Help...Grammar and Spelling

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by Shaina, Jun 14, 2004.

  1. Shaina

    Shaina New Member

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    Hi Ladies :cool:
    We had a really rough year with our spelling and grammar. DS will be starting 3rd grade in August. What do you all use - I'd love some suggestions. Several have suggested Rod & Staff for grammar - we tried it for 1st grade, but it seemed a bit on the remideal side. Does anyone use the Spelling Workout? I've never seen it.
    Thanks:D
    Hope everyone is off to a great summer!
     
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  3. TinaTx

    TinaTx New Member

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    Hi Shaina..

    Rod and Staff doesn't offer English until the 2nd grade. So I'm not quite sure what you used for 1st? Its probably just phonics eh?:)

    I used part of 2nd and 3rd grade English for grammar this year. However, we didn't hit it to hard this year because we wanted to focus on writing. Calvert doesn't hit grqammar real hard until 4th anyway, so that suits us fine. They have a real comprehensive course in 4th. So we'll probably order 4th this year and I'll still get R & S for 4th because I so like the easy, straightword manner of teaching grammar. The teacher's editions are helpful and of course the prices are great. I also like daily grams. I like using several curriculum choices so that you can get an overall picture of what works good. I usually piecemeal here and there.

    Spelling workout is fine. Its a workbook and can be boring. So we like to *spice up* thing when we can. We supplement with it. Ds prefers the Calvert Spelling Cds which are fun and interactive. They are done on the computer. So we use part of Calvert and Spelling Workout.

    Are you looking for something real comprehensive this year, or are you wanting to focus on other skills this year? Each year is different for us in terms of goals. I like to *focus* on one comprehensive skill a year. We don't forget the rest, we just *pay more attention and spend more time one* than others, knowing that we will pick the others up the next year. KWIM?

    Tina
     
  4. Jimmie Lu

    Jimmie Lu New Member

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    I was having a tough time deciding also and i fell onto Rod and Staff. It was exactly what I was looking for. You can request free samples and they cover the whole curriculum. And as far as R&S english starting in 3rd grade I have it for 2nd grade so. I havent used it yet but it is definatly not phonics. Maybe they changed it recently not sure. Any how they are inexpensive and I bought almost all mine used from www.homeschoolclassifieds.com and ebay*(becareful they can bid higher than new prices so know your$$$ when you are bidding. Good blessings!!!!
     
  5. Jimmie Lu

    Jimmie Lu New Member

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    Sorry I was a little mixed up you said until 2nd grade not 3rd. Sorry!!!!!!!:eek:
     
  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous New Member

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    I just bought "Natural Speller" for my middle child. My older one is one of those kids that just "know" how to spell instinctively, and then came number two who just turned eight, and still has trouble with what I feel are "basic" words! Natural Speller works on teaching the spelling "rules". I borrowed it from the library, and tried it out on her before buying it. It seemed to work well. It also goes all the way up to eighth grade.
     
  7. TinaTx

    TinaTx New Member

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    Jackie......

    Is the natural speller the one by Kathryn Stout or am I mixed up:confused:

    If it is, how does it teach in terms of format. For example, are they working on a list a day or a list a week,etc.. I like some of Spelling Workout because they use crossword puzzles....it can be fun. I was just wondering if Natural Speller was straightforward or activites......

    Tina
     
  8. Anonymous

    Anonymous New Member

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    It's hard to explain. Yes, it is Kathryn Stout's book. She has word lists for each grade, but there's not enough there for a full year I'd say. You look at the rule and come up with more words that fit that rule. Then she has different activities that will fit all word lists.
     
  9. abcTammy

    abcTammy New Member

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    We use Learning Language Arts Through Literature and added Spelling Power. Love LLATL, but dd needed more spelling help. I tried Spelling Workout and a few others. (My dd, is not a workbook lover.) I'm, we, she are happy with Spelling Power. It never takes more than 15 minutes a day. I'll use this one big orange book through high school!
    :D Tammy
     
  10. HeidiPA

    HeidiPA New Member

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    Spelling Power

    I just got a used copy of Spelling Power (through Vegsource swap boards) and Jimmie Lu was generous enough to give me the activity cards. So, we will definitely be using that for next year (if not before, we have Abeka for this year, but I'm not terribly impressed). I think it looks like a great program. And, although it seems costly up front, the fact that it lasts from 3rd-12th grade, and beyond, makes it cost effective.
     

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