St. Theophan Academy Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 I just got The Sentence Family - which takes a drawing approach to teaching grammar. It introduces the 4 kids of sentences and the parts of speech as a family - each person having unique qualities to that specific point of grammar. It is really quite well done, if anyone is looking for a fun way to introduce the parts of speech and beginning diagramming. The Sentence Family curriculum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athena Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Hi, I just popped in and saw you mention this book! It is so clever! I really like it, and my kids love the stories. Great book! -Christy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenora in MD Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 This looks great! I think my second grader will love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trivium Academy Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Okay, tell me more. Is this a 'curriculum' with lesson plans or is it a book that you can just read and enjoy with your kids? We currently read Ruth Heller's books and the other LA themed kids books that deal with parts of speech. Thanks for sharing about this, I can't wait to hear more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillcrest Academy Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Thank you for sharing this - it looks like the perfect thing for my visual learner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Theophan Academy Posted May 9, 2008 Author Share Posted May 9, 2008 Okay - I will try to explain (this is why I finally broke down and bought it, and am so glad I did :) ) It is one book. It is not really "lesson plans" in the way you would think of it Jessica, it is more of a guide. By that I mean it does not schedule out - do this on day one, do this on day two etc. It gives an overview of the method (several pages of how to use the guide) - which is basically, introduce a story (provided in the guide) and draw a picture with it (very basic stick figure drawing, but lots of color). The types of sentences are 4 different family members which you introduce through short stories. Each family member resembles the type of sentence (for example, Mrs. Interrogative is an old woman bent over with a cane in the shape of a question mark and she asks questions all the time). The kids learn the personalities of each of the characters, and there are some ideas for games to play with sentences. Then there is a story to introduce each kid - the parts of speech. An example would be - the first two kids are twin boys - verb and noun - there is a picture of each child and a description - "Verb" is a very active child who always wears red and can never keep his cap on. "Noun" is a very observant child who spends his time observing and naming all of the things around him. Each character is linked to a color, and certain qualities which instinctively make you think of the part of speech they represent. Finally, at the end, the guide explains how to introduce basic diagramming, using a brilliant concept (in my mind) of "putting all the words to bed" and links the parts of a diagrammed sentence to the kids (verb and noun sleep in beds that share a headboard - diagram the noun and verb side by side etc) . We have been using the Ruth Heller books with my son, and I really enjoy them, but this to me is a better first introduction. My plan is to use this with my dd next year to give her a good grasp of the different parts of speech, then move on to the Heller books (since they go into more detail in types of verbs etc.). So, it is not just a book to read - but it gives all of the stories and ideas you would need to present each part of speech, then ways to proceed into diagramming in a more concrete way - good for those grammar stage kids :) I envision it being something we could do once a week, and you could spend small amounts of time on it, with the kids doing illustrations as reinforcement. I like it because I am finding that my kids respond really well to the waldorf approach to some subjects. While I do not embrace Waldorf philosophies, I find that the use of drawing in areas such as grammar and math improves their attention, retention, and interest. This book gives that element of drawing which appeals to me, and is completely secular in it's approach so it is usuable by anyone. Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trivium Academy Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Thank you for explaining more, it has helped greatly. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanie Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 I just got The Sentence Family - which takes a drawing approach to teaching grammar. It introduces the 4 kids of sentences and the parts of speech as a family - each person having unique qualities to that specific point of grammar. It is really quite well done, if anyone is looking for a fun way to introduce the parts of speech and beginning diagramming. The Sentence Family curriculum My kids would love that! It looks like something fun to add in to our LA time. Thanks for the info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakeside Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 What age would you recommend this for? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Theophan Academy Posted May 9, 2008 Author Share Posted May 9, 2008 I think the author mentions it was developed for a 4th grade class - but I plan to use it with my 2nd grade dd this fall. The concepts are a basic intro to grammar, so it could be an intro to grammar or a review if you had a child struggling. I think that it would be a fine introduction to grammar at any age - even older ones who are struggling might get into it if they are visual learners or like drawing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malenki Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 That looks great for my eldest son! Thanks for sharing. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 Wow, that looks like a LOT of fun (and close enough to home I bet they'd let me pick it up instead of having it shipped). Thanks - I think my ds would really enjoy this approach! