Grammar Question

inHistiming · Post by **inHistiming** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:46 am

I ordered Beginning Wisely (level 3) for my son to use next year with Bigger... and the extension pack. I am wondering if this is going to be the right level for a 5th grader. My husband is a bit "put off" by the fact that it says 3rd grade in the book. There are quite a few things in the book that my son is familiar with, but I think he would do well to review. I also know that diagraming sentences is not something my son has done much, especially the way it is done in R&S. He knows how to separate the subject and predicate, that's about it. I guess my question is what would you suggest I do? My husband doesn't want him to be "behind". Do you think I should order level 4 or 5? Will he miss important skills if I skip one or two levels? Suggestions are greatly appreciated. If anyone has details about what is covered in either 4 or 5 that would be great. Thanks!

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:02 pm

Hi! I have heard that R & S English's eighth grade level is considered difficult enough to "count" as high school English. I think all of R & S's English is quite advanced. We're using Level 2 right now with Bigger. I used to teach third grade for 7 years prior to homeschooling my own children, and I think that English Level 2 is difficult enough to match up with a typical 3rd. grade or probably even 4th. grade level course. I've looked at the Level 4 R & S English, and if I recall correctly, it is quite a jump! I think you would be wise to do English 3 and then begin 4 after that. If you begin Level 3 and find it to be much too simple, you could always jump ahead to the appropriate skill and work on from there, ordering Level 4 whenever you finish. Typically 2 pages of English are assigned in the HOD guides, so moving at that pace would mesh well with the plans. I'm sure some more moms will chime in here too, but I would just assure your husband that levels vary widely, and R & S is considered to be advanced. HTH!
Blessings,
Julie

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:59 pm

R&S4 is a big jump from three. They really get into diagramming in 4 so it would be one that you would not want to skip. Level 2 is gentle and three picks up a bit but 4 is a big jump. Then it looks like 5 is more gradual but we have not started that one yet. I found looking at the samples online made it pretty easy to see where my kids should be at. I have my fifth grader finishing up level 4. R&S ends at grade 10 and that is complete at grade 10. So it is advanced. I would maybe really look at the samples between 3 and 4 and see what would be best. I tried to put my 5th grader in level 5 and it was too much for her. Level 4 has been challenging but very doable. I wanted to kind of go through level 4 quickly but there is just too much there. She really needed to learn it all. HTH

Post by **Carrie** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:50 pm

inHistiming,

The ladies have given you great advice! I do think Level 3 would do a good job of laying a strong foundation in English, especially if your 5th grader hasn't had much grammar. However, if your husband is very put off by the grade level on the book, you may just want to opt to do Level 4 instead, doing it slowly to make sure you get it all! As water2wine and my3sons both mentioned level 4 has plenty of instruction in it that you may have to go through more slowly.

We are just ready to start English 5 with my 6th grader, as we switched to Rod and Staff late after coming from First Language Lessons and Easy Grammar (neither of which stuck with him at all).

You could really go either way, although I do try to factor my husband's feelings into the matter when possible!

Blessings,
Carrie

blessedmomof4 · Post by **blessedmomof4** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:02 pm

I am using Grade 2 with my now 3rd and 4th grader who had little formal grammar prior, and it is really very good for them both. If I decide to continue with Rod and Staff for Grammar (I'm also considering the Queen Language Lessons books), I would definitely use Grade 3 for both of them, they will be in 4th and 5th next school year. My 8th grader, who didn't "get" grammar using literature-based methods, is using Grade 3 and it is plenty for her!

inHistiming · Post by **inHistiming** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:38 am

Thanks ladies, for your help. I thought, after looking through the book, that even though some will be review for him, I did not want him to miss the diagraming, etc. My husband says I can use what I want if I think it will be enough for him. It was just the thought of him being in fifth grade using 3rd grade material... this is just our second year homeschooling, so there are some concepts he (hubby) still has to get used to. I do appreciate the great advice and opinions.

kayrenee · Post by **kayrenee** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:59 am

Maybe you can assure your dh that R&S is advanced, and that many moms start their kids in R&S at least one grade level lower than in most subjects. My 6th grader has used a few of the "easier" grammar programs already mentioned, and they didn't stick with her, either. She's now doing Abeka 6th grade and seems to like it well enough, but I have R&S 6th waiting in the wings to possibly use next year -- in 7th grade, AFTER having done Abeka 6th. Then if she can't stand the textbook style of R&S, I'll put her in CLE, but that seems a little advanced, too.