Intro and Michael Clay Thompson LA?

[Bright_Future]

I have lurked on these boards for many years and have used many suggestions successfully. However, this past year our language arts selections were less than stimulating to my highly gifted 7yo. We have used R&S 2- although a solid program, I felt that the Christian content of almost every sentence overpowered the richness of the program and the variety of sentences was not enough-my son picked up the pattern and never had to think. We have also tried WS-complete failure, so we continued with copywork/dictation. We also dabbled in SL LAs off and on, they did not really excite us.

 

So, when I read about MCT LA here on this board I was intrigued, but not hopeful, I had already resigned to the fact that we would continue with R&S this year. After looking at the samples more times than you can count and reading and re-reading the few threads there were about the topic, I took the plunge and purchased. I bought Grammar Island, Sentence Island, Practice Island, and Building Language (he has a deep interest in what every large word means and likes knowing roots so he can figure out word meanings).

 

We just received the books yesterday and I have looked through them all. I understand Grammar Island is supposed to only take about a month or so and then used throughout the year. My question is more about Sentence Island-how do you schedule this? Do you do it daily only a few pages at a time or a couple days a week and do a whole topic at once, i.e. nouns, verbs, etc. Also, how long does going through the book actually take, should it last the whole year? We tend to school year round so breaks can be taken when we want/need them.

 

Thank you so much for your help and any other suggestions you have for using this program to get the most out of it would be appreciated.

[nmoira]

 

My question is more about Sentence Island-how do you schedule this? Do you do it daily only a few pages at a time or a couple days a week and do a whole topic at once, i.e. nouns, verbs, etc. Also, how long does going through the book actually take, should it last the whole year? We tend to school year round so breaks can be taken when we want/need them.

We, didn't take a year, but rather started it right after Grammar Island and read it twice (once for the "plot" and once slowly to savour). I think DD has read it on her own as well. The only new content in SI's grammar section relative to Grammar Island is the introduction of the indirect object (which is used in Practice Island, but not until about halfway through IIRC). If you start the practice book after finishing the first section of Grammar Island and do three sentences per week, the material will last most of a traditional school year.

[Bright_Future]

Moira,

Thank you for your help. I have one more question-if the program did not take a whole school year, then what did you use the rest of the year? Did you just use the principles you learned with other subjects, ie history, or did you move on to the next group, "the town" series?

 

Thanks again.

[nmoira]

 

I have one more question-if the program did not take a whole school year, then what did you use the rest of the year? Did you just use the principles you learned with other subjects, ie history, or did you move on to the next group, "the town" series?

We're planning to complete one level per year. I wouldn't recommend rushing into Grammar Town, because it introduces verbal phrases. Given the nature of MCT's system, three sentences per week from the Practice books, plus reinforcement throughout the curricula, are more than enough to keep the concepts fresh. We use the time no longer filled by grammar for other subjects.

[Bright_Future]

Thank you again. With that plan it finally sounds more doable to get done the other things we would like to do in our curriculum. :001_smile: