Elizabeth in WA Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 Does anyone have any experiences using Killgallon's Sentence Composing for High School and/or Grammar for High School: A Sentence Composing Approach? I am leaning toward adding these programs for my ds12 and ds14 (along with the elementary level books for dd8, and middle school books for ds10) and would like to know if anyone has experience actually using these. My ds12 seem to not see how the grammar they have learned, including sentence diagramming with Analytical Grammar, translates to writing his own grammatically correct sentences. This seems to be because he writes long complex sentences and loses track of them in the process. I don't want to kill the voice and style that make his writing fun to read, but I do want to address the tendency to become ungrammatical in the process. In addition, my ds14 writes pretty direct, unsophisticated sentences. While I am thrilled and relieved that he can finally write a competent five paragraph essay in a reasonable amount of time, I would like to move him along from that basic competence to something more sophisticated. The breakdown to study and then imitate approach looks relatively nonthreatening and doable for both of them for improving their sentences, while the grammar in writing approach looks promising for transferring their grammar knowledge to actual use in their own writing. So... does anyone have any experiences with these programs? :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in AL Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I have two levels of these and to be honest I don't like them for some reason. Perhaps they were too complex? I would suggest looking at a sample. I'm curious about this book: http://www.amazon.com/Sentence-Combining-Workbook-Pam-Altman/dp/1428263802/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284142687&sr=8-1 It was recommended on a english teachers fourm, but it is very expensive and you can't look inside enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I tried it after seeing a bunch of reommendations, but I hated it. Luckily, I had borrowed it ILL, so I wasn't out any money. I use The Art of Styling Sentences instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisN in NY Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I find the Sentence Composing books to be more advanced than the titles let on. We've done the elementary book in 7th or 8th and the Middle School book in 9th or 10th. My current 10th grader did the Middle School book last year; I may have her do the High School book before she graduates, but overall, I think it would be too much for a 12yo and most 14yos Just my 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I find the Sentence Composing books to be more advanced than the titles let on. We've done the elementary book in 7th or 8th and the Middle School book in 9th or 10th. Hm - I'm not finding that at all. My 9yo is doing the Story Grammar for Elementary with no problems. My friend recently showed me the Sentence Composing for Elementary, and I like it even better. The big difference seems to be that they name the "chunks" (ie appositive phrase, participle phrase). That was something that was bugging me a bit about the Story Grammar (we just used the names anyway), but I'm thinking of switching over so it's overt rather than implied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I find the Sentence Composing books to be more advanced than the titles let on. We've done the elementary book in 7th or 8th and the Middle School book in 9th or 10th. My current 10th grader did the Middle School book last year; I may have her do the High School book before she graduates, but overall, I think it would be too much for a 12yo and most 14yos Just my 2 cents. :iagree: The elementary book was used by my 7th grader last year. It made a HUGE difference in his writing. He was a struggling reader/writer with no grammar background, though. I love the Killgallon books. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 There are more remarks in these threads: Has anyone turned out great writers withOUT IEW or Writeshop It's working! Teaching writing Sentence Composing for Middle School by Killgallon - anyone use this? Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted September 11, 2010 Share Posted September 11, 2010 (edited) I find the Sentence Composing books to be more advanced than the titles let on. We've done the elementary book in 7th or 8th and the Middle School book in 9th or 10th. :iagree: The elementary book was used by my 7th grader last year. It made a HUGE difference in his writing. He was a struggling reader/writer with no grammar background, though. I love the Killgallon books. :001_smile: :iagree: They are a bit advanced but I loved the books! I have the ones for middle school and high school. Edited September 11, 2010 by Anna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.