Grammar Island, Grammar Town, Grammar Voyage

[AAK]

I was thinking of ordering one of these. I think they "tie it all together" so to speak for the grammar stuff. I also like that they don't seem to be a workbook at all. We are already using Easy grammar as a workbook, but I think I want to incorporate the "bigger picture" into our learning. And, according to the teacher flyer on the website, this grammar island book isn't intended to take a year, but rather a month or so.

That being said, does anyone really use all three books? If not, can you just use the last one or the middle one? Grammar island (from the samples) seems a bit too basic. Grammar Voyage seems a bit too intense, so I was thinking of Grammar Town. Has anyone jumped right in to grammar town? Also, is there much/any need for the teacher manual? It seems like we shouldn't need it, but . . . ???

Amy

[dotnetdiva]

No experience, but I'm already planning ahead and these are what we'll be using in a few more years. Yeah, I'm a bit of a planner, Lol. I can't believe how much people talk about this program.

[MyLittleWonders]

Each book is part of a separate level of the program. Grammar Island goes with the other "Island" level books - vocabulary, poetry, writing, and practice. The second level is "Town" and the third level is "Voyage." When starting the program, you start with the Grammar book and read through it together. Once that is done, you start adding the other components of the program, if you wish to use them all. So, after finishing the Grammar Island book, for instance, you would start Practice Island and begin, I think, the Vocabulary book. So, if the Grammar Town level seems the best fit, that is what you would use. (You can also contact RFP and ask them for help in placing your dc; or join the Yahoo group ... the author often answers questions on there, especially when they are addressed to him directly.) Does my explanation make sense? (I keep getting distracted. )

[MyLittleWonders]

Originally Posted by dotnetdiva

No experience, but I'm already planning ahead and these are what we'll be using in a few more years. Yeah, I'm a bit of a planner, Lol. I can't believe how much people talk about this program.

We won't be using them until next year, but I have read so much on them, studied the slideshow presentation on their website so many times that I feel like I know the program very well. I am so excited to start next year!

[LauraLoo]

subbing.

I've wondered the same things. We'll be starting the program next year, too.

[mangopassion]

MLW ~ You've explained it perfectly.

We use the Island series with CherryPie (age 11) because I basically wanted to "start over" with her, so we started at the beginning. But she's going through it fairly quickly. We've only been doing it for a week and we are already almost done with Grammar Island.

Just to expand a little on what MLW said... you start with the Grammar book (that's the first step). After Grammar is firmly grasped, you start with the Practice book. At this time you would also begin with the Vocabulary book. The Vocabulary book contains classic words so students will benefit from learning the vocabulary before they read classic novels.

You can also introduce the Academic Writing book at this time (in the Island series, it's Sentence Island) because following the Grammar instruction, the writing book emphasizes the two sides of the sentence: action vs. linking verbs, subject/verb agreement, placement of words & phrases, a complete thought, and sound in sentence. It also provides a sequenced classical instruction: first, the sentence; second, the paragraph; third, the essay.

Poetics can be inserted into the curriculum flexibly, keeping in mind that students' writing will benefit from an awareness of the sound of words.

So, with the books, you don't need to go in sequential order necessarily. You do need to start with Grammar and make sure that it is grasped firmly before moving on to anything else. But after that Vocabulary, Writing, and Poetry can all be flexibly introduced.

Whichever series you decide to start with: Island, Town, Voyage... you would continue with that series. Not all Grammar, then all the vocab books, then all the writing books, etc. Does that make sense? I think MLW explained that perfectly!

[AAK]

Thanks, that helps. . .

But, does anyone use the teacher's guides?

Amy

[mangopassion]

I ordered only the teacher editions for everything except for the practice book... I ordered both the student edition and teacher edition of the practice book. I did this after doing some research and others recommended this. It's worked out fine so far!

[MyLittleWonders]

So, after all this talk, and my determination to wait until the fall, I went ahead and ordered the Island level! Amy, I bought the TMs for everything and like Mangopassion, only the student book for the Practice Island. From what I've read from MCT himself, you only need a Practice book in the student edition for the first three levels; everything else can be done together from the TMs. I seems once you get to the the upper levels, it is recommended you have the TM and student book for all sections. Doh, I was so determined to wait it out, but I just couldn't any longer. Looks like we'll be combining FLL 3 and MCT this spring!

