Growing with Grammar, Shurley, or other suggestion for second grade?

[hsmomshutterbug]

Hello-

I am searching for a Grammar Program for second grade. Something that will get the job done, but with decent retention for the time spent. My son completed Shurley 1 for first grade, and I'm thinking we want to pick Shurley back up for level 3 in third grade, but not continue w/ level 2 for this year b/c the grammar seems to just be a repeat of what was in level 1. In fact, he was really bored with the last probably 1/4 of Shurley 1 b/c nothing new was introduced it was just repeat practice of concepts learned earlier in the book. I guess I would say we need spiral, but maybe not to that extreme. I should clarify, we do not use Shurley for the writing portion, only the grammar.

 

Anyone have advice as far as experiences with GWG, Shurley or other for this age group that they can discuss here? Thanks.

Oh, BTW, I read a thread where some users said that GWG didn't foster retention and that the questions had a "discernible pattern" to the answers. This makes me hesitate, b/c my child is for sure one of those that picks up on patterns easily, and when this happens, I know he's just going plugging into that versus understanding the concept. This became a problem pretty early on with Shurley b/c all of their sentences are in the exact same order. However, b/c of their question answer format they drill into the student, he is still able to pick out the parts of speech in sentences that aren't formatted the cookie-cutter "Shurley Way" so it didn't end up being a big deal.

[EKS]

I recommend MCT's Grammar Island and Sentence Island with the practice book. You don't have to do the writing lessons in Sentence Island (we didn't) to get the full benefit of the grammar instruction. It will give your child an excellent big picture understanding of grammar.

[warneral]

I would not use GWG again. My ds didn't even understand predicate/subject noun/verb very well into the 3rd grade. He just followed the pattern, getting things right. I didn't even know he didn't "get" it until half way through.

 

We like First Language Lessons and Rod and Staff

[SilverMoon]

I like First Language Lessons for second grade level, and Rod and Staff English for 3 and up.

[KellyMama]

We like to use a combination of GWG and MCT - however, we used Abeka in 2nd grade, so I have no recommendation for GWG 2 other than we found the 3rd grade text to work well for us.

[Ruby Rose]

FWIW I hatred Shurley. We used FLL and will continue with 3 and either stay for 4 or move on to R&S. Love the look of MCT, but it's not in the budget.

[Ruby Rose]

FWIW I hatred Shurley. We used FLL and will continue with 3 and either stay for 4 or move on to R&S. Love the look of MCT, but it's not in the budget.

[Haiku]

Having been through grammar with both an accelerated learner and a delayed learner, my advice is not to worry about grammar next year. Pick up in third or fourth grade with FLL 3/4. I have seen ZERO benefit to early grammar lessons. My accelerated learner could have done fine beginning later and my delayed learner didn't learn anything.

 

Tara

[dewdropfairy]

We ditched Shurley with my 2nd grader after the first couple of lessons. I found it tedious and jingles aren't really my thing. We'll be doing FLL next year.

[Cynful]

If I had it to do over again, I'd either skip it for 2nd or do FLL 1/2 or PLL (Primary Language Lessons).

 

Good luck,

[Um_2_4]

My son did Shurley for 1st and retained quite a bit (we also did not use the writing portion). But the repetition did keep us from continuing.

I did not like Winning With Writing (same company as GWG) so I can't suggest that, but how about FLL2 (reusable for later kids) or KISS grammar (free, so if you don't like it you can drop it).

For DS9 this year, I am doing a proofreading unit and some scholastic grammar review (test prep book).

[ammv15]

I am using Essentials In Writing this year ( grammar and writing ). If you go to freelyeducate.com and search writing and grammar you will find a few grammar freebies.