What would happen if we don't do English this year?

[Mosaicmind]

I haven't been happy with any program I have looked at for English/LA for my 7th grade son this year. We haven't been doing anything this year. I am wondering what would happen if he didn't do anything related to English/LA/Grammar this year. Would I be hurting him by taking a break this year? I have thought about getting Easy Grammar or Analytical Grammar after Christmas and just doing that but nothing too intense.

 

He is doing Saxon 8/7, Writing Strands 3, Apologia General, VFCR A, Sonlight Alt 7, SWO G, and Rosetta Stone Spanish. All his other subjects are covered as you can see, just not English.

[PeterPan]

Your AG plan seems reasonable. What's with the WS3? If he just picked up the pace and did a bit more, that would help. Grammar isn't really as important as the writing.

[Melissa in CA]

I haven't been happy with any program I have looked at for English/LA for my 7th grade son this year. We haven't been doing anything this year. I am wondering what would happen if he didn't do anything related to English/LA/Grammar this year. Would I be hurting him by taking a break this year? I have thought about getting Easy Grammar or Analytical Grammar after Christmas and just doing that but nothing too intense.

 

He is doing Saxon 8/7, Writing Strands 3, Apologia General, VFCR A, Sonlight Alt 7, SWO G, and Rosetta Stone Spanish. All his other subjects are covered as you can see, just not English.

 

I think you could easily take a year off of Grammar and pick it up again in 8th, but I personally love CLE's grammar. Is that one you looked into? With CLE my son never complains, never needs help, and passes each and every test. For us it's a painless grammar program that is very meaty, yet inexpensive, and most importantly independent. It keeps grammar fresh in my son's mind. It also includes Spelling though, which we do use, but could easily be skipped.

 

So, yes, I do think you could very easily skip grammar without harm. I just personally wouldn't do so. ;)

[Melissa in CA]

Grammar isn't really as important as the writing.

 

:iagree:

 

I see writing as putting grammar into practice. If one can diagram difficult sentences with ease, but cannot write one, then one is in serious trouble (this would be me, except I can't diagram either!) :blink::lol:

 

Of course, hmmm, some kids can write beautiful, wonderful paragraphs without knowing much grammar at all; it comes 'naturally' to them.

 

It boggles the mind how differently we are all wired. It's not a one size fits all world by any means.

[regentrude]

I can't imagine not doing English.

I CAN imagine not doing grammar, spelling or formal writing. I CAN imagine not using a curriculum (we don't use a curriculum for English at all).

But it would be almost impossible to avoid reading, and I would not think it wise to not read for a year.

[PeterPan]

Well if you notice, she's doing writing. The question is why it's WS3 with a child of that age and whether she's having the dc write for other subjects (history, etc.). LA is a composite, not just one thing. A bit of time off grammar won't ruin anyone, because it's a quantifiable subject. But taking time off writing, with no switch over to oral composition skills, lit discussion, etc. would simply slow down his growth in reaching where he could have been.

[MicheleinMN]

Well, if by English you mean literature reading and composition, I wouldn't go an entire year without doing those things especially not so close to high school.

 

I would include grammar instruction, but might be convinced to let that go for a year.

 

 

Sorry, I missed that you are doing Writing Strands, and Sonlight includes a lot of literature reading for most cores, so you would only really be missing grammar for a year.

 

HTH

Edited December 2, 2010 by MicheleinMN

[elegantlion]

I wouldn't drop the writing or reading, but it's possible to do a light year of grammar and be all right. We rotate, heavy emphasis one year, light the next. Of course we are also doing Latin, which keeps it fresh. Last year we did R&S 6 and my ds has a good grasp of grammar. This year we've opted to do an inexpensive grammar workbook and call it good. My son needs more work on spelling (megawords) and writing (WTM style) so we are choosing to focus on those this year.

[Mosaicmind]

Geesh!!! I didn't necessarily mean we wouldn't be doing any English, just mainly grammar. We are doing WS3 because he has never had any formal writing and that's what the website suggested. It is working very well and he will be done with the book before February.

[Down_the_Rabbit_Hole]

Geesh!!! I didn't necessarily mean we wouldn't be doing any English, just mainly grammar. We are doing WS3 because he has never had any formal writing and that's what the website suggested. It is working very well and he will be done with the book before February.

We took a year of of grammar last year (7th grade) and spent the year focusing on teaching writing (IEW).

However, even if you take a year off of formal grammar, you will still be teaching him some grammar when you correct his writing. I noticed I would have to remind my ds about capitalization rules, comma rules, and other grammar type rules when we edited his papers.

 

FWIW: DS is doing WS3 this year even though he is in 8th grade because it was a good starting place for him. IEW did not work. Just like your son, he is progressing through it fast and doing well.

[1Togo]

I see that you are writing with WS, but like other posters have suggested, I would do some type of grammar. I know that working with all the components of English; i.e. grammar, composition, vocabulary, literature, etc. take a big chunk of the day, but I think grammar is important because it takes many years for grammar and punctuation conventions to become ingrained and thus an automatic part of writing. Dd has always used some type of grammar program, but her gaps in grammar instruction are coming into play now that we have begun foreign languages. It's difficult for a student to translate a language where function dictates endings; i.e. Latin for example, when she must first decide if the word is an indirect object, direct object, etc. If your son builds a solid grammar foundation in 7th and 8th grade, he will be better prepared for high school work. BTW, AG is a good choice for grammar, and it only takes 20 to 30 minutes per day.

[mom31257]

What about doing something like Daily Grams, which is just a simple review page a day? It would keep a review of skills going without digging into a whole program. I've not used them, but I have considered having dd do the upper grade levels in high school because she won't be doing formal grammar.

[Stacy in NJ]

then you are doing English. Those items cover lit, composition and vocabulary. If you add in a grammar program like AG then you'll have a complete English "credit". FWIW and depending on your ds' grammar ability, I don't necessarily think you're doing anything "wrong" by skipping grammar this year. If he struggles with composition or mechanics, then I'd definately add in the grammar, though.

 

I haven't been happy with any program I have looked at for English/LA for my 7th grade son this year. We haven't been doing anything this year. I am wondering what would happen if he didn't do anything related to English/LA/Grammar this year. Would I be hurting him by taking a break this year? I have thought about getting Easy Grammar or Analytical Grammar after Christmas and just doing that but nothing too intense.

 

He is doing Saxon 8/7, Writing Strands 3, Apologia General, VFCR A, Sonlight Alt 7, SWO G, and Rosetta Stone Spanish. All his other subjects are covered as you can see, just not English.

[PeterPan]

I'd put your energy into double-timing the WS and not worry about grammar for the rest of this year. Or do just that 9 week 1st session of AG.