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2abcd Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 I just got The Sentence Family - which takes a drawing approach to teaching grammar. It introduces the 4 kids of sentences and the parts of speech as a family - each person having unique qualities to that specific point of grammar. It is really quite well done, if anyone is looking for a fun way to introduce the parts of speech and beginning diagramming. The Sentence Family curriculum Did you order it online from the site you gave? I tried that a couple of months ago and just recently got a refund through paypal. I never got the book. I thought maybe they didn't sell it anymore. It said that there was no paypal account for that address. Did you phone your order in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in DE Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Thanks so much for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clwcain Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Thank you. My wife and I will definitely look into this. The illustrations are lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Did you order it online from the site you gave? I tried that a couple of months ago and just recently got a refund through paypal. I never got the book. I thought maybe they didn't sell it anymore. It said that there was no paypal account for that address. Did you phone your order in? Bumping. I'd love to know where to order this. This is so up my kids' alley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted May 16, 2008 Share Posted May 16, 2008 Bumping back to the first page. Does anyone know if that link is the only place to order this? I've searched and not found it anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Nicole, I have a friend who phoned to order. She had her order in less than a week with no issues. I believe she used a credit card but am not certain. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 St. Theophan Academy, I'd like to thank you for suggesting The Sentence Family. Based on your review, I recommended it to a friend who has a son with learning issues. She ordered it, received it within the week, and is seeing it as a tool that will really serve her son's needs. Thanks! Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Nicole, I have a friend who phoned to order. She had her order in less than a week with no issues. I believe she used a credit card but am not certain. Regards, Kareni Thanks Kareni, I appreciate you passing that on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimmyandgracie Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 What are the Ruth Heller books? I don't think I have heard of them before. St Theophan Academy, would you happen to have a link to those books? How have you liked them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaReese Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Thanks, I will have to take a better look, this looks like something my boys would love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmen_and_Company Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 WOW! The author of some of the materials from that site must have studied Waldorf art & main lesson presentation through story. I love that grammar book, and have it on my short list for my 10 yo ds. The Creation art lessons are exactly how wet-on-wet painting is done in Waldorf art classes. I hoep the OP does not mind, but I referred several Waldorf hs'ing Yahoo groups to that site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 What are the Ruth Heller books? Ruth Heller wrote a series of books about parts of speech; they are the World of Language series. Here are the titles: A Cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns (1987) Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs (1988) Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives (1989) Merry-Go- Round: A Book About Nouns (1990) Up, Up and Away: A Book About Adverbs (1991) Behind the Mask: A Book About Prepositions (1995) Mine, All Mine: A Book about Pronouns (1997) Fantastic! Wow! And Unreal! A Book about Interjections and Conjunctions (1998) They are a great series and VERY brightly colored. Here is a link to one of them: http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Wow-Unreal-Interjections-Conjunctions/dp/0698118758/ref=pd_sim_b_title_5 Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 WOW! The author of some of the materials from that site must have studied Waldorf art & main lesson presentation through story. ... My thought was exactly the same; my teen was at a Waldorf inspired charter school in 6th grade and the style is very reminiscent of what she saw there. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Closeacademy Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Thanks for linking this site. It has a wealth of information on it. I really liked the math story ideas and the multiplication games and such. The newsletters are worth reading through too as they have a lot of great ideas. Thanks.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Theophan Academy Posted June 4, 2008 Author Share Posted June 4, 2008 link to amazon for heller books : heller books We LOVE them! As I just posted in the other grammar thread, along with the ideas from the Serendipity site, they make for a wonderful grammar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Theophan Academy Posted June 4, 2008 Author Share Posted June 4, 2008 The only other place I think it is available is through the site Paidea classics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Theophan Academy Posted June 4, 2008 Author Share Posted June 4, 2008 I did my order online - I ordered it sometime in March, had no problems getting it, it came very quickly. In fact, I ordered a huge order from them, and got it within a week I think. But it is also available from Paidea classics. They were closed for a while, but are back up and running, and they list it on their site too. Those are the only two places I am aware of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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