R&S or Easy Grammar?? Needing advice...

[jenn in nc]

Good morning ladies,

We are getting ready to start our second year with HOD. Last year, we did not use R&S for any of the kids - we started out the year using HOD mostly only for history and science, and a lot of the other subjects we just continued using the resources we had already been using before finding HOD. As the year went by I began to realize that using the guides for more of the other subjects would greatly simplify things around here! So that leads me to my question... should I switch my kids from Easy Grammar to R&S?

My kids all like Easy Grammar, for one thing. For another, it doesn't require much of my teaching time, which is worth noting bc I have a lot of kids who need my teaching time! But I understand there is an issue with R&S teaching some writing topics in addition to the grammar.

My just-turned-10-year-old daughter will be moving into Preparing. She excels with grammar and spelling and language arts in general. When I looked briefly at R&S Grade 2 for her last year with Bigger, it was too easy for her. So I'm thinking probably R&S 4 for her, if we decide not to continue Easy Grammar.

My 13 year old son struggles a lot with grammar. I'm hesitant to move him out of Easy Grammar bc it is the first grammar course he has had some success with. But he struggles with writing as well, which makes me wonder if he may benefit from switching to R&S. I have no idea what level he would be in... probably no higher than grade 4, but he will be in Res to Ref and he'll be in 8th grade. If he uses the grade 4 text this year, what will I do for him next year when he is in high school?

My 15 year old son also struggles with language arts (both he and the 13yo deal with some dyslexia), but for some reason he really "gets" grammar and actually does pretty well with it. He used MTMM last year for his freshman year and is using the World Geo guide next year for 10th grade. As you know the World Geo guide schedules R&S 7, but I'm assuming that he should not start there since he is new to R&S. How far back should he go? I'm concerned if he goes back too far, I won't be able to give high school credit for it. Would it be better to just keep him moving in Easy Grammar?

Sorry this is so long. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

Jenn

[Kims]

I'm following this too.

[Mumkins]

Interested in this as well. My oldest is coming home for 9th with no diagramming or rigorous grammar program experience. I'm not sure starting R&S so late in the game is wise.

[holdingon]

I'm curious about the answer to this as well.

[glperky]

Me too!

[Carrie]

Jenn,

In looking at your precious teaching time and the amount of kiddos that you have in your household, I want to be fair in my advice to you. Honestly, using Rod and Staff for English may result in more teaching time for you. However, I have become such a believer in the way that English is approached in the Rod and Staff English books that I would venture to say that it is some of the best time spent in teaching. This is because Rod and Staff is so much more than a grammar program. It is the whole English umbrella of skills (i.e. grammar, composition, outlining, notetaking, speaking, dictionary skills, using a thesaurus, poetry, prefixes, suffixes, etc.). It truly ties together all skills related to the English language and in doing so has a direct impact on how kidoos present themselves (both in spoken and written form). On top of that it is the most God-honoring text I have ever seen!

With that being said, I think I would focus on switching my oldest child to Rod and Staff first. This will not be an easy transition as Rod and Staff assignments require more work to complete. However, if you keep in mind that you are trying to do 2/3 of the assignment orally or on a whiteboard, with only one exercise to do on paper each day, it will go better. The reason I would start with your oldest child is because I think it is such a good program that all kiddos should have some of it prior to graduation. It truly will be of benefit to them lifelong no matter what their previous grammar experience has been. I would start your oldest in either Rod and Staff English 5 or English 6. Do half this year and half next year. Don't worry about the grammar being enough. When combined with the literature and composition in the high school guides it is one part of the overall credit. When you list it for your transcript, just list the title, not the level of the book.

Next, depending on how the 10 and 13 year old would feel about being together, you could consider combining them in Rod and Staff English 4. If the combining is not a go, then I would keep your younger child in Easy Grammar and switch the 13 year old to English 4. Again, do much of it orally or on a whiteboard, only writing one exercise on paper each day.

Of course, you may wish to stay with Easy Grammar instead. It is definitely up to you the route to take with this. I did use Easy Grammar with my oldest son for only one year, and we did not find nearly the retention or carryover with that program that we have found with Rod and Staff, but your experience may vary.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Michaeljenn]

I agree with Carrie.... Rod and Staff is so much more comprehensive than Easy Grammar. As timing allows, I would switch them all over! I have used EG in the past as well, and it is mainly just "grammar" and fill in the blank type stuff. Rod and Staff honestly teaches proper sentence structure, writing, ect.. there is no comparison really

[jenn in nc]

Jenn,

In looking at your precious teaching time and the amount of kiddos that you have in your household, I want to be fair in my advice to you.

Carrie, thank you for understanding my situation. You've had so much going on lately; I want you to know I really appreciate that you took the time to give me such a thoughtful and empathetic answer to my question.

However, I have become such a believer in the way that English is approached in the Rod and Staff English books that I would venture to say that it is some of the best time spent in teaching. This is because Rod and Staff is so much more than a grammar program. It is the whole English umbrella of skills (i.e. grammar, composition, outlining, notetaking, speaking, dictionary skills, using a thesaurus, poetry, prefixes, suffixes, etc.). It truly ties together all skills related to the English language and in doing so has a direct impact on how kiddos present themselves (both in spoken and written form).

Each of the skills you list here are ones that my kids do need to practice and grow in. I'm really liking your advice to switch my 15yo now, and add in the others as I can. Thank you so much for helping me come up with a plan that is doable in my real life! I'm hoping to be able to switch the others soon after we get into the swing of things with the 15yo.

Gratefully,
Jenn