More MCT ????

[taffnus]

OK, I really have read through a bunch of past MCT threads and I can't seem to answer all of my questions.

 

1 - Do people study Latin AND do Caesar's English or is this a roots vs. language option making it an either/or choice?

 

2 - Can the poetry and literature studies be done without the other components? I'm really interested in this.

 

3 - What is the writing program like? I can't seem to find concrete writing samples/instruction online (Island) and I don't really "get" the Paragraph Town samples. :confused: I'm assuming it's a full writing program and would take the place of another, like IEW.

 

 

So up to this point, I have been leaning towards KISS grammar, IEW and Latin for 4th grade. I'd really like a literature component but worksheets just won't cut it with my dd.

 

MCT is about the last runner-up for my review before deciding on my curriculum.

 

Thanks!! :bigear:

[acrosier]

Grammar Island, Sentence Island and Practice Island go together as the core of the program. The rest can be used or not at your discretion. I use WWE and HWT with it for actual writing. MCT's philosophy is to not have kids do much writing until they actually know how to put words together corectly. We don't study actual Latin, but are learning the stems from MCT, which is enough for us, so far. I hope that helps.

[Chrysalis Academy]

I'm hoping you will get replies from more experienced MCT users, but here is my 2 cents, FWIW:

 

1. You can definitely do CE and study Latin. They are not redundant. CE covers word roots and vocabulary, and most part-to-whole Latin programs focus on grammar. Many here do both. We will be.

 

2. You can do whatever part of the program that appeals to you, although it is designed to work together and the pieces complement and reinforce each other. Some here love the poetry, and some don't. I read that people are using MCT all different ways. That is as it should be - we all have different children. The literature component is so new only a couple of people have used it (or have written here about it, at least), and again, some find it extremely helpful and some don't. I haven't used that piece at all yet.

 

3. Many use the writing in MCT as a supplement to another writing program (or don't do the exercises). From what I see in Sentence Island, the "writing" program is a *huge* reinforcement of the grammar, at least at this level, and is incredibly valuable in that way, but for us it wouldn't be "enough" writing - we use WWE/WWS as well.

 

HTH

[taffnus]

Thank you. It's good to know I can use the parts separately. I'd like to get my hands on it to look at it - especially the literature.

[HappyCamper]

We have used the Island level and are in the middle of the town level. I would not view Ceasar's English as a replacement for the study of Latin. It does reinforce nicely. You could do the poetry and literature components separately from the Grammar portion. BUT you should understand that the literature program reinforces the vocabulary, poetic elements, and the specific MCT approach to grammar (4 level analysis). It would be easy to skip or include the grammar as you would like.

As the pp noted, some people use the writing exercises in the program and some do not. We use them as DD9 finds them more enjoyable than workbook pages (much more creative) and I think they really help cement what she is learning.

Hope that is helpful!

[taffnus]

We have used the Island level and are in the middle of the town level. I would not view Ceasar's English as a replacement for the study of Latin. It does reinforce nicely. You could do the poetry and literature components separately from the Grammar portion. BUT you should understand that the literature program reinforces the vocabulary, poetic elements, and the specific MCT approach to grammar (4 level analysis). It would be easy to skip or include the grammar as you would like.

As the pp noted, some people use the writing exercises in the program and some do not. We use them as DD9 finds them more enjoyable than workbook pages (much more creative) and I think they really help cement what she is learning.

Hope that is helpful!

 

Do you use the literature study? If so, how do you like it?

[HappyCamper]

We have used the MCT annotated literature books and teachers guide for Alice and Peter. For us, it has been terrific. We take turns reading the book aloud, including the commentary on grammar, literary elements, and vocabulary. The comments directly reinforce what is learned in the language arts program. I appreciate that the annotated books connect what we are learning in grammar, vocab, and poetry.

 

Since I spend all my "teaching" time with my daughter (and do no prep) and I am not super creative, I very much appreciate the quote quizzes, creative questions, and essay questions. If I did not have the teaching manual, it would not happen in our house. My daughter especially enjoys the creative questions and turns them into writing projects. We had great fun quizzing each other with the quotes. It has been a wonderful addition to our language arts program and created some wonderful times for us.

 

HTH

[taffnus]

We have used the MCT annotated literature books and teachers guide for Alice and Peter. For us, it has been terrific. We take turns reading the book aloud, including the commentary on grammar, literary elements, and vocabulary. The comments directly reinforce what is learned in the language arts program. I appreciate that the annotated books connect what we are learning in grammar, vocab, and poetry.

 

HTH

 

Do you think the value is in doing it in coordination with the rest of the LA? Would the comments and instruction be useful/understandable if we are not doing the LA? Thanks!!