Grammar Help

[jessj]

We have used FLL for several years. I appreciate the simple, laid out, thorough approach. However, I am really struggling with my eldest to do the lessons. Not because she can't do them. But because she doesn't want to. And honestly, all the oral exercises are starting to get to me too. We are at the middle point of level 3. What should take us 10-15 minutes takes 30-45 because there is SO much resistance from her right now. I'm terribly frustrated. It should be short and sweet. But it's not.

 

Does anyone know of a grammar cirric that is similar, but does not involve so much parental involvement? I have a feeling if I was taken out of the equation, and it was more independent work, she may work more quickly.

[Ellyndria]

I'm not much help because I don't have a suggestion for you, but I just wanted to say that we did FLL level 3 this year, and the lessons definitely did not take only 10-15 minutes. I would say most of the time it was in the 20-30 minute range and sometimes longer. My DS did drag his feet sometimes too, especially when there was a lot of writing. FLL levels 1 and 2 were definitely shorter, but considering FLL3 is supposed to be for a third grade level, and with the amount of material each lesson covers, I think it is a little unreasonable for it to only take 10-15 minutes.

 

That being said, next year we are going to try MCT because it looks interesting, but I don't think it is independent. I plan to come back and do FLL4 later, but I just feel like switching things up and trying something new.

[jessj]

Yes, some lessons would take longer than 10-15min. But our main issue is the copious quantity of complaining and resisting that is happening. :crying: I know this child will never love grammar. She hates anything with details (math & grammar are the main culprits). She's a big picture kind of person. However, I need to find a way to teach her grammar without it killing our relationship and her relationship with all other schoolwork.

[Ellyndria]

I hear GWG mentioned when people need something independent, but I also see a lot of people talking about retention problems with GWG. Hopefully someone will have some suggestions for you.

[TarynB]

WTM recommends Rod & Staff for grammar after FLL, but R&S is not secular (if that's important to you) and also not self-contained nor independent. Hake Grammar is an often-mentioned secular alternative, independent, written to the student, spiral review format. A lesson takes my DS about 15 minutes per day. There's a link in my sig to the publisher's website and Hake 4 is available from them directly. (Hake levels 5 - 8 are available at all the usual book places.)

 

I can also recommend Easy Grammar for independent work, but it does not include diagramming, although you could add a supplemental diagramming workbook. Easy Grammar does not include much built-in review, but if you pair it with its companion Daily Grams, you'd get review that way.

[jessj]

Secular is not important to us. I've been looking a bit at R&S since it is recommended in WTM. I'm wondering how much parental involvement is necessary with it? I think more written instructions and less parental instructions would benifit us. Perhaps if I spent a few minutes introducing a lesson and then she could do the work without all the dialog it would be a better fit for us.