Just got back and saw these answers. MCT, in Grammar Town, states that participial phrases are adjectives. I'll have to look at the links that 8fillstheheart posted, haven't done that yet. I'll have to see if I can ask the ? on the yahoo group. The thing that was particularly confusing me was labeling 'Eating' as an adjective in the 1st level but that seems to make sense if it's because it is an adjectival phrase.

Thanks for this. It makes sense to me now and I'll be able to tell dd that the phrase could be interpreted either as adjective or adverb. Hopefully this will get us back on track.

Thanks for the explanations. It has helped to know that if the phrase is adjectival then the participal is labelled accordingly. So I think what you are both saying is that either way could be correct? If you choose to label it as an adverbial participial phrase then you would also label eating as an adverb, is that right? Thanks, Trenna

Anybody out there who can help?? I am a bit of a dunce at grammar so it may just be a stupid ? but if anyone could help me understand I'd really appreciate it.

I am doing MCT Grammar Town with dd11 this year. We have got to verbal phrases and are finding it confusing, really just participial phrases. Here is the sentence that is confusing: Eating the pizza, Roberto laughed at the dog. adj. adj. n. n. v. prp. adj. n.s partic. phrase I don't get why eating is classified as an adj. Also in the book he says that participial phrases are adjectives but my dh (an English teacher) says that in this case he would call it an adverbial participial phrase which is modifying 'laughed'. I would be very grateful for any explanations as it has really stumped us and my grammar loving dd is now not so loving it. Thanks, Trenna ETA - sorry about the labeling under the words -didn't format how it should.

What you describe sounds very normal for many kids that age. I don't think you need to worry yet that this is how it will be in the future. My youngest dd is very bright and capable but frequently resists things for a while. I have found that it seems to work best to back off, wait a while, and then try again. It's amazing how much easier it is when a little maturing has taken place. Things then seem almost effortless. Whatever else she resists, she is always reading, and I really think she has learned so much through simply reading widely.

I voted that nothing that happens on the board surprises me but it does make me laugh!! I keep looking to see the whole page covered with polls but I've not been lucky so far and now I have to go and get on with work. Good luck!

I don't know if it is possible to sue the judge but it should be! We have a family member in a somewhat similar situation and the anxiety for the poor mother is terrible. Surely a judge can be held accountable for a stupid, horrible decision. In England, and I would imagine the US too, social workers are certainly held responsible so it seems logical to me that a judge should be too.

:iagree:

Task Cards aren't a writing curriculum, sorry if that was confusing. They are from Creek Edge Press. There are sets for the 4 year history cycle and also science cycle. Quite a few of the tasks involve writing short reports etc. and this was what I was referring to. Writing so consistently in this manner has really increased my daughter's ease of writing and helped her to not feel anxious when faced with a writing project. I just can't really speak highly enough of WWS and these cards for us.

We are using WWS here with dd11 and have not used WWE. However, I should add that we have been doing written narations, copywork and some dictation, as per WTM. I'm really, really liking it and dd says she likes it too. The initial narrations were a little tricky, especially the challenge one, but I think she figured it out pretty quickly and is now going from strength to strength. We also do quite a bit of writing in science and some in history. We're using the Task Cards for science, and just today dd11 said that writing regularly for them has really helped her feel more confident with writing. So, WWS and the Task Cards have definately been big winners for us so far this year.

In my opinion you definately do not need the teacher's edition for the early levels and maybe not for the higher ones either. The hardest thing for me was finding the right level book as my dds are both natural spellers and so do not fit into the normal grade levels. I started my 1st grader in level B and my 5th grader in level G. I don't think there has been a problem with skipping levels. In fact, level B was kind of on the easy side but not completely innapropriate. Both dds get most words right without studying them but I do think they are learning something - eldest is learning vocab at least and youngest is getting some practice writing which she does not particularly enjoy, but needs.

Biggest hits for us so far - WWS - really, really liking this and what's more, dd11 is liking it too. Earth Science task cards from Creekedge Press

Again not the OP but it was really helpful to watch those Pencasts. Thanks Janice. I'm not really very strong on grammar and am learning along with dd11. The hardest part is critiqueing writing assignments so that was wonderful. If you have any more I'd love to be able to watch them.

Just wanted to say that my daughters think the F word is "fart". :D

To be honest, to me those attempts seem to be reasonably close to the examples given in the teacher's guide. I should say ,though, that I have only been using WWS with my dd for a few weeks so am far from an expert.

We started WWS a few weeks ago with dd11. She had a major meltdown over that assignment but after she calmed down managed to do it once I persuaded her to write a list of the events in order. She didn't want to bother with that step but was finding it too difficult to do without it. Anyway she got through it and has continued on and I think has really improved from that point on. Don't know if this helps but thought I'd add our experience with it.

My dd11's orthodontist advises to try and keep all teeth if at all possible. He had several teeth pulled himself when he was a child and showed us how his face shape had changed which would end up making him look prematurely old. I have to say he looks about 18 now so I don't think that will hold him back too much! But he has so far managed to make room for dd's teeth, that were stuck up in her jaw, with the braces and it looks like she won't need any pulled.

We're using the Earth Science Task Cards and I'm really pleased with them. My dd11 is liking them too. I'm having to help my dd7 quite a lot, and, because these cards really lend themselves to independent work, I think they are probably best for kids slightly older than 7. But they certainly work quite well for her with some help. I like the fact that you can include as much depth as you want. Seems like they would be good for a variety of needs.

Praying for Hannah and you all.

Wonderful news!! I'm so pleased for you.

Thanks for that! I just got the Explorers history one.

Hopefully you are having a good weekend and so not at the computer but just wanted to say "still praying". Take care. Trenna