the right place. there are some great women on board here!! I think if you look at the reccomendations on the HOD site, you will find the info regarding R&S and age/grade reccomedations. Others here, i'm sure have way more experience than me with R&S, but just some food for thought:-) God bless you and guide you as you seek out the best curriculum for your dear child.
In Christ,
Angie
I had a hard time deciding between 3rd & 4th grade English for my 10 yos (going into 5th grade). I have copies of both books & finally decided to go with 3rd because he hasn't done much sentence diagramming & they start diagramming exercises in the beginning of book 3.
At the end of this year, he was halfway through 4th grade English from another publisher. The beginning of R&S 3rd really seems like a pretty close match to that level.
At the end of this year, he was halfway through 4th grade English from another publisher. The beginning of R&S 3rd really seems like a pretty close match to that level.
Kristi,
If you've already been doing diagramming in Shurley, then I would use Rod and Staff 4. If you haven't done any diagramming yet in Shurley, then I would use Rod and Staff 3.
I think you will find that Rod and Staff does an excellent job in English of tying together bits of past English instruction threads. We were thrilled with the results with my oldest son in Rod and Staff 4 after switching from our other grammar options!
Blessings,
Carrie
If you've already been doing diagramming in Shurley, then I would use Rod and Staff 4. If you haven't done any diagramming yet in Shurley, then I would use Rod and Staff 3.
I think you will find that Rod and Staff does an excellent job in English of tying together bits of past English instruction threads. We were thrilled with the results with my oldest son in Rod and Staff 4 after switching from our other grammar options!
Blessings,
Carrie
Thanks, Carrie, for your advice. I had actually been praying that you would respond to my question!
With that, I plan on sticking with grade 4, Rod and Staff. Shurley English is all about diagramming sentences. The form is different, but I don't think my dd will struggle with the change. She just needs an English program that is more well rounded. I also have a dd who's 8 years old (second grade). She will be doing Bigger HOD with my 10 year old. Do you recommend starting her on the grade 2 Rod & Staff, or would waiting another year be to her benefit, since Rod and Staff seems to be more advanced? She is a fairly good reader. She'll be doing the emergent readers next year.
Again, thanks for your help!!!
With that, I plan on sticking with grade 4, Rod and Staff. Shurley English is all about diagramming sentences. The form is different, but I don't think my dd will struggle with the change. She just needs an English program that is more well rounded. I also have a dd who's 8 years old (second grade). She will be doing Bigger HOD with my 10 year old. Do you recommend starting her on the grade 2 Rod & Staff, or would waiting another year be to her benefit, since Rod and Staff seems to be more advanced? She is a fairly good reader. She'll be doing the emergent readers next year.
Again, thanks for your help!!!
Kristi
Mother of 3 girls ages 10, 8, and 3 years
Mother of 3 girls ages 10, 8, and 3 years
Kristi,
I think your plan to do Rod and Staff 4 is a good one. Since Rod and Staff 4 is VERY meaty, give yourself permission to spread it over two years if necessary. We did that with our own son and couldn't be more pleased with the results. While Rod and Staff is not flashy, it does a great job of explaining things and really makes sense!
As far as "Bigger..." goes, with my second son, we just did what was scheduled in the "Bigger..." guide. Since he was in third grade doing "Bigger...", we did Rod and Staff 2 in third grade. With your daughter, you could easily wait until grade 3 to do Rod and Staff 2. One thing to know (which is very minor) is that by waiting, you'll never match up with the schedule in our guides for Rod and Staff. In Preparing..., we schedule Rod and Staff 3 and 4. Just something to know ahead of time.
Blessings,
Carrie
I think your plan to do Rod and Staff 4 is a good one. Since Rod and Staff 4 is VERY meaty, give yourself permission to spread it over two years if necessary. We did that with our own son and couldn't be more pleased with the results. While Rod and Staff is not flashy, it does a great job of explaining things and really makes sense!
As far as "Bigger..." goes, with my second son, we just did what was scheduled in the "Bigger..." guide. Since he was in third grade doing "Bigger...", we did Rod and Staff 2 in third grade. With your daughter, you could easily wait until grade 3 to do Rod and Staff 2. One thing to know (which is very minor) is that by waiting, you'll never match up with the schedule in our guides for Rod and Staff. In Preparing..., we schedule Rod and Staff 3 and 4. Just something to know ahead of time.
Blessings,
Carrie