7th grade grammar... any program that matches this criteria?

[staceyobu]

My 12 year old has had years of grammar: FLL 1, CLE 2 and 3, Classical Conv grammar, Shurley grammar.

I'd like him to have something fairly independent. I just do not have enough bandwidth to sit with each of my four children start to finish on every single subject. I don't mind going over a lesson and then sending him off with a workbook page, but I don't want it to be a teacher question, student answer, teacher question, student answer scenario. 

We also need grammar only. We have a spelling program and writing program that is working. I don't mind paying for something like CLE and not doing the other portions, but I don't need something that contains those things.

Diagramming is a plus but not a hill I will die on.

Any suggestions? I've looked at Analytical Grammar (expensive and I keep reading it's drudgery), Rod and Staff (it looks like I'd have to walk him through entire lessons), GftWTM (I'm reading it's very parent intensive). Am I missing anything else? 

[Momto6inIN]

We love AG and while I wouldn't call it particularly fun, it isn't drudgery either. And you can't get much more independent. I spend about 10 min on Monday teaching the lesson and going over the first few sentences, then almost no time the rest of the week.

[ByGrace3]

Another AG fan here. It's not "fun" but it also only is a part of the year and then just reinforcement after that. I find it thorough but does not take over because it is only 8-15 weeks per year depending on the season.

[almondbutterandjelly]

If you don't mind a Catholic resource, Seton Books has English 7 which is a straight-forward grammar workbook.  I really liked those and wish I had discovered them sooner.

[hollyhock2]

Easy Grammar might fit the bill, but it doesn't have diagramming. The lessons are short and it's very independent.

[J-rap]

We liked Zaner-Bloser's "GUM" curriculum at that age.  

https://www.zaner-bloser.com/products/grammar-usage-mechanics-materials.php#navAnchor

If you're confident in your abilities, you don't need the teacher edition.

ETA:  (Although, it does make correcting much faster if you have the teacher edition, because then you don't have to take the time to read the sentences.  Just compare answers.)

Edited June 5, 2019 by J-rap

[fourisenough]

Another vote for AG. Super straight-forward and he’s the perfect age for it.

[kristin0713]

Growing with Grammar is extremely independent and has diagramming.  

Daily Grammar Practice is very similar to the Daily Task Analysis of Classical Conversations' Essentials.  It breaks down diagramming a fairly complex sentence into very small tasks over the course of a week, and in doing so, reviews grammar concepts very thoroughly.  

[tld]

What is AG?

[Miss Tick]

20 minutes ago, tld said:

What is AG?

Analytical Grammar

We used that 6th-8th. I wanted to be done with grammar as a subject before high school. We only did about half the assigned problems, as long as they got at least a B on the tests. We diagrammed a sampling of the sentences we did.

I got my copies cheaper from their "scratch and dent" collection, so you might try calling and asking.

[Ellie]

He's had a boatload of grammar already. Are sure he needs more? Surely at this point correcting any grammatical mistakes in his writing should be enough.

[BusyMom5]

Growing with Grammar sounds like it hits all your boxes- independent,  sentence diagramming,  quick- about 15unites a day.  I've tried several other programs,  but this is my favorite. 

[SevenDaisies]

We love AG here, and I find it to be very independent. If you don’t mind printing it is a little cheaper to buy it digitally, but if you consider that you don’t need to buy additional materials year after year, it’s not too bad. Also, if you sign up for emails they run sales with free shipping and a percent off.

[Farrar]

Seconding Ellie. He's had a ton of grammar. Does he actually need more? And if his mechanics still aren't strong, maybe do something like Daily Paragraph Editing or Editor in Chief instead of formal grammar to work on implementing his understanding in writing.

[Lori D.]

Agreeing with previous posters that it's unlikely he still needs Grammar *instruction*, so something like Analytical Grammar, Rod and Staff, or WTM Grammar are going to be serious overkill. If wanting something totally independent and short:

For just a Grammar review "bite": Daily Grams
For both Grammar review and proof-editing practice: GUM Drops

No diagramming in either -- but does he really *need* diagramming at this point? Diagramming supports writing (and speaking) through understanding sentence structure and what is modifying what. If he is writing well, with a variety of types of sentence structures, then diagramming may not really be needed, and the focus can shift to putting Grammar to use in writing and in proof-editing.

Edited July 6, 2019 by Lori D.

[MJmom]

Grammar Planet is an online class by AG. It used to be free, but now I think there is a small charge. It is independent and does diagramming. 15 min/ day.