[AAK]

Thank you all!

[mangopassion]

Originally Posted by MyLittleWonders

So, after all this talk, and my determination to wait until the fall, I went ahead and ordered the Island level! Amy, I bought the TMs for everything and like Mangopassion, only the student book for the Practice Island. From what I've read from MCT himself, you only need a Practice book in the student edition for the first three levels; everything else can be done together from the TMs. I seems once you get to the the upper levels, it is recommended you have the TM and student book for all sections. Doh, I was so determined to wait it out, but I just couldn't any longer. Looks like we'll be combining FLL 3 and MCT this spring!

How exciting!

[MyLittleWonders]

I just couldn't refrain any longer! Now I have to figure out if I'm going to only keep it for Fridays or what (at least until we finish FLL 3).

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by MyLittleWonders

I just couldn't refrain any longer! Now I have to figure out if I'm going to only keep it for Fridays or what (at least until we finish FLL 3).

Curious - did you go with Island, Town, Voyage? We are finishing up FLL 2 (which has already been mostly review) and I've been supplementing with Every Day Edits, some Poetry work and other LA/writing work. So, I'm wondering how much Island will repeat what ds already knows.

It will be so great to finally have one combined package rather than this piece meal stuff I've been pulling together! Maybe I'll have to go ahead and order now, too.

[jessicaSAR]

MLW, I am curious what level you ordered as well? I was planning to order Island level for my 4th grader next year. We are currently doing FLL 3 and WWE 2.

Anyway, I am glad you ordered it, and I look forward to hearing what you think. I am afraid to order now because I don't want any excuse not to finish FLL.

[MyLittleWonders]

I went with the Island level. Ds#1 has had some FLL 1 stretched over 2 years (we did a piddly amount *very* inconsistently). Now, he is only about 25% done with the main lessons in FLL. Plus, his writing and reading skills are still a bit below grade level (we started late with him on phonics/spelling/copywork), so even though the Grammar Island may have some review in it for him, the overall Island level (vocab, poetry, and sentence writing) will be best for him (plus, I plan on using it with ds#2 and ds#3 when they get there).

[MyLittleWonders]

Originally Posted by jessicaSAR

MLW, I am curious what level you ordered as well? I was planning to order Island level for my 4th grader next year. We are currently doing FLL 3 and WWE 2.

Anyway, I am glad you ordered it, and I look forward to hearing what you think. I am afraid to order now because I don't want any excuse not to finish FLL.

That was why I was trying not to order until the summer. I was afraid that I'd drop FLL 3 to do the Island level exclusively. But, I think since you are just to read Grammar Island first before beginning any of the other books, I can make GI part of our Friday subjects. That way we can do 3 days a week of FLL (M, T, and Th), and read through Grammar Island on Fridays for at least a few months. Then, after that I can start integrating the two programs - a couple days of FLL 3 and a couple days of MCT. I'll let you know if it works!

[avent]

There is extensive discussion about this program, more than you would ever want to know, at the Well Trained Mind forums. Go to the curriculum area at search for "MCT" ("Michael Clay Thompson"). Lots of good info.

[Queen Gwen]

How do you pick which level to start at? Is there some sort of recommendation page somewhere?

I'm having a terrible time navigating the MCT website, so I'm not seeing this information.

As I was reading the pdf on how to use the Elementary Level I was thinking that younger dd would be the right age for Town -- she's in FLL4 (which she dearly loves and has no desire to stop using). But then I had the impression that the work on writing sentences is back on the first level, then the paragraphs on the 2nd level. And although we're zipping along in our grammar instruction, our writing skills are ... lacking. Do we need to go back to the beginning of the program (where we probably know all the grammar already) in order to get the writing stuff down? Does someone have all of these faq-type things written down somewhere without slogging through hundreds of posts on TWTM (since MCT-related posts stretch back into the misty reaches of "the old board")? Do I simply need to have some more kids so I can correctly implement the program from the beginning?

[mangopassion]

I think you are correct about there not being a placement "exam" on the MCT site. I'm not sure how old your child is, but I know that the Island series is intended for grades 3/4; Town is intended for 5/6; and Voyage is intended for 6+. So it really all depends on where your child is. You might want to think about joining the MCT Yahoo group. MCT himself frequents the group and you can ask him a question directly.