txhomemom Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Grammar is not working for us this year and I need a few suggestions for a good grammar program for the middle school level (around 6th-8th grade). We started out with a few workbooks, but found them boring. I also have the Great Editing Adventure, but find it is just good for daily review of grammar and it does not seem like a complete program. We have tried Growing with Grammar in the past and it seemed boring after the first couple of units. I am looking for something that: -has somewhat of a fun factor or a different style of teaching grammar than the usual workbook approach -is mostly secular I am considering the following and would like input on which one of these would be recommended or maybe the pros and cons of using them: -MCT (not sure what level I would start with and not sure if you can start the program with a middle school student) -Analytical Grammar -Thinking Through Grammar -Easy Grammar (not sure if this would seem too much like the typical workbook approach) -Galore Park English -Total Language Plus (don't know if this would be complete, but it does contain grammar instruction) -Simply English (from Shoelace books) -Queens Language Lessons for Secondary Child -Grammarlogues website (anyone use this?) Open to other recommendations as well. Also, my dd is a visual-spatial kinesthetic learner and has had very little prior grammar instruction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Your kids are the right age to be able to 'understand' grammar now, LOL. I didn't bother with grammar in the younger years....as my kids didn't seem to understand it. I like Winston Grammar because they give you a 'system' of labeling parts of speech. They keep doing the same parts.....and add one each lesson (not every lesson but almost).....so they keep up the practice throughout the entire book. All of my kids (four) have done a wonderful job with this program. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 (edited) We have 2 DSs, one is an ASL (auditory-sequential learner) -- prefers learning thru hearing -- and the other is *highly* VSL (visual-spatial learner) -- prefers learning thru seeing/doing. Surprise! For once, what we used for grammar worked very well for BOTH! For middle school grammar, we used: Winston (gr. 4-8) -- instruction Uses cards with "clues" to help you summarize/visualize. We modified the program slightly and did 4 sentences a day from the practice sentences on the white board, marking the parts of speech with colored markers, and using underlines and arrows to show relationships between words and phrases. Very painless -- seemed more like a solving a kind of logic puzzle than boring school to our DSs. The 3 levels cover different topics: - Basic (gr. 4-8) = parts of speech; the 7 noun functions - Word Works (gr. 5-8) = word usage - Advanced (gr. 6-8) = types of sentences; clauses and phrases; modifers) Giggles in the Middle (gr. 6-8) -- grammar mechanics practice, plus grammar concept review, plus vocabulary A paragraph a day, each adding to a year-long story, for grammar mechanics (punctuation, capitalization, word usage, etc.) and editing practice. Also great grammar concept review teaching points for each paragraph, plus introduction of great vocabulary words in each paragraph. A rather entertaining way to practice. The paragraph-a-day story had humor in it (which always helps catch interest), and was vaguely Harry Potter-like, in that the setting and characters are a school and teachers to help students learn magic spells and potions. You might look at the first book in the series: Caught Ya': Grammar with a Giggle as something to try now, as it is for grades 3-6. Comicstrip Grammar (gr. 5-8) -- supplement; grammar mechanics practice with humor Fun supplement. Reproducible worksheet review of grammar concepts, including: capitalization and punctuation; parts of speech; word usage; types of sentences; clauses and phrases. Each worksheet starts with a goofy little cartoon, and 1-3 sentences explaining/reviewing the grammar concept, and then has 4-8 sentences of practice. Parts of Speech Definitely can be used NOW: Mad Libs, Grammar Ad Libs, and Schoolhouse Rock: Grammar videos/songs for parts of speech -- they are great fun for ALL ages. Schoolhouse Rock also has a computer game for practicing that may be fun. Also, consider including some fun, free, online grammar games -- these are for grades 1-6, so can be used now: - Punctuation Paintball (punctuation) = http://www.iknowthat.com/com/L3?Area=Paintball - Grammar Gorillas (parts of speech) = http://www.funbrain.com/grammar/ -- parts of speech - Flash Games (variety of grammar topics) = http://www.marks-english-school.com/games.html - Game Zone (variety of grammar topics) = http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/gamezone2.htm - Grammar Practice Park: http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/preview/harcourt_language/grammar_park.html http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/quizzes/ - Learning Planet: Rats: http://www.learningplanet.com/act/rats/ratslist2.asp Of the programs you listed: - Analytical Grammar = Our experience: very thorough, but dull; LONG worksheets; too repetitive; dropped it after 6-8 weeks -- and this was only tried with older DS who doesn't mind workbooks; didn't every try it with our VSL DS -- this would NOT be the program to "start" grammar instruction with after waiting until middle school - Easy Grammar = Too scattered in approach for us (little bit of this and a little bit of that every day), without enough instruction, and the exercises got repetitive; dropped it after half a year - Total Language Plus = Literature based program, with some grammar and other language arts skills included -- may not be enough about grammar for you -- it's more of a CM approach of integrating your language arts with your reading. Not familiar with it personally, but you might want to check out Cozy Grammar; many of the instructional videos for the program are on Youtube, here, so you can preview. Here is a great review of the program. BEST of luck in finding a good fit for your kinesthetic learner! Warmly, Lori D. Edited October 15, 2010 by Lori D. added links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Grammar is not working for us this year and I need a few suggestions for a good grammar program for the middle school level (around 6th-8th grade). ... I am looking for something that: -has somewhat of a fun factor or a different style of teaching grammar than the usual workbook approach -is mostly secular... -Galore Park English Whilst I like GP English, I would not describe it as a grammar programme per se. It contains grammar instruction but I would not say that the grammar is the core of the programme. I suggest having a look at the samples on the Galore Park site - each chapter has roughly the same format. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 I am looking for something that: -has somewhat of a fun factor or a different style of teaching grammar than the usual workbook approach -is mostly secular I am considering the following and would like input on which one of these would be recommended or maybe the pros and cons of using them: -MCT (not sure what level I would start with and not sure if you can start the program with a middle school student) -Thinking Through Grammar If the latter book is by Dr. Arthur Whimbey than I would NOT recommend it. I had given it a 4 star review on Amazon based on using just a couple chapters but that was WAY premature. Basically the reason I wrote the Amazon review was to list the topics covered since I'd been unable to find that information on the web prior to purchasing it. I called it "no-nonsense" in my Amazon review but after completing more of the book, it would be more accurate to call it "tedious". :tongue_smilie: MCT definitely has the "fun" factor, at least at the elementary level (which is where you'd start given the light grammar background). It also is rigorous and "meaty" *IF* you use the grammar, practice AND writing books together. Be aware that the "writing" book contains a significant portion of the grammar instruction. I'd probably start at the "town" level with MCT given what you said in your OP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Grammar is not working for us this year and I need a few suggestions for a good grammar program for the middle school level (around 6th-8th grade). We started out with a few workbooks, but found them boring. I also have the Great Editing Adventure, but find it is just good for daily review of grammar and it does not seem like a complete program. We have tried Growing with Grammar in the past and it seemed boring after the first couple of units. I am looking for something that: -has somewhat of a fun factor or a different style of teaching grammar than the usual workbook approach -is mostly secular I am considering the following and would like input on which one of these would be recommended or maybe the pros and cons of using them: -MCT (not sure what level I would start with and not sure if you can start the program with a middle school student) -Analytical Grammar -Thinking Through Grammar -Easy Grammar (not sure if this would seem too much like the typical workbook approach) -Galore Park English -Total Language Plus (don't know if this would be complete, but it does contain grammar instruction) -Simply English (from Shoelace books) -Queens Language Lessons for Secondary Child -Grammarlogues website (anyone use this?) Open to other recommendations as well. Also, my dd is a visual-spatial kinesthetic learner and has had very little prior grammar instruction. Some thoughts..... I do like Queen's but they are not secular. Their Secondary Child vol 2 has a bit more copywork than I would like. We did not like EG, the retention was poor and it was very workbooky. If you've looked at TLP, have you considered LLATL? I love AG, but I am not sure it fits your criteria. It is not an easy program. Each exercise page has 10 rather complicated sentences to complete. There are no "bells and whistles" in it. It is just plain good grammar instruction. Winston is a much more visual program with the word cards. GWG was good for 1 year, but we found it rather repetitive the following year and switched to Queen's. HTH!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBP Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 MCT definitely has the "fun" factor, at least at the elementary level (which is where you'd start given the light grammar background). It also is rigorous and "meaty" *IF* you use the grammar, practice AND writing books together. Be aware that the "writing" book contains a significant portion of the grammar instruction. I'd probably start at the "town" level with MCT given what you said in your OP. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Ds did grammar for the first time in 7th grade. We used a combo of MCT and Killgallon's books. You can go through two in one year. I know you wanted to stay away from workbooks, but ds liked these and his writing improved greatly! If doing grammar for the first time, I would start with Story Grammar for Elementary School. http://www.heinemann.com/products/E01246.aspx http://www.amazon.com/Grammar-Middle-School-Sentence-Composing-Approach/dp/0325009562/ref=pd_sim_b_2 We had no success with AG. Way too difficult for ds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jackbrew Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I feel your pain. For years I struggled to find a grammar program that is truly appropriate for middle schoolers. So much of what is out there is over their heads and/or just overwhelms the rest of the curriculum. Richbaub's Introduction to Middle School Grammar, however, is a thorough yet manageable middle school grammar program that works great! It's teacher-friendly AND student-friendly (i.e. comprehensive, humorous, and truly written for middle schoolers). Give it a try!! You can download the program or order hard copies at www.middleschoolgrammar.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Have you looked at Cozy Grammar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Also, consider including some fun, free, online grammar games -- these are for grades 1-6, so can be used now: - Punctuation Paintball (punctuation) = http://www.iknowthat.com/com/L3?Area=Paintball - Grammar Gorillas (parts of speech) = http://www.funbrain.com/grammar/ -- parts of speech - Flash Games (variety of grammar topics) = http://www.marks-english-school.com/games.html - Game Zone (variety of grammar topics) = http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/gamezone2.htm - Grammar Practice Park: http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/preview/harcourt_language/grammar_park.html http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/quizzes/ - Learning Planet: Rats: http://www.learningplanet.com/act/rats/ratslist2.asp Warmly, Lori D. Thank you for these links! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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