ethiHOPEia Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Hello! I need some advice. My son took most of the year to go through Grammar Island, towards the end I made some flash cards for him to review the parts of speech. Now we are at the end of the book and he really does not know anything, he did terribly on the post test. Is there a better Grammar that I could use with him that would be easier for him to understand? I would like to continue with the MCT, but I feel like he needs some supplementing!! Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie in MS Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Grammar is one of those things that some kids, at this age, simply do not get. Have you considered something simple like Learning Language Arts Through Literature? If you are interested you can look at the different levels s&s, placement test and samples to see where you think he may place. Don't go by reading level, but other skills instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 How does he do on Practice Island? I didn't even bother giving the test in GI, because it wouldn't necessarily tell me what I wanted to know about ds's usage. If he can identify parts of speech in PI, I would say he is doing great. What are you using the flashcards for anyway? Definitions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourisenough Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 We use FLL for that age. It isn't glitzy, but it gets done and my kids have great retention from it. I will say that I make flashcards with all the definitions and lists and we continually review. I also own MCT island series, which we will read at/near the end of our academic year for a fun supplement that will, hopefully, show her the 'big picture' view of grammar. I prefer a parts-to-whole presentation first, which FLL provides. The other thought is that you could just delay formal grammar another year or two or just view this year's use of Grammar Island as exposure if he isn't ready for mastery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethiHOPEia Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 Thank you! I was concerned he wasn't understanding what a noun or verb, etc... was so that is why I made the flash cards. I am sorry, but what does FLL stand for? It sounds interesting. I actually have not done any of Practice Island yet. I will try some... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Grammar Island is designed to be used for a very short time (4-5 weeks, IIRC?), then Practice Island is where they really get it into their heads. A year is a LONG time to spend on that one book... I'm not surprised he doesn't have it down pat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoo_keeper Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 FLL = First Language Lessons Grammar Island is designed to be used for a very short time (4-5 weeks, IIRC?), then Practice Island is where they really get it into their heads. A year is a LONG time to spend on that one book... I'm not surprised he doesn't have it down pat. ^^^ Agreed. You dragged it on too long. There's just not enough exercises/repetition to span an entire year in the 1 book. Get Practice Island and perhaps look for other sources of review. I.e., we didn't just jump right into MCT, I believe that that my eldest already had at least 1 level of GWG down (plus lots of oral review and songs/poems about verbs vs. nouns). For reference, my eldest was a young 7 I think when we finished the entire island level and had most of her parts of speeches down (the very basic 8) while my middle child was a young 5 and really only got nouns and verbs consistently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Five More Minutes Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Grammar Island is designed to be used for a very short time (4-5 weeks, IIRC?), then Practice Island is where they really get it into their heads. A year is a LONG time to spend on that one book... I'm not surprised he doesn't have it down pat. I agree -- Grammar Island gives a quick introduction to grammar concepts, and then Practice Island is designed to cement those ideas over the course of a year (using it about 3 times a week). In the MCT program, Sentence Island also follows on (once the student is comfortable with their sentence analysis in Practice Island) to review and extend the understanding of the grammar concepts. MCT is less about memorizing the definitions, and more about working with the concepts. If you're wanting your student to memorize definitions, then First Language Lessons spends more time on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Thank you! I was concerned he wasn't understanding what a noun or verb, etc... was so that is why I made the flash cards. I am sorry, but what does FLL stand for? It sounds interesting. I actually have not done any of Practice Island yet. I will try some... FLL is First Language Lessons from Peace Hill Press (our hosts here). FLL 1 & 2 are done mostly orally with just a little bit of writing. For FLL 3 & 4 you have a student workbook and a teacher book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethiHOPEia Posted February 22, 2013 Author Share Posted February 22, 2013 Thanks again! I guess I need to learn more about MCT! I am using a friends copy so I just didn't know what to expect. I appreciate your help ladies. